PBMC is committed to delivering great videos to its clients and viewers in terms of content and production quality. To maintain our high standards, we invest in our best resources: our staff.
This November, PBMC started the first session of our monthly staff training. The goal is to make our employees capable in terms of technical skills by teaching the basics, as well as making them well-rounded by learning the ins and outs of video production.
Nicolas Ito, a senior staff member, demonstrates how to shoot video interviews with PBMC staff members.
The November training focused on the basics of shooting interviews. Nicolas Ito, PBMC’s senior staff member and cameraman led the training. For the first part, he showed the various equipment that PBMC uses, such as the camera, tripods, lights, and light stands. PBMC’s standard shooting camera is the state-of-the-art Sony FX6 Cinema Line.
The next part was about the physical setup of the interview. The trainer showed how to position the camera, lights, interviewer, and interviewee. Then he showed how to compose the best framing through a TV monitor.
The next lesson was lighting. The trainer showed the staff the standard lighting setup when shooting inside a room. He showed how different setups create different moods, which depend on the goal of the video.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to lighting, Nicolas Ito told the group. “To be honest, the lighting depends on the situation. Is the room too dark? Is there a strong light from the window? Is the room too small for a multi-light setup?” he explained. “There is no real answer to all of it, so sometimes just trust your guts. It will come from experience,” he added.
He also gave tips on how to make creative uses of existing lights like sunlight, room lights, or when shooting outside.
For the last part, Ito showed how to achieve the best audio quality. The staff learned about the different mics PBMC uses (lapel mic, directional mic, etc.) and how to maximize their uses. Finally, the employees were also taught how to pack the equipment for post-shoot activities.
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The employees found the training interesting and useful.“It was nice to have all the introduction to the basics of shooting from the professionals. As a non-videographer, I feel the training is valuable to take with me moving forward when I work on future productions,” said Randy Wagenheim, a producer for PBMC.
Seeing the enthusiasm of the staff members, Nicolas Ito said he felt great about the training. “I hoped everyone who attended found the training useful and insightful. It was a quick peek into what’s considered a standard interview setup,” he said.
The training happens every last Friday of the month, so the employees will have another chance to use the equipment and learn as they go. The next training is in January 2025.
PBMC has produced videos for corporate, commercial, and other uses for local and global releases. Our clients include TV firms, corporations, government agencies, etc. For companies looking to create world-class videos, especially involving interviews, please contact us.