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How to shoot a dialogue scene for a movie – a primer

Aug 23, 2016 by John Aldred Leave a Comment

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You’d think that recording a simple conversation would be quite straightforward. But it’s not as easy as it often looks. If you want to add a little drama you need to put some thought into it.

This video from CinematicJ is primarily aimed at those shooting some kind of dramatic conversation scene for a movie. But, you can also apply some of the techniques and suggestions mentioned in other filming situations.

There’s many different ways you can film a conversation, and a lot will depend on how your subjects are positioned. If you seat them side-by-side, for example, you’d use a different set of angles. But, you’ll still want your master shot, tighter shots and possibly closeups.

Just remember to be careful of your microphone type and positioning. For stuff like this, I tend to use lav mics on my subjects as well as an overhead boomed microphone. This way, I’ve got backups, in case the boom ends up being too far away to get out of the shot.

If you do video for any length of time, at some point somebody will ask you to do an interview. Depending on the type of interview, a more cinematic approach might be appropriate. Lately, less traditional interview techniques are becoming more common. Over a meal or drinks, or perhaps across the desk in an office.

What other tips do you have for filming and editing conversations or interviews? Let us know in the comments.

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Filed Under: Tutorials Tagged With: Boom Mic, CinematicJ, Conversation, filming, interview, Lavalier Mic, Movie, sound

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

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John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

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