This
filming technique is used to create
interview footage that seems more natural by hiding the
camera lens
from the
subject. The interviewee, instead of talking to a camera lens, experiences the illusion of having
a
one-on-one conversation with a person, with no camera gear interfering with
nonverbal communication.
The audience watching the interview also perceives the interview as more natural because of the
unhindered nonverbal communication.
Errol Morris' original technique uses a video screen to project his image to the subject, but the makers
of The Corporation took the idea further and created a setup that preserves true human to human interaction.
- The subject sits in front of a semi-reflective teleprompter mirror which reflects to him the image of his
interviewer.
- The black box around the camera gear ensures that the camera remains invisible to the subject
- An extra light source on the interviewer increases his visibility versus the black box camera
- An opaque barrier prevents the subject from making eye contact directly with the interviewer, thus preventing breaking it with the camera/image
- The dotted line represents the eyesight path
- The camera lens should be lined up with the eyesight between interviewer and subject, heightwise as well.
_______
subject(__(_)__)
. / opaque
\* . */ / barrier
. / __
\. |_ |
teleprompter \ . . . . . . . .{_)| interviewer
mirror .\ |__|
___.___ \*
| U |
| | | | camera in
| |_| | black box
|_______|
\* light
*/ sources
Source: The Corporation web site http://thecorporation.tv/filingcabinet.php