Using these audio and interview tips for Flip camera your team can interview and capture audio that will communicate the appropriate message.
Community hospital marketing departments are being asked to update static websites and blogs with videos. Understandably it is scary to start shooting, editing and distributing videos when you have never used a Flip camera before.
Flip videos deliver freshness and authentic videos that are economical and simple. These simple video cameras and social media websites like YouTube make delivering patient stories, late-breaking news, employee communication and health updates possible for the community hospital marketer.
16 Flip Video Audio and Interview Tips:
- Beware of ambient (background) noise – Examples: air conditioners, loud computer humming, road noise, walking noises. Sudden loud noises are worse than a steady hum of activity. Close doors if possible to avoid access noise.
- Environment - Shooting where there is action behind the subject increases the interest of the composition and can enhance the story. Find a spot out-of-the-way, but in the subject’s typical environment. Get details of the subject’s routine, things they do every day, that will illustrate their character, their core values, or both. When shooting this type of content, treat the video camera like you’re taking a photograph. Compose the shot and clean up the environment so the area is not cluttered. Never have the tripod or other photo equipment in the video frame.
- Avoid stripes and other detailed patterns on clothes - Complicated backgrounds are difficult to reproduce on Flip cameras which have fewer pixels per inch.
- Interviewees should remain still - unless they are performing an action relevant to the filming. Watch out for too much head movement or nodding. Watch for twitches such as playing with their hair, jewelry, etc.
- Maintain eye contact with the interviewees throughout filming
- Before and after the take - Hold the camera motionless on a scene for 10 seconds and let people/cars/objects move through it. If you want to follow or track motion, try to start or stop your movement with a still shot.
- Have a general goal of what you want the subjects to say - Interview them with easy questions to get them to relax and also to get the info you want to frame the story with.
- Interviewees should use part of your question as the beginning of their answer – Make sure the videographer remains silent while the interviewees are responding.
- Use playback during the interview to review what you have filmed and see if any retakes are needed. Don’t hesitate to do more than one take
- B-roll - If you have time, B-roll is a great addition. Extra footage of the scene provides a visual overview and illustrates added detail of the story. It also helps the video in the editing phase if there are “bad” parts of the interview.
- Making the subject comfortable - When interviewing someone, ask some “softball” questions first to get your subject comfortable. Look for an entry to a deeper discussion. Try to get them to summarize their thoughts in a sentence or two.
- Have fun - Don’t worry too much about getting it “right.” Good content will compensate for technical difficulties (within reason).
- Record in one or a few segments - Final product will be easier to deliver rather than trying to “fix” it in editing.
- Speak at a normal speed. People get nervous and talk faster on camera. If they are a fast talker anyway, ask them to speak more slowly.
- 30 seconds of video = 75-80 words. 60 seconds = 150-160 words. Every word is precious. Make them count.
- Battery life - Flip video cameras require 2 hours to charge on your computer’s USB. Each charge will last for approx. 1.5 hours of video. Plan ahead. If you have a Flip Ultra, they take 2 AA’s. Swap in some new ones and you’re good to go! Flip video cameras hold 1 hour of video content before they need to be “emptied.” If shooting for more than an hour, either have your second camera ready to go or have your laptop booted up and ready to receive video.
Download the full guide to Audio Composing Lighting Tips. Flip Camera Video Tips.
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