There are a million tutorials online teaching you “how to film an interview.” Most of them repeat the same textbook advice: find a nice background, buy a 4K camera, and keep it quiet.
But as a Gaffer who has spent 10 years in the trenches of documentary filmmaking, I can tell you this: Textbook advice often fails in the real world. Clients will give you a tiny, cluttered room. Construction crews will start drilling outside the window the moment you hit record. That is when your 8K camera won’t save you.
Today, I’m not going to give you the generic advice. I’m going to share 7 practical tips born from my own failures and mistakes. These are the secrets that upgrade your interviews from “Amateur Vlog” to “Netflix Documentary.”
1. The Truth About Location: Audio > Visuals
New directors often point to a corner by a floor-to-ceiling window and say, “Lucas, the light is beautiful here. Let’s shoot here.”
My answer is almost always: “No.”
⚠️ A Real Lesson: I once compromised and agreed to shoot an emotional interview in a busy, trendy coffee shop because it “looked cool.” The result? The post-production audio engineer wanted to kill me. The background was filled with the hiss of espresso machines and clinking cups. We couldn’t clean it. We had to cut the scene.
My Advice: It is better to shoot in an ugly room that is dead silent (we can fix ugly with lights) than a beautiful room that is noisy. Walk into the room and clap your hands loudly. If you hear a metallic “ping” or echo, either change rooms or cover the floor with blankets to absorb the sound.
2. Refuse the “Mugshot” Look (Create Depth)
If you place your subject right up against a wall, no matter how expensive your lens is, it will look like a passport photo or a police mugshot.
You need Depth.
- Pull the chair at least 6 to 10 feet away from the wall.
- Move the camera back and zoom in (use a 50mm or 85mm focal length).
This compresses the background and turns it into a beautiful, blurry wash of color (bokeh). This separation is what makes it feel cinematic, not a filter.
3. Lighting: You Must Light the “Short Side”
90% of amateur videos look cheap because of one specific mistake: Placing the key light on the same side as the camera. This illuminates the “Broad Side” of the face, making the subject look flat and wide.
To look cinematic, you must do the opposite: Light the Short Side.
The Rule of Thumb:
If the interviewer is sitting to the LEFT of the camera, the subject will be looking LEFT. Therefore, your Key Light (like a GVM SD300C) must also be on the LEFT. This forces the shadows to fall towards the camera.
Don’t get it? I drew a specific diagram to explain this core technique. Read this first: Cinematic Interview Lighting: The “Short Side” Secret.
4. The “Car Keys in the Fridge” Hack
This sounds ridiculous, but please trust me: Unplug the fridge.
The low-frequency hum of a refrigerator compressor is an interview killer. Before we roll, I unplug the fridge and turn off the AC. But more importantly: I put my car keys (or phone) inside the fridge or by the plug.
Why? Because after a long shoot, you will forget to plug it back in. When you can’t find your keys to go home, you will remember the fridge. Otherwise, your subject will call you the next day screaming that $200 worth of groceries spoiled.
5. Tripods are Mandatory (Don’t hold it)
Young filmmakers love the “handheld” look to add energy. But in a deep, 40-minute interview, that micro-jitter becomes exhausting for the viewer. It can even cause motion sickness on large screens.
Lock it off. Put the camera on a sturdy tripod. We want the audience to forget the camera exists and focus entirely on the subject’s eyes and story. Motion is for B-Roll, not A-Roll.
6. Camera Settings: Don’t Get Greedy with Aperture
I have seen too many great interviews ruined because the DP wanted to shoot at f/1.2.
People move when they talk. They lean forward when they laugh; they lean back when they think. If your depth of field is only 1 centimeter deep, they will drift out of focus constantly. You cannot fix soft focus in post.
My Safety Zone:
- Aperture: f/2.8 to f/4.0 (This is the sweet spot).
- Shutter: 1/50th (assuming 24fps/25fps).
- ISO: Locked at native ISO (usually 400 or 800). Never use Auto ISO.
7. The Real Magic Happens Before “Action”
The best interview moments usually don’t happen after you yell “Action!” They happen during the warm-up.
I set up my lights and audio early. Then, I sit down and chat with the subject about breakfast, traffic, or their kids. When they relax, I give my camera operator a subtle nod to start recording secretly.
By the time the “official” interview starts, they are already comfortable. We capture the real human, not the performer.
Final Thoughts
Filming a documentary interview is technical, yes. But ultimately, the gear is just there to support empathy. You master the lighting and audio so you can ignore it on the day and just listen.
So, grab your tripod, bring a reliable light (whether it’s a rented ARRI or your own Godox), and go capture some truth.