RESEARCH: Frame an Interview

   

Interviewing someone on camera can be a daunting task. The first step is to plan out your film first. What do you want to show and tell with the interview? Assuming that you know the purpose of your interview and you have the right location and interviewee. The next step is deciding on your camera setup.

Decide on your camera setup

When planning out the interview, you need to decide on a camera setup. This may vary depending on your budget and the number of available cameras. You must have a plan of action and have finished setting up the interview location before the subject arrives, as this reduces the stress and tension that can lead to interview mistakes.

As mentioned, depending on your budget, you might want more than one camera, as there are a lot of benefits and freedoms when using two or even three cameras. But for most video interview shoots, you can probably do it with just one camera.

Your primary A-camera should always be your main concern when doing an interview shoot. It's up to you to decide if you have the resources, time, and help to use a second and third angle properly.

Frame your shot

You want to frame your shot when you have a camera setup and location.

Ask yourself what you need from your interview.

Make your background interesting

If you are shooting interviews in an actual location, your background is an essential part of what your viewers can see, and you want to make sure that your background is interesting.

You want to follow compositional best practices when choosing or setting up your background. Following the rule of thirds and having an organized and exciting background - at the same time, you don't want the background to draw too much attention away from your subject.

Choose a suitable angle

Most interview setups are often at an angle instead of straight on the subject. This is to create a feeling of balance and comfort for the viewer. It's also helpful for the interviewer and interviewee as the interviewer can sit next to the camera and maintain eye contact with the subject instead of sitting behind a camera that obscures the line of sight between them.

Short sides vs long sided interview framing

When interviewing a single person, they are typically placed off-center in the frame. Then identifying the spaces to the right and the left of their head - the larger space is the long side, while the smaller space is the short side.

Long sided

It's almost always correct to use this framing. Having the subject looking off to the long side creates a feeling of balance and comfort for the viewer. It gives the interviewee space to articulate ideas, explore thoughts and appear comfortable.

Short sided

The opposite is having your subject looking the short side. This is usually a bad idea because it makes the viewer feel tense and awkward. By looking out of the frame, subjects will appear closed and as if they are talking into a corner.