I sometimes get asked when applying for a shooting gig if I know how to shoot and light interviews, so I decided to put together a little demo of interview samples just for this purpose. Filming interviews is a pretty essential skill for most shooters and I have done literally hundreds of them. I actually really enjoy shooting them, as it always offers a bit of a challenge. Every space is different and there are many looks you can go for, so there are a lot of options and challenges. The biggest challenge is usually the space, and the space is what can really make for a good looking shot a lot of the time. I have been stuck in countless small rooms or offices where that is my only option. While I am often trying to create depth by putting the person as far away from the background as possible, in a small space I usually shoot wider and show the person more “within” their space. Obviously, the bigger the location, the better; and spaces with color, texture, furniture, artwork, etc. can also help in creating a good location. But sometimes you get stuck with just a big empty room and it’s important to come up with some techniques to make a visually appealing shot that takes advantage of a sparse look. The key, though, is really to make the space match up with who the person is and what they are talking about. Filming a doctor in front of a barn probably would make little sense.
I think the samples in this video show a range of looks and lighting techniques. In some cases I try to work with existing lighting (natural or artificial) and either supplement with my own lights or reflectors, or just use ONLY existing light. Other times I will only use my lights, blocking windows or shutting off existing lights, so that I have the most amount of control over the look. The shots in my demo range from using no lights up to five lights. My lighting kit includes an Arri Softbank kit, a Kino Flo Diva (which I think is an ESSENTIAL piece of gear), a Zylight LED light (a new piece I got that I also think is stellar) and a couple Lowel lights.
All of the shots here were with the Sony EX-1 and about a quarter of them had a Letus 35mm lens adapter. This allows me to create a shallower depth of field, which helps to separate the subject from the background visually. While the adapter is a worthwhile tool, I have found that, unless I am in a very tiny space, I can obtain a nice shallow depth of field with just the EX-1 alone, and I actually prefer the quality of the image in those cases (and the ease of use without an extra piece of equipment).
There are great articles and forums online that discuss interview lighting, and I also certainly learned a ton by going on shoots with other DPs. And while there are some general rules of thumb, there is no ONE way to shoot interviews and different projects certainly call for completely different looks. The most important thing to remember, though, is that an interview is all about what the person is saying, so GET GREAT SOUND!
Tags: director of photography, EX-1, interviews, Letus Extreme, reel
But I always interview doctors in front of barns!
I would advise any shooter who watches this to mentally remove the subject from the frame and look at Ben’s
composition. Most of these shots could stand on their own aesthetically. The subject just nestles in there. He makes it look easy, but having lit and shot many interviews myself, I know it isn’t. I wish I could do it this well!
Thanks Bill!