Motion Picture & Video Production Tips | Eye-line

How do you make a good video?

Maybe you already know some of the details that make for a good video.

There are the technical bits of having your camera and software settings optimized.

Plus, dialing in the lighting, composition, perspective, having good audio, performance, authenticity, energy etc.

Then there is the creative world of having the eye and feel (yes, all the feels ;) for how to film what when and why.

A lot of winging it can pay off with good trial and error, but winging it can also leave you not knowing what your doing at all…

Kinda like me in this blog post! I am just winging it right now! (^_^)/**

But really, I am trying to share this great information about eye-line with you so hang in here.

Check this out.

Eye-line perspective is the line of sight your subjects are making based on the camera's perspective and their perspective.

When a subject looks directly into the lens it creates a connection that simulates eye contact for viewers. Direct eye contact into the lens is a staple of video blogs, but we also see this in the news. Reporters will be talking to someone near them and then turn and look directly into the lens to address their audience.

When we as viewers see the subject looking away from the lens it can feel as if we are peering in on a conversation we are not apart of because there is no simulated eye contact.

Now lets think about something else. Where is the camera positioned in all of this? Yeah, what is the composition, perspective, and how does that change the eye line?

There are endless different combinations for where your subject is looking and where your camera is pointed. I don’t think there is one general formula to use for making a good video, but I think being aware of these concepts will help consider what you are doing in relation to your intentions when setting up shots.

Keeping the camera at your subjects eye level will create a feeling as if the viewer is equal to what they are watching. If the camera is positioned below the subjects eye level the viewer will feel like they are looking up to the subject. The opposite is true if the camera is above eye line, viewers will feel as if they are looking down on the subject. Keep these perspectives in mind when considering what your intentions are for the shot.

Directing and filming interviews of people is much different than filming a video blog, but they do cross over and the concepts can support each other.

So, how do you make a good video? Did I answer that question? Not exactly, but I got to start my day by sharing this with you, and that feels good...to me...for some reason...cue all the feels (^_^)/** ...weird...I know.

Okay, here are a few examples of shots from some of my recent productions.

| Here is a still frame of a video where the subject is looking directly into the lens with the camera set right at eye level.

| In this still frame the camera is also positioned at eye level, but the subject is talking to an interviewer off screen. Notice how he is slightly looking down towards the interviewer.

Cue up some of your favorite videos here online, start watching, and take note of what you are seeing.

Becoming aware of camera position in relation to the subjects eyes, and where the subject is looking will open up an area of awareness that I hope helps your video productions.

Cheers!