The Cinematic Interview Workshop

Lighting, Framing & Sound for Professional Results

June 13, 2026 at The Asterisk 273 Hurley Avenue, Kingston, NY

Session 1: 9am-1pm (Beginner) 12 slots

Session 2: 2pm-6pm (Intermediate/Advanced) 12 slots

Beginner

If you have some experience shaping light and framing interviews—and feel comfortable setting up your DSLR, video camera and audio—this workshop is designed to help you build a stronger visual foundation and refine your eyes and ears.

Intermediate

If you’ve already spent time lighting and shooting interviews across different projects, but are looking to elevate your craft, expand your creative toolkit, and approach interviews with greater intention and cinematic depth, this workshop will offer fresh perspective and practical insight.

Overview

You have a powerful story to tell. This workshop will help you capture it beautifully.

In this hands-on, information-rich session, you’ll learn how to shoot, light, and record high-quality interviews that look polished and sound professional. Whether you're creating a documentary, branded content, or narrative work, strong interview technique is essential and often underestimated.

We’ll break down the core elements that elevate an interview from basic to cinematic, including lighting design, camera choices, composition, and clean audio capture. Through real-world examples and practical demonstrations, you’ll gain the tools and confidence to make smart, creative decisions on set.

What You’ll Learn

Lighting

Essential lighting concepts for interviews
1-point, 2-point, and 3-point lighting setups
Creating a specific “look” and understanding why it works
When to use hard vs. soft light and how each shapes your subject
When natural or minimal lighting is the right choice

Camera & Composition

Framing and composition choices that support your story
Lens selection and what it communicates about your subject
Angle of view and ƒ-stop considerations
Filters and when to use them
Camera selection based on project needs
Camera placement, movement, and editorial implications

Sound

Capturing clean, usable audio for interviews
Boom vs. lavalier microphones and when to use each
Proper mic placement, distance, and technique
Recording directly into camera vs. using an external mixer/recorder
Setting proper levels and avoiding common mistakes
Understanding how a room affects sound and how to improve it

Workflow & Decision-Making

How to integrate post-production into your on-set decisions
Planning your shoot with lighting and camera plots
Tools and software for visualizing your setup
A practical framework for making confident creative choices

How You’ll Learn

This workshop combines live demonstrations, video examples, and real-world case studies from professional productions. You’ll see how different lighting setups, camera choices, and sound techniques come together to create distinct looks and moods.

We’ll also review ground plans and production setups used in the field, giving you insight into how professionals approach interviews at every level.

Who This Is For

Emerging filmmakers and content creators
Crew members looking to strengthen camera, lighting, or sound skills
Documentary and narrative storytellers
Anyone who wants to improve the quality of their interview footage

Whether you own your own gear or rent, this workshop will help you make better decisions with whatever tools you have.

Why It Matters

Great interviews don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of intentional choices in lighting, framing, and sound.

This workshop gives you a clear, practical approach to making those choices so your next project looks better, sounds better, and connects more deeply with your audience.