This segment of a four day training on mobile media ministry walks participants through basic elements of recording video with a mobile phone and the steps involved with recording an interview or "talking head" video.

1. Basic Mobile Video
Recording Tips
http://pocketfilmmaker.blogspot.com/2011/12/6-pocket filmmaking-tips-for-this.html

2. http://vimeo.com/37358304
Stabilizing the Shot

3. Stabilizing the Shot
The humble string tripod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjqPuHFoqhE
(quick tip, you can just tie a loop in the top that your phone can slide in and
out of rather than using the bolt and needing a tripod adapter. To use, hold
the phone with one hand on either side of the loop, put your foot on the
other end of the string and pull the phone up until the string is taut)

4. Stabilizing the Shot
Tripods & Tripod Adapters

5. Basic Lighting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYVV6hKtuNk

6. Time for some reflection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCyhishRvjU

7. Household Reflector
Possibilities

8. Pre-recording Checklist
- Purpose and plan in mind
- Battery Charged
- Phone Memory Freed Up
- Lens Clean
- Shot list in hand (or at least in head)
- Airplane mode enabled (smartphones)
- Recording settings at highest level possible
(unless needing to watch for running out of
memory)

9. Location Choice for an
Interview/“Talking Head” Shot
Scout around and set up in a location that:
- Fits the “story’s” context
- Is comfortable for the interviewee
(psychologically and physically)
- You can control and limit background
distractions (audio and visual)
- You have permission to film at
- Is safe to film at

10. Setting Up the Interview/
“Talking Head” Shot
- Find a way of stabilizing/“mounting” the phone
so there is no distracting camera movement in
the footage
- Set up the phone at eye level and
uncomfortably close to the interviewee (tripod
leg will be 1-2” from their knee) for good audio.
- Frame the subject using the rule of thirds and
leave just a slight amount of headroom space
in the frame above the top of their head.

11. Setting Up the Interview/
“Talking Head” Shot
- Sit or stand as close as you can to the side
of the camera so the speaker is looking just
to the side of the camera when talking.
- Have the brightest light somewhere behind
off to the side of you, not behind the
speaker
- Remove any distracting background items
and noises and limit possibility of
interruption.

12. Preparing and Interviewee
- Explain to the interviewee that it is
important to look at you, not the camera
- Ask the interviewee to repeat the question
in their answer
- Explain to the interviewee that you will
pause between their response and your
next question for the sake of the recording

13. While Recording
- Ask them to say a couple things so you
can check your recording levels and then
do that (i.e. play back that recording to
check for whether or not you are getting
the quality you want). Make adjustments
as necessary.
- Remove any distracting background items
and noises and limit possibility of
interruption.

14. While Recording
- Follow your script and/or list of interview
questions (begin with easier questions
first)
- As an interviewer, maintain good eye
contact and respond positively to
comments with your body language.
- Be careful not to respond with your mouth
though!

15. While Recording
- Wait three seconds after the interviewee
ends their statement before proceeding to
the next question (for editing headroom)
- Take note of key responses and, once your
questions are finished, ask if they could
repeat or expand upon those points
- Consider moving to the opposite side of
the camera for a number of the questions
to add a little variety to the video.

16. After Recording
- Ask the interviewee if they could wait a
minute while you check the recording and
do just that. Try and check a couple places
in the recording for any audio/visual
quality issues. If there is a problem try and
resolve it and repeat the interview if
possible.
- Following your shot list and/or new ideas
that came to light during the interview
record cutaways/b-roll footage

17. Cutaways
- Over-the shoulder of subject talking and
interviewer nodding
- Close-up of their hands
- Close-up shot of the interviewer nodding
- Footage (or images) of items/issues/events
that were discussed during the interview

18. Team Recording
Session
Split Tasks as Follows (rotate if time
allows):
Team Member #1- Set up recording
location and equipment
Team Member #2- Act as interviewer/
audience for speaker
Team Member #3- Share your story or be
interviewed