Feb '18 | Small Footprint, Big Value

Your customers are already in the room, now let’s get them on camera!

During AppDirect’s 2017 Engage conference in San Francisco, we filmed 10 customer testimonials against a white seamless. Each person was given approximately 10 questions; each interview took about 30 minutes. In the end, we walked away with a slew of soundbites that were then cut into eight 90 second videos. 

What’s Needed

With this type of testimonial, the footprint is fairly contained. The only equipment you’ll need is the below:

• One secure room near the conference, yet void of background noise
• One seamless set up
• Two cameras
• Audio
• Lights

Let’s Talk Logistics

• Hire a makeup artist
• Choose a two camera set up
• Scout the room before filming
• Remember to choose a diverse selection of customers

Hire a Makeup Artist

Lighting a seamless evenly takes a few high powered lights, and lights can lead to shine. So in order to assure your customers feel their best in front of camera, we suggest you hire a make up artist. Especially with customer testimonial videos like these where your subject is the only subject, and there is no additional imagery (or b-roll) to cut to. A good makeup artist will easily cover up shine, unwanted dark circles, blemishes, and tame stray hairs. Not only will they make your customers look good, they’ll make them feel confident. And confidence leads to a great interview!

Choose 2 Cameras, Not 1

Having two camera angles will help you craft your soundbites in post. You can choose the beginning of one sentence and tack it on to another sentence where the subject’s delivery was better. Or you can remove unwanted segments such as random details, mumbles, or umms. Having a second angle will make your editor’s job easier, as well as your own. Not to mention, your interview subjects will love you because they’ll suddenly sound so well spoken! But don’t make your second angle too much of a contrast from your main angle. The idea is to make the cut look seamless. If the angle is too harsh, then the audience will notice your cuts.

Scout the Room First

It’s helpful to have a video producer scout the interview room before choosing your space as you’ll not only want something big enough, you’ll also want something quiet. Don’t pick a room next to the catering, or next to the hotel’s restaurant. It’s also ideal if the AC can be manually turned on and off, and if there are windows, that there are black out curtains available.

Remember Diversity

When choosing your interview subjects it’s important that you’re not only choosing candidates that represent your customer base, but that you’re thinking about diversity across industry, ethnicity, and gender. Especially with testimonial videos such as these, it becomes quickly apparent if all of your subjects are, say, white and male.