Do you know how to film an interview? Have you ever had this experience? If all the answers are no then no worries!
I am here today to inform you about this topic. In this article, I am going to tell you some tricks and tips on how to film an interview properly. I will start with a fundamental acquaintance. As it is necessary to know first what is an interview? What happens in an interview?
This basic knowledge is important to know before filming an interview. Here we go. Let’s check it out.
Table of Contents
Acquaintance
The word interview comes from Latin and middle French words meaning to ‘see between’ or ‘see each other. Generally, a filmed interview means a private meeting between people, where questions are asked and answered. The person who answers the questions of an interview is called the interviewee. The person who asks the questions of the interview is called an interviewer.
So, an interview refers to a formal conversation between two people. Here questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information, qualities, attitudes, wishes, etc. from the interviewee.
Tips & Tricks on How to Film Interview Videos?
To take an Interview with someone by the camera can be tricky. In the following, I am giving some tips on how to position and frame your interview subjects and how to direct them. It’s a good idea to plan your frames and camera angles before beginning the interview. Knowing how to frame your interview subject will help you also enrich your cinematography skill.
Perfect Light Set Up
The most critical thing to consider with your interview is perfect lighting. Other than the placement of the lights, this is going to be what will determine whether or not the light on your subject is flattering. The basic 3 lights are a must while filming an interview.
You don’t need a giant, expensive 10x ultra bounce to get the best light. All you really need is something bright, which can help you to clarify your location and subject. That’s it!
Perfect Lens
When thinking about the best ways to shoot interviews and choosing the right lens I will suggest a prime lens between 24-85mm. It is a great focal length for shooting interviews. Try to use a lens with a low aperture (f-stop), like f/3.5. A faster aperture will give you more flexibility with your depth of field. That means more separation between your subject and busy backgrounds.
Perfect Camera Set-Up or Interviewer off Camera
Another important thing while filming an interview creatively is a perfect camera angle or camera setup. A mid-shot, over-the-shoulder shot, two shot, and sometimes some close-ups are the essential shots for an interview. Eyeline is important while setting the camera for an interview.
Here are quite a few different styles of eye lines. But the main distinction is whether or not your subject is looking directly into the lens or off to the side of the interviewer. If your subject is looking into the lens, it will read as if they are addressing the viewer.
Perfect Framing
It is best to continue the interview through perfect framing. If any questions are being asked in these can often lead to candid comments or reactions. And Capture those candid moments as well.
Aside from the full interview, there are a few additional shots you may need to record. You want to have a few different reaction shots, such as having the person nodding in response to a question. If you also want to get a few close-ups of the person, then the hands can help you make great edits.
Filming an interview with a perfect frame can take a lot of prep work and planning. Each aspect of an interview needs carefully considered to ensure that not only the filming runs smoothly but so that you have enough footage to edit the interview so that it is engaging and intriguing.
Perfect Sound
If you working with a low-budget setup, check out some of these lavalier microphones to try out and help improve your sound quality. But, make sure that livelier microphones are hidden well. The reason is, nothing is more distracting in an interview setup than when the shooter leaves the lav mic visible on the subject’s collar. This does actually provide the best sound. But in my opinion, it’s generally unprofessional and distracting as well.
Conclusion
I hope you like the written tutorial that I explain the fundamentals of how to shoot or film a good interview. So, start experimenting and decide which methods you like to use when planning your lighting, camera placement, and all other setups. Get inspired for your shots by watching great interviews. Be creative with your location and framing your subject. Good communication with your subject can be a great way to minimize the monotony of viewing. Just do all and make sure that your actions support the overall goal — telling a good story.
