Video tech we use to film incredibly natural interviews, for teaching.

Over the past 15 years people have become more and more familiar with the cinematic language of talking directly to camera. While this was in no way invented by vloggers the sheer amount of this shot we see means we as filmmakers should feel comfortable using it. It’s an intimate and powerful shot — one that can create a strong connection between the audience and the subject of the video.

Here’s where the Interrotron comes in: Looking directly into a camera is intimidating, to say the least. Without years of practice looking natural and comfortable in-front of the camera is a near impossibility, which really undoes the power of this shot in the first place.

The Interrotron

An Interrotron is a piece of film equipment use to help interview subjects speak directly to camera.

It was developed by the documentary film-maker Errol Morris. He first debuted in in 1997, and made famous in his 2004 documentary Fog of War. It allowed him to interview his subjects eye-to-eye while also allowing them to talk directly to camera.

The master at work.

The basics of the system are pretty simple. There’s a camera you use to film your interview subject and a second camera pointed at you, the interviewer. Using a teleprompter and a monitor, you and the subject can see each other’s faces and speak naturally.

Me and the subject, gazing at each other.

By using the Interrotron, it turns this process into a ‘in the same room’ zoom call and the results are great. People get comfortable quickly and you can get a quality to-camera interview in the same amount of time as a standard one.

My view (left) and their view (right)

The build guide.

Updated: March 2020.

The bits.

You can find my full parts list here: https://kit.co/LeoFlander/interrotron

In brief, you’ll need:

• Tablet teleprompter.
• Tablet.
• Laptop.
• Screensharing program.
• Camera + External monitor.
• Bits and bobs to connect it all together.

Step 1: Assemble Teleprompter

Set up the teleprompter by opening the mirrored glass and attaching the ipad.

Step 2: Assemble Camera + Monitor

For my system, I use a camera cage to make it easier to take the camera and monitor off the teleprompter. I then use a magic arm to attach my external monitor to the top of the camera. Having a arm helps as the final montior placement is pretty important to create the correct eyeline.

Step 3: Attach laptop table

Next, I screw together and attached the laptop table to the teleprompter. I use the 15mm rod system to secure the teleprompter to the table using a few different peripherals. This does make the system quite heavy, but as long as you have a tripod that can take the weight, you’ll be fine.

Step 4: Connect tablet to laptop

Now it’s time to get your face from the laptop webcam onto the tablet screen. The best solution I've found is to use a program on the laptop to record the webcam and share the screen to the tablet.

My mac solution is to use Quicktime and start a new recording using the webcam. I then use Astropad to share my screen to the ipad.

Windows solution is to use OBS Studio to record from your webcam and Easy Canvas to share to an iPad or Twomon if you’ve got an android tablet.

Importantly I don’t actually record the feed from my webcam, just have it running in preview mode.

Step 5: Setup Interrotron with subject.

Finally you can setup your system with a subject. It’s pretty simple to arrange everything however the most important thing to work out are the eye lines.

• Make sure your entire face (at least) is obscured from the subject. If they can see too much of your face, they’ll be tempted to look at your real face. They’re only human.
• Get your monitor as close as possible to the webcam. This way while you can keep an eye on the monitor feed it will still appear as though you’re looking into the webcam. This is important to make the subject feel like you’re still speaking to them.
• It’s easier for them to see you if your face is decently lit, and there’s nothing too distracting behind you.

This idea is a very flexible one so you can probably make one with whatever you have around, or with just a couple of purchases. All you need is:

• 2 cameras (one for you, and one for your talent.)
• 2 monitors (One so you can see your talent, and one for the teleprompter (so they can see you)
• Teleprompter to make the whole thing work.

If you wanted to get started using this interrotron with your own interviews, I’d love to help you design your own using the equipment you already have.

Email me: leo@fitzroyacademy.com

Happy filming.