By Leonard Aaron Caplan
In video, what is the difference between shooting a stand-up and a sit-down interview?
First, we’ll state the obvious. The stand-up interview is where the talent, usually on location is standing up. The sit-down interview is usually conducted in a studio with the talent sitting down.
There is just one difference, actually. But we’ll get to that in a moment
Now, what are the similarities? Ok,using one camera, in shooting a stand-up or a sit-down interview the videographer should use an “over-the-shoulder” shot. This is where the cameraperson literally is shooting over the interviewer’s shoulder so when the camera gets zoomed in on the interviewee during a long response, the resulting close-up will be a full-face shot. Otherwise, if the two on-air talents were sitting horizontally from each other in a straight line and the one camera is exactly between them, any zooming in on either one of the talents would result in profile shots of each of them.
Also, in both stand-up and sit-down interviews, the camera should be the same height as both talents. If the camera is higher than the two talents, the talents will appear to be weaker, less powerful, more insignificant. If the camera is lower than the subjects, the opposite effect will occur; they will appear more powerful, more important than the audience watching them. So unless you are going for a dramatic effect either way, stay away from camera heights that vary one way or the other from the heights of the talents being shot.
So IS there a difference between shooting a stand-up interview and a sit-down one? Yes. It is simply the choice of microphones for each. In a stand-up interview, there is often little time and a lot of movement by not only the talent but by others who might be nearby. A microphone is needed that is durable and not vulnerable to any unexpected actions of anyone at the location.
For a sit-down interview, there is often more time and luxury to be able to clip on a mic that won’t be so noticeable to the viewer. Therefore a clip-on or lavalier mic is used because this is a more controlled atmosphere.
Obviously there is a time and place for both styles of interviews. It is up to the videographer to have the knowledge and experience to know when and why to pick one or the other.
In video, what is the difference between shooting a stand-up and a sit-down interview?
First, we’ll state the obvious. The stand-up interview is where the talent, usually on location is standing up. The sit-down interview is usually conducted in a studio with the talent sitting down.
There is just one difference, actually. But we’ll get to that in a moment
Now, what are the similarities? Ok,using one camera, in shooting a stand-up or a sit-down interview the videographer should use an “over-the-shoulder” shot. This is where the cameraperson literally is shooting over the interviewer’s shoulder so when the camera gets zoomed in on the interviewee during a long response, the resulting close-up will be a full-face shot. Otherwise, if the two on-air talents were sitting horizontally from each other in a straight line and the one camera is exactly between them, any zooming in on either one of the talents would result in profile shots of each of them.
Also, in both stand-up and sit-down interviews, the camera should be the same height as both talents. If the camera is higher than the two talents, the talents will appear to be weaker, less powerful, more insignificant. If the camera is lower than the subjects, the opposite effect will occur; they will appear more powerful, more important than the audience watching them. So unless you are going for a dramatic effect either way, stay away from camera heights that vary one way or the other from the heights of the talents being shot.
So IS there a difference between shooting a stand-up interview and a sit-down one? Yes. It is simply the choice of microphones for each. In a stand-up interview, there is often little time and a lot of movement by not only the talent but by others who might be nearby. A microphone is needed that is durable and not vulnerable to any unexpected actions of anyone at the location.
For a sit-down interview, there is often more time and luxury to be able to clip on a mic that won’t be so noticeable to the viewer. Therefore a clip-on or lavalier mic is used because this is a more controlled atmosphere.
Obviously there is a time and place for both styles of interviews. It is up to the videographer to have the knowledge and experience to know when and why to pick one or the other.
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