Perfecting the art of the interview. There are so many facets to what makes a great interview. Camera angles, lighting, microphone choice and placement, and that’s not even mentioning how to put the interviewee at ease! There’s no such thing as a “perfect” interview, but it’s one of my missions to get better and better at conducting and filming great interviews.
In this blog post we’ll deconstruct the lighting of a recent interview setup for the Calgary Opera.
The Key Light Setup
From YouTubers to Hollywood productions, the Aputure 300D Mark II is ubiquitous for a reason: yeah it’s affordable for its light output, but it’s also reliable and produces a great quality of light. No wonder it’s become an industry standard.
Buy the Aputure 300D Mark II at:
Amazon
Adorama
B&H
This fresnel lens not only allows you to focus the beam of light, but also intensifies the power, allowing you to throw light farther and giving you more bang for your buck.
Buy the Aputure Fresnel 2x at:
Amazon
Adorama
B&H
Barn doors were needed to prevent light from spilling past the frame.
Buy the Aputure Barn Doors at:
Amazon
Adorama
B&H
I own several diffusion frames but this kit is what I bring with me the most because it’s lightweight, packs down to a compact size (into it’s very-high-quality duffle bag), and requires only a standard grip head to attach to any stand.
Buy the 4×4 Pro Panel Kit at:
Adorama
B&H
This is the special sauce that makes the key light so great. Grids help direct the light where you want it, and this Snapgrid, while expensive, is super-fast to setup which is so important when you’re a one-man crew like me.
Buy the DOP 4×4 Snapgrid at:
B&H
Accent Lights
I love this RGBWW tube light that allows me to add just a little kiss of light wherever and whenever needed.
Buy the Amaran T2C at:
Amazon US
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon DE
Adorama
B&H
Tiny and affordable, this bicolour light is always with me and adds just a little bit more interest to the shot.
Buy the Aputure MC at:
Amazon US
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon DE
Adorama
B&H
Other Lights Not Used in this Interview but Also Recommended
This is the light I always bring with me. Sure it’s not as powerful as the 300D, but it’s smaller, runs for 45 minutes on a single 99Wh V-Mount, has a focusable lens and is bi-colour. Throw a simple shoot through umbrella to soften the light as a key light, or use it as a single-point rim light in the background. So versatile it’s always with me.
Buy the Aputure 60X at:
Amazon US
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon DE
Adorama
B&H
A bit heavier than expected, but being RGBWW it’s so versatile as a background or accent light. And more powerful than expected too.
Buy the Amaran P60C at:
Amazon US
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon DE
Adorama
B&H
