1) Three-point lighting is the standard lighting setup for interviews, using a key light, fill light, and backlight to properly illuminate the subject and separate them from the background. 2) The key light should be the brightest light and illuminate one side of the subject's face to make them stand out from the background. A fill light is used to reduce shadows and high contrast. 3) A backlight separates the subject's shoulders and neck from the background by shining on the back of the subject. Proper three-point lighting is important to properly light interviews.

1. Lighting an
interviewee

2. starter

3. What should be the most well lit
part of our frame in an interview?

4. Why do we want the person to be
more well lit than the background?

5. What’s wrong with the lighting
setup of this interview?

6. What side of her face is
the best lit?

7. We call this light the key
light
It is the brightest light, and should be on 1 side of their
face. They should stand out from the BG
KEY
LIGH
T

9. But we don’t want low key
lighting for our interviews
Why not?

10. We use a second light
called a fill light
This stops our lighting being too high contrast / low key
(deep shadow versus light). It should be dimmer than the
key light

12. We can also use a third light
called a backlight or kicker
This is shone on the back of the interviewee, so a bright
band of light separates neck and shoulders from the
background

14. We call this 3 point
lighting
It is the standard lighting setup for lighting an interviewee or
character.
Today you will be applying this knowledge to light and
record an interview.

15. Lighting do’s
• Treat the lamps carefully
• Carry them carefully
• Be mindful that they are dangerous
• Only touch them when they’ve been off for at least five
minutes
• Leave them on unattended
• Put the lamp head on carpet if they’ve been on

16. Lighting don’ts
• Touch the head of the
lamp if its been on
• Move a light while its on
• Drag a light
• Drop a light
• Leave them on
unattended
• Put the lamp head on
carpet if they’ve been on

17. Lighting don’ts
• Film facing a window (shoot away from it or put the
blinds down)