Week 2.1 Single Camera Interviews Workshop

Objective	To know how to set up and present a single-camera interview
Distinction	Presenter is confident, interview is controlled and fluid Edited to meet segment run time, with links and cut-aways	Complete segment edit for doc
Merit	Presenter follows a structure and conducts a successful interview Edit a complete sequence containing ·        Rule of 3rds ·        Singles ·        Introduction and Wrap Up/Hand Over ·        Noddies/Reaction Shots ·        Clear sound & synch ·        Lighting	Interview edit and rushes
Pass	Know how to set up a single camera interview Film and edit an interview sequence shot on one camera Present an interview	Blocking Diagram Interview rushes

Blocking Diagram


10 Steps to Shooting your First DIY Interview from Vimeo Video School on Vimeo.

     

Objectives and Strategy

1. a single camcorder to do the work of two.
2. the edited program to look as if it's unfolding in real time, just like a multi-camera studio shoot.
3. provide the editor with the content and the coverage required to cut together a seamless sequence.

Here's a strategy for achieving these goals.
The idea is to shoot the interview from several different camera setups. Typically:

• A neutral angle showing the relationship between subject and reporter.
• An angle on the subject, shooting over the reporter's shoulder (typically called an "OSS," over-the-shoulder shot).
• A closeup  on the subject alone.
• A closeup  on the reporter alone ("a reverse")

In shooting this way, the trick is to avoid losing the flow of the interview by stopping it to change camera setups.

For this reason, the majority of the conversation takes place as shown in Figures 2 and 3, because these setups require no change in the positions of camera, lighting and microphone.

Equipment

You'll have a camcorder on a tripod. (Because interview subjects don't move much, they give away even the best hand-held camera work.)

For high-quality sound, an external microphone is equally essential. A lapel mike (wired or wireless) works well, or you can mount a shotgun mike to a table-top stand and place it close to the speaker and just below the frame line.

Headphones are an absolute must, both for monitoring voice quality and for detecting any interfering background noises.

The simplest may have just one soft key light and maybe a large sheet of white foamcore board for reflected fill. We'll compromise with a two-light setup: a spotlight with spun-glass diffusion clipped to its barn doors and a large, soft fill light either an umbrella style or a softbox type.

Interview Procedures

The neutral angle establishing shot is used to begin, and maybe to end the interview. If the sound quality is good enough, you can start the interview in the establishing shot. Often, however, this wide two-shot acts as a silent background for a title or voiceover introduction to the interview. In the same way, you can use this shot to wrap up the sequence.

It's often a good idea to delay the actual questions and answers until after the two-shot, because shifting the camera, lights and mike for the main interview setup can take long enough to distract the participants and lose the flow of the discussion.

Typically, the interview will start with an over-the-shoulder closeup of the subject. In framing the shot, try to include the side of the reporter's face. A moving cheek will indicate that the reporter is speaking, without revealing what's being said. (The editor can then lay "moving cheek" footage over anything the reporter says.) .

After you have enough footage over the reporter's shoulder, zoom in to the subject's closeup. That way, the closer angle on the subject can enhance the growing drama of the interview. (If you time it right, you can zoom and re-frame during a question so that the editor can replace the zoom with a shot of the reporter.)

Now comes the trick. You set up and shoot the reporter after the main interview is over; in fact, you can allow the subject to leave at this point.

If you've been miking only the subject, the reporter will need to repeat every question.

Roll through the original footage in the camcorder, making notes on each question, and then have the reporter work from these notes. In some cases, you won't need a follow-up question. Instead, the editor can insert a brief shot of the reporter listening while the subject adds to the previous response.

And now the reporter gets to really act. To provide cutaway footage for the editor, you need to record a repertory of reporter reactions for insertion at suitable moments. In addition to simply listening and nodding encouragement, a few other reactions are often useful:

•   Slight puzzlement, as if to say, "Could you explain that further?"
•   Mild surprise, indicating "You don't say," or "No kidding!
•   A smile, signaling a warm response to a humorous remark.

Of course, the subject's statements may suggest other reactions.

Tips for Camcorder Setups

Here are some suggestions for getting the best possible picture and sound quality:

• Keep the camcorder back from the subject. A long camera throw, as it's called, keeps the hardware out of the subject's face and the telephoto lens [as in zoomed in] setting makes for pleasing closeup shots [because it creates shallow focus].
• Light the background by moving the subject. Working with minimal lighting, you'll illuminate the background with spill from the key and fill lights. Watching your monitor carefully, move your subjects toward or away from the walls behind them until the subject lighting makes the backgrounds just slightly darker than the foregrounds.
• Use slightly low camera angles. Generally, people look more impressive when shot from just below eye level.
• Make the best use of camcorder mikes. When forced to record audio with the built-in microphone, move as close to your subject as possible. Since wide-angle lenses tend to produce unflattering closeups, try to stay with wider waist- and chest-level compositions.

Interview Equipment Checklist

__ Tripod

__ External viewscreen or monitor

__ External microphone

__ Headphones

__ Lights

Final point - your background or location should have some visual relevance to what the subject or contributor in your interview. For example, if it is a scientist, they ought to have books or credentials or a lab behind them.

If being shot in a studio, consider how you can key in an effect using chroma/green screen.

Assessment Task: How to Guide
In teams of 3, create a 'How to Guide' collecting images or video of yourselves carrying out these instructions to create either a YouTube video or a Blog Post.

You must each contribute to 1 of the following areas

• Section 1: (Demonstration) Single Camera Interview setup and strategy
• Section 2: (Demonstration) Lighting for location interviews
• Section 3: (Demonstration) Sound for location interview
• Section 4: (Demonstration) Editing interviews

Part 1: Summarise and Bullet Point the instructional videos into Steps and Guidelines:
http://ctkmedial3extdip.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/how-to-film-interviews-practical.html

Part 2: Create a Blocking Diagram for your interview
Blocking Diagram

Part 3: Carry out the interview
Questions are here

http://ctkmedial3extdip.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/assignment-1-task-3-questions-for.html

Take the photos or record the set up as you go