How to Shoot Cinematic Interviews | 10 Easy Steps

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#Cinematic #Interviews #HowTo

[dadverb]

Holy crap, this is pure gold. In 20-minutes this video summed up everything I had to learn the hard way since 2012. I made every mistake possible from framing, lighting, talking over my interviewee, etc. This rundown is so incredibly informative to any budding videographer/YouTuber and even has nuggets of wisdom in it for experienced folks like myself. We're never done learning! Yet again, wonderful work, Indy Mogul.

[seppmartti]

Summary:
1. Scout location (visually interesting; depth; if possible avoid visual background unrelated to story; leading lines)
2. Camera placement (camera height, position, and perspective to person; framing)
2.5. Camera settings. FPS. For TV, Broadcast, cinema? For YouTube? Shutter speed for optimal motion blur 1/(FPS * 2)
3. Key light (Forward grid fabric for light - no double shadow, spill)
4. Back light (Separate subject from background, create three dimensional image)
5. Background light (Add color? Create contrast? Teal and orange?)
6. Light with practicals (Use set lamps and lights to make shot more interesting; use dimmer to dim practical lights or expose shot using them so they don't ruin lightning setup)
7. Set decoration (Bring set alive - add production elements, stuff related to story; remove distracting stuff; use brightness to guide the eye)
8. Second camera (Subjects don't give perfect answers and responses; Second angle means easier to edit, talent seems more knowledgeable and comfortable; same camera manufacturer means same color science)
9. Audio setup (Don't dip into shot; shotguns generally outdoors; cardioid or hyper indoors; boom pole shadows; point mic not to mouth but chest because of head sloping; room audio echo - sound blankets and good carpet or sound blanket on ground)
10. Talk to subject (Comfortable talent; be quiet at times for cleaner sound bites, give gap to finish. Remind subject to repeat the question in their answer)

[edarelius]

the tip about letting people finish what they are saying is the single best tip I could give for an interviewer. As a photojournalist having to edit a sound bite that you can hear the reporter stepping on is one of the most annoying things during the edit

[TylerLeeKenyon]

This is the best interview "how to" video I've seen. It's very nice to see you cover all aspects of the process rather than just the cinematography.

[cedricpaulhiac]

For the talent's sake, consider using a polarizing filter to kill those unflattering reflections from the key light. You do need to make sure it is not only screwed on your lens but also spun in the position where it's pattern will be most effective in killing the reflections. You then have to compensate the exposure by adding about a stop and a half of light (either by increasing your key light or by bringing it closer, either by bumping up the ISO of the camera). This works like a charm especially if you do not have a make-up artist (although you should still use it in combination with make-up).

[omarwilliams]

I have learned MORE in this single video then I have in the 27 videos I seen on how to shoot interview style. Alright Alright Alright!! Thanks Guys

[clarkkegley]

Fantastic video. Learned a ton -- fun dynamic between you guys!

[michelangelotorres_filmmaker]

this is the kind of contents I like most: informative and straight to the point, no 'cabaret' and yelling like a Fortnite player. Nice job!

[SandyChase]

Couple suggestions:
Find out the interviewee’s height and do setup with a stand in/assistant.
When interviewing, make sure you’re at the same height as the interviewee so they’re not looking up or down.
Shoot main angle at higher resolution so you can punch in when you cut back to that angle for a tighter framing if you want it.
Monitor audio.
Record 1 min of room tone. Your editor will thank you.

[dreamysleepyzzz]

im a intermediate shooting guy, and most of the time, whenever i have to prepare a shooting, i always search on youtube and find ur vidoes, this channel have help me through from shooting indoor outdoor shooting, product shooting, interview brarara to editing...etc, not only it gives out tons of tips, but mainly, it gives me confident to be ready to shoot. Thank you or your team so much !

[BabyBearRudy]

Wow that quick tip about mic being pointed at the chest and not the mouth is really great!! Thanks for the info!

[hbl_channel]

This video is perfect! Thank you. The kind of video I’ve been looking for. Perfect for my limited knowledge in interview setups using dslr and limited audio and light equipment.

[Lifeof-Jo]

Probably the best video on learning how to video interviews. I would love to see a follow up on how you edited this video

[hersuharyanto]

It's crazy, man... in just a single video I got what I miss so far. Thank you very much indeed.

[williamhill]

Good work! Not often we get to see the process from conception to execution. I'm interviewing for the next four weeks and have learned a lot from your video.

[danielleburks]

WoW, I liked this video, very informative. I usually stop after 2 min or skip thru half of videos/tutorials, but I literally watched ever bit of this!!!! I

[packardjennings]

Great video!
To add a couple of things that I find helpful:
A) It is great to have a stand in for your talent. That way they are not sitting in the chair while you set everything up. B) Be making your talent comfortable as soon as they arrive. Chat casually and explain things. C) Some makeup helps. She looks shiny. HD powder is pretty neutral. In a pinch, try a coffee filter to wipe down shiny face. D) When your talent is trying to do full statements that are pre-written, have a teleprompter if they can sound and look natural. Otherwise, remind them to complete each chunk of dialogue, even if they flub it. People tend to stop talking when they mess up and they get tense. Finishing their statement every time helps them relax.

[anishamm]

One of the best A to Z "Interview set-up" Tutorials. BRAVO

[NateandNoahTryLife]

This episode is great, I’ve found starting out that shooting interviews is one of the best ways to get an actual paycheck.

[demobailey]

This is one of the best videos about interview setup i've seen. Thanks guys! I recently got a Canon EOS R and love it for film! EOS R's are actually mirrorless for anyone looking to get one.