Where should the subject be looking?

K

kat.hayes

Active member
I want to make some instructional videos that will feature a single camera focused on a person talking. I want the viewers to feel comfortable with the person and almost feel like they are conversing with him.

1. Where should the person on camera be looking to look natural? Would it be better for him to look to the left of the camera or to the right? How far to the left or to the right?

2. What height should his eyes be focused? Slightly above the camera, or below, or at the camera.

Thank you.
 
If it's instructional and he's talking to the viewer and not an audience, then right into the lens.
 
It is instructional in nature, though there will also be reviews of physical items and also opinions given on different topics.
 
kat.hayes said:
I want to make some instructional videos that will feature a single camera focused on a person talking. I want the viewers to feel comfortable with the person and almost feel like they are conversing with him.

1. Where should the person on camera be looking to look natural? Would it be better for him to look to the left of the camera or to the right? How far to the left or to the right?

2. What height should his eyes be focused? Slightly above the camera, or below, or at the camera.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

You can experiment, but I'd probably have the person look at the top of the lens cover on the camera.

I think it is also important that for an instructional video the individual really rehearses and does not read from a prompter.
 
j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
You can experiment, but I'd probably have the person look at the top of the lens cover on the camera.

I think it is also important that for an instructional video the individual really rehearses and does not read from a prompter.
Click to expand...

I think a prompter is really fine, as long as the talent is comfortable reading from one. It's really terrible when you try and do anything else, then soon realizing that you need to make cue cards because they can't remember all their lines. Their eyes end up darting back and forth from the cue cards to the lens and you can also see their eyes read the cards. Super distracting...

So basically, just straight into the lens...Definitely the way to do it.
 
I just did this last week and was happy with the results. The aspect ratio got messed up not sure why. Anyway hes a lawyer and it was a 1 minute intro to his website. It was directed at clients who would be viewing so to make it seem personal I had him look into the lens.
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i never interview subjects with the camera rolling. i record my questions in advance, so come interview time, my subject is forced to answer a cardboard cutout of Boba Fett just off camera. my subjects are then prone to be more honest. it seems to work about 15% of the time. but i've only done one interview, so i may try another approach.
 
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