Week 15 – Setting up a shoot

Context

For this shoot it is near exactly what we planned to interview a sporting indvidual, specifically a boxer. We wanted to target this to a an audience with a male skew aimed towards 15 – 35. Specficically we wanted to focus on the 4 essentials of filming being framing, lighting, scene selection and audio.

We wanted to base it around the 2 camera shoot shown below. We are platforming this on Youtube and will be at the bottom of this.

Research

Story

For this video, we aimed to keep the concept simple while still incorporating strong detail. We focused heavily on the set design, ensuring it was visually engaging and purposeful rather than distracting. Our goal was to gain a deeper insight into what windsurfing truly involves and to communicate that clearly to the audience.

We also wanted to develop our set design skills by making better use of the background, using the space creatively instead of relying on a plain black backdrop.

Stylistic

I wanted to again base this shoot off the Rio Ferdinand interview with Micheal Owen as it is a 3 camera shoot of the interviewee, a wide shot and the interviewer. It was very simply made with some props in behind and made for a good set. The link is below.

Technical

My equipment consists of using the rode wireless microphines, they are very user friendly and easy to use and are still high quality industry standard material. With my visual shoots I used the Canon R50S and that was the best for this use as it is simple to use and is still very user friendly.

Practical Skills

First, I created a mock-up of the room by designing a floor plan and taking photos of the space to help me visualise how I wanted it to look. This allowed me to plan effectively while keeping a clear vision of the final product in mind. I also ensured that the four essentials were incorporated into the setup.

All screenshots are shown below.

WWW (What Went Well)

1. The planning translated well into the final shoot.

The final outcome closely matched what we originally planned. The two-camera setup worked effectively and allowed us to capture both strong mid-shots and wider framing, which made the interview visually engaging while maintaining professionalism.

2. The four essentials were successfully applied.

Framing, lighting, scene selection and audio were clearly considered throughout the shoot. The use of Rode wireless microphones ensured clear and crisp audio, and the lighting setup helped separate the subject from the background, giving the video a more polished and industry-style feel.

3. Set design was more purposeful and visually engaging.

Instead of relying on a plain black background, we used the environment creatively to enhance the scene. This made the interview feel more authentic and aligned with the sporting theme, improving overall production value.

EBI (Even Better If)

1. More in-depth research could have strengthened stylistic decisions.

Although we based the shoot on the Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen interview format, we could have analysed it further — particularly in terms of pacing, shot variation and lighting ratios — to replicate the professional feel even more closely.

2. More dynamic camera variation could have improved engagement.

While the two-camera setup worked well, adding an additional angle or incorporating subtle movement (such as a slider shot) could have elevated the visual interest and made the final product feel even more high-end.

3. Stronger audience alignment in presentation style.

Although the target audience was clearly identified (male, 15–35), we could have adjusted questioning style or energy slightly to better reflect the tone and expectations of a YouTube-based sporting audience.