INTERVIEW FILMING TECHNIQUES

Cut Aways and General Views and more...

INTERVIEW FILMING TECHNIQUESToday you will learn about:

• Introductory shots• Geography Shots• General Views• Wallpaper Shots• Cut Aways

• We are going to look at a channel four documentary to explore these shots

Uses GV’s and Wallpaper Shots to great effect...

Watch the opening sequence of this episode and look at thechoice of shots...

Why do you think they have been chosen?

The Introductory Shot• For interviews – film a shot of the

interviewee doing something other than being interviewed.

• If possible, film your interviewee doing something which gives the viewer an insight into what sort of person they (walking their dog, gardening etc)

GV’s – General Views• A GV (General View) can be an Establishing

Shot or a wide shot to show where the action is taking place.

• GV’s can also be shots that illustrate the point the commentary or interview is making.

• To emphasise the meaning or feelings of the sequence.

• Wallpaper shots – in other words, they give the viewer something to look at while the commentary/interview is talking.

Geography Shots• A geography shot is a wide shot of the

people in their location• This show’s people’s positions relative

to one another to relieve the disorientation that viewers get if you cover a long scene only with mid and close ups.

WHEN FILMING INTERVIEWS:

Always film GV’s and Geography shots even if you don’t think you will need them – you will be surprised how often they get you out of trouble in the edit.

CUT AWAYS – Can be used if you want to shorten an answer in an interview.

• It is easy to shorten the sound in the edit – but it is not so easy with the picture – there is an obvious jump when the pictures are put together.

• To cover this jump you have to cut away to something else. Hence the term ‘cutaway’.

Typical Cutaways

• Close-up details of the main action• People’s faces• Their hands• Shots from the point of view of the main

object in the sequence

Cut Away’s ExerciseImagine you are using your interviewee as voice over and the interviewee is talking about how much time they spend working on their computer...

What would you get cutaways of? In pairs think of 5 examples of cutaways and write them down.

Use the scene here at my desk to help you imagine which shots to get.

My suggestions

• Wide shot of them sitting at the computer • Their face looking at the screen• Their hands using the keyboard• Using the mouse.• Close up of the screen itself.• Look for reflections of them using the computer

(in a window/mirror/their glasses)• Close up of any customisation of the computer

(e.g. stickers/furry toys etc)

These filming techniques enable a sequence to be edited together

• They help to convey meaning and feeling• Set the scene – establishing shots/GV’s• Wallpaper to cover a voice over/interview• Illustrate subject matter• Used to link sequences together – going from

one location to the next or going from an interview to action taking place

• Prevent ‘Jump Cuts’

Watch the opening sequence again. In pairs identify theshots used.. GV’s/Cutaways etc. Answer some of thefollowing questions for each shot/ sequence of shots.

What shot size?Camera Movement?Duration of Shot?Reason for use of shot?Meaning created by shot?

Well done! You have just analysed a clip and explained some of the conventions used. This is

what you need to do for Task 1 coursework presentation.

Watch a documentary of your choice

In Identify some of the different types of cutawaysused.

Look for:Introductory Shots Geography shots GV’sWallpaper shotsCut Aways

Explain why the shots are used with reference to specific detailed

examples from the programme.

You can use this example as part of your TASK 1 coursework

presentation about documentaries..