10 Tips For Filming The Perfect Talking Heads Interview
Talking Heads Interview
“ InterviewVideos (aka Talking Heads) are one of the most frequently requested type of corporate video.�
#1
Prepping your subject
#1
Prepping your subject
Tell the subjects exactly what will happen in the interview process Don't give the interviewee a list of questions before the interview in order to ensure capturing natural, authentic answers Tell the subject the general topics of the interview, how long it will last and if you need to film cutaways of them doing things while talking
#2
Wearing the right clothes
#2
Wearing the right clothes
Tell the subjects whether you want them to be casually dressed or not Inform them to wear their normal clothes but avoiding close repeating patterns and clothes with logos due to copyright issues To put on a nice dress or the best suit may clash with the portrait of the person that you're trying to paint in the video
#3
Keep accurate notes during the interview
#3
Keep accurate notes during the interview
As video director it is important to make notes of anything the interviewee mentioned that might require clarification You can ask them to explain something further or you can use cutaways to give your audience context Example: If the subject mentions a friend or relative it would be good to explain how they know each other or just cut to a photo of that person
#4
Setting the right location
#4
Setting the right location
The best location is one that gives the audience some information about the interviewee. Example: You can interview the subjects in their own home as all the background details like the colour of the walls or dĂŠcor provide information about the person Very often the background will be out of focus in order to give the feeling of depth and to concentrate the eye on the subject
#5
Position the subject correctly for natural light
#5
Position the subject correctly for natural light As the amount of daylight will change throughout the interview you may find a jump in light levels if you were to cut a clip from the beginning and middle of the interview together. Window behind subject: You may see unwanted reflections of lights and camera equipment. If the sun is shining through it can silhouette the subject Window in front of subject: You may get varying light levels as the sun goes in and out of clouds or shifts position in the sky
#6
Setup for sound
#6
Setup for sound
An experienced sound person is a crucial member of a video team. The audio should always be set up from scratch to ensure that all settings are correct Listen out for any sounds, like air conditioning, traffic noise or co-workers, that may interfere with filming, when choosing a location If you cut back-to-back clips from several different interviews and if there are significant differences in the audio gathered the audience will find it jarring
#7
Light your subject correctly
#7
Light your subject correctly
Use a three point lighting, choose which side of the subject's face to put the key light and you can complement their features by casting shadows to compensate for any asymmetry Use fill light to balance out the amount of light falling on one side of the face and a back light that will help them to stand out from the background The lighting camera person should know the story and tone of the interview before arriving at the location to design the lighting to suit the message
#8
Avoid overheating your subject
#8
Avoid overheating your subject
Daylight in combination with film light may create a lot of heat and also filming in the heat of the summer or at foreign locations Choose a location and lighting setup considering heat so that your interviewee doesn't feel uncomfortable or sweats profusely Before filming make sure that you are aware of the availability of power sockets
#9
Position your cameras
#9
Position your cameras
For interview filming a two camera setup will be suitable, which allows you to cut from a wide shot to a close up during the edit Think about camera angles – you can position the cameras filming the subject from the same angle, but sometimes it makes more sense to position them roughly 30 degrees apart, so one gives a portrait and the other one a three quarter angle view of the interviewee
#10
Produce the Key Messages
#10
Produce the Key Messages
Keep the message short so that the subject is able to memorise the dialogue and key messages Use an autocue, which allows the interviewee to read from a screen, while looking into camera. As they are looking through a mirrored glass, the eye line can be remained correctly. But make sure that it will not sound fake! Giving the person bullet points, to remind them of the key messages, will remain the interview more natural. But make sure that the person's eyes won't be seen to flick to one side of the camera!
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