Lessons Learned of Video Filming

Lessons Learned of Video Filming

I. Selecting the Location

Try to locate a place in which you can control the light.

Walls must be, preferably, white and clean and clear from electric sockets and things of the like.

Be sure that an electric contact is near and that you always carry a multi socket plug.

It is recommendable to have a chair at hand for the interviewee.

II. Preparing the Location

Use additional lights to create a good lit environment.

Use white walls to bounce the light.

If needed use gels to create smooth lighting.

Set the steady camera in front of the chair and set the microphone.

Insert new cassette.

Test that the camera is receiving sound from the microphone.

Set the side camera and check that memory is empty, ready to record.

Plug camera to the electric socket to assure that battery is always full.

Perform white balance in both cameras.

Prepare a table with the ‘Contributors Release Form’ and a pen.

III. Filming

Steady camera should film shoulders and head with a good quality, this will be important for later edition.

Side camera should record face and, occasionally, hands if in movement.

Side camera should be held at interviewee’s eye level.

Avoid zooming to eyes and mouth, the video editing software can do this for you.

Before the interview begins, and if interviewee is relaxed, side camera can film interviewee’s hands and/or eyes for later use in editing.

If convenient, ask interviewee to count with hands and move hands to have footage of them for later edition.

During the filming process, check constantly the amount of memory, tape and battery remaining in cameras.

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