Ten Tips for Shooting a Vox Pop
"Vox Pop" is short for Vox Populi, in the USA we call these kind of short video interviews "Man on the Street".
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- Keep a shot list as you go.
Include the subject's name (double check spelling) and timecode. Make notes on particularly good interviews or sections of interviews.
- Have subject sign an appearance release form.
Alternately, ask them on camera if it’s okay to use the video on your website and other places like YouTube.
- Tell the subject to look at you.
Or have them look at the camera. Just don't let them bounce back and forth.
- Ask them to repeat the questions.
“What's my favorite flavor of ice cream? Why, it's vanilla.”
- It’s okay to ask the same question twice.
Ask the subject to rephrase their response, maybe it needs to be shorter.
- Help your interviewee self-edit.
If they say something interesting, and then move on to something else, ask them to rephrase the interesting part.
- Don’t record a conversation.
It’s really hard to edit chit-chat. Let them finish their thought completely before you speak again... Don’t interrupt / comment along the way “yup”, “un hun”, “really”. If you need to cut them off, do it with the knowledge that you’re starting a new cut.
- Get the microphone as close as possible to the subject.
Position the subject so that nothing behind them emits or reflects reflect sound.
- Light your subject from more than one source.
No harsh shadows.
- Frame your shot.
Place your subject relatively high in the frame. Use a tripod. Do not use hand held camera. Do not zoom or pan.