Interview camera package
Two-camera interviews in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, lit and framed before your subject walks in. Director of Photography, cameras, lighting and sound in one booking.
A cinematic interview look is built, not grabbed. I take the time each shoot needs to light and frame a sit-down properly: shaping the key light, adding negative fill and a backlight, working the background into the frame and matching both cameras. When the subject sits down, it’s all ready, so their time goes into the conversation rather than waiting on gear. That matters in Washington, where the person in the chair may only have a short window in their day.
I film sit-down interviews for The Wall Street Journal (more than 60 shoots since 2021), AARP Studios, Quanta Magazine, WETA PBS and the American Veterans Center, as well as international broadcasters visiting DC. Subjects have included Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, Climate Envoy John Kerry and Fed Chair Janet Yellen.
My standard package is two matched Panasonic Varicam LTs, Angenieux zooms, Nanlite lighting with soft sources and negative fill, and a boom mic, all synced with timecode. Wireless lavs are added on request. It travels in my production van with a camera cart and a grip cart, so the time on location goes into the look, not into hauling cases.
- Cameras
- 2× Panasonic Varicam LT, matched for A and B camera
Panasonic EVA-1 for a third angle or B-roll - Lenses
- Angenieux EZ-1 30–90mm and EZ-2 15–40mm T2.0 zooms
SLR Magic APO HyperPrimes 25, 32, 50, 85mm
Schneider Hollywood Black Magic 1/8 diffusion - Lighting
- Nanlite Forza 720, 500 and 300 with Fresnel and Leko attachments
2× Pavo Tube II 30X RGBWW tubes and Pavo Slim 120B panels
Lightbridge C-Reflectors, grid cloth, 8×8 frame, flags and duvetyne - Sound
- Sennheiser MKH-416 on a K-Tek boompole
Sony UWP-D27 two-person wireless lavs, on request
Tentacle Sync E timecode on both cameras - Monitoring
- OSEE Megamon 15S client monitor
Accsoon wireless video to the producer
Interview shoots
Do you bring the cameras, lights and sound?
Yes. I own and maintain the whole package and bring it in my production van, so you book one person and the kit arrives with them. See the full gear list.
Can you shoot two or three cameras?
Yes. Two matched Varicam LTs are my standard interview setup, and I can add a third camera for a wide or a profile angle.
Who records sound?
For interviews I record a Sennheiser MKH-416 boom straight to camera with timecode, and add wireless lavs when you ask for them. For bigger shoots I bring in a sound recordist from the DC crew I work with.
Can you film in federal buildings and on Capitol Hill?
Yes. I regularly film in agencies, the Capitol and House office buildings, and I’m used to security screening, escorts, small rooms and a hard out. Read about lighting a last-minute cabinet-secretary interview.
How much does an interview shoot cost?
It depends on the number of cameras, the crew and the hours. Send your date, location and a short brief and I’ll reply within one business day with a quote.