OT'ish: Personal pet peve on interview shots...

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 2/24/2009, 9:15 PM
Ok,

Just as a tip to anyone shooting interviews. If you have your subject sitting in a chair, make sure they're either leaning forward, or have their butt, in line with their shoulders.

So many times, I see people sitting in a chair at a slight recline, and all this does is make them look like they're fat ( and if they in deed ARE fat or overweight, they will not like you for bringing this to the camera's attention :) - I never do ).

I'm sure you've seen what I'm talking about, some lady is sitting there, and they're talking, and you can see 3 chins going ( perhaps I'm more sensitive to this since my family and I are all overweight to some degree ). All I'm saying is, make sure your subject sits leaning forward or upright, unless they're really pretty thin, or have a well defined jaw, and a trim neck, or they're probably not going to like the way they look. I know we can hid this with lighting to a certain degree, but beyond separating the head from the neck with shadows, it's going to show up.

Anyway - to make this thread semi-constructive. What are some other interview no no's that you guys care to share.

Dave

Comments

ushere wrote on 2/24/2009, 9:42 PM
1 interviewee's eyeline.

2 camera eyeline

3. people with ants in their pants - can't sit still!

oh...

and people wearing inappropriate dress - herringbone, dayglo, or simply bad taste (and boy, is there a lot of that around!)
JackW wrote on 2/24/2009, 9:48 PM
I guess my pet peeve is clients who show up for an interview poorly dressed and without makeup.

I shot an interview recently with a woman who decided to wear a dark gray shirt under a light gray sweater. She wore virtually no makeup and, although we had her well lit, she looked drab and washed out. Someone in the office loaned her a scarf, which dressed her up a little.

I think I'm probably at fault on this one for not having discussed clothing beforehand.

My son, who is a makeup artist, suggested that from now on I carry a makeup kit with disposable pancake and lipsticks, powder and what he refers to as "shine wipes," cosmetic pads that reduce surface oils on the skin.

This experience has given me a fresh outlook on what to communicate to folks who are to be interviewed.

Jack
TheHappyFriar wrote on 2/24/2009, 10:12 PM
as the only interviews I've done are on location & I have no control over how they look & (many times) who, I'd say there's two very very very important things about interviews I'd say to watch out for:

1: florescent lights (if you use AC vs battery)

2: don't think you can fix the audio in post. Odds are, you can NOT.

The first three interviews I ever did were my fav. They were @ the Dallas Gaylord Texan hotel/resort. Ends up I shot the interviews outside a convention hall (in the hallway) with a cheap dynamic mic hooked up to my cheap Hi8 camera. Worked excellent. :) Looked excellent too (no lighting minus sunlight & inside lighting). Worst part was me. :D
rmack350 wrote on 2/25/2009, 8:15 AM
Thanks Dave, this is a good point. When people can slouch in a really comfy chair they'll have leaned back a little extra which allows them to lower their chin. Makes the neck look a little bigger.

I'd never thought about it but I think it's been luck. When we use a chair it's usually in a business setting and we always look for rigid office chairs that don't recline, roll, or swivel. The side effect is that they can't slouch.

I'm also re-learning this month to have a sound blanket ready to put under the interviewee's feet. We've had a few toe-tappers lately.

There are other tricks. People's faces are uneven and I was taught long ago to light the thinner side and use little fill on the heavier side (Or was it the other way around?) Yep, that's what I was taught... but it's been long time since I got to see the person I was lighting before I started setting up. I work with many shooters who can't light so they never think to get a look at the subject beforehand.

Rob Mack

Rob Mack
rmack350 wrote on 2/25/2009, 8:18 AM
We carry the wipes, and I know better shooters that carry powder. The wipes are usually coated with powder and they go over better with men.

HD is making makeup show more so keep a light touch.

Rob
baysidebas wrote on 2/25/2009, 9:25 AM
Dave, while you make a good point here, there's an even more compelling reason, psychologically speaking, for the subject to be leaning slightly forward. And this any good portrait photographer will confirm for you. A forward leaning subject engages the viewer, a back leaning subject gives the impression of aloofness, of withdrawing from the conversation [yes, even if they're as thin as a rail].
Steve Mann wrote on 2/26/2009, 9:15 AM
Put them on a stool. They can't lean back and will naturally lean slightly forward.
richard-courtney wrote on 2/26/2009, 9:42 AM
Shine wipes and bald(ing) talent:
----------------------------------------------
Keep wipes handy.
Everyone hits the small room with florescent ceiling light. Turn them off use your
own light kit.

Provide an overhead flag. (black foamcore on a stand) Or use scrim to get that
pesky dome in control.

Room Sound
------------------
Use a clip on mic if you can. The oncamera shotgun at least get it off the camera.