interviewing choice

[Marcus Martell]

Boom operator= all the stuff on those bag
without boom operator = xlr cable straight to the xlr inputs on the camera with a guy (not experienced in capturing audio) that holds the boom.....Is this a very ugly solution?

[Steve House]

Boom operator= all the stuff on those bag
without boom operator = xlr cable straight to the xlr inputs on the camera with a guy (not experienced in capturing audio) that holds the boom.....Is this a very ugly solution?

Very ugly - operating the gear in the bag is not the essential skill of the boom operator and the skills they need have nothing to do with the bag. Indeed, on feature sets where the sound is handled by a mixer working from an equipment cart the boom op doesn't usually wear a bag. Manipulating the boom and keep the mic precisely aimed, at an exactly constant distance from the speaker so the level of his voice is constant, keep the mic or boom from casting a shadow or dipping into the shot, all the while following precisely the motions of the subject are their essentail skills. It's a highly rehearsed ballet that not everyone is capable of doing well. Using just any avaiable warm body is akin to hiring a blind person as a DP.

[Pete Cofrancesco]

For all the reasons Steve said.

I didn't think I needed to state the obvious that interviewed ppl often change their position or the direction they are talking, which would require a reposition of the boom. Not to mention avoiding getting the boom or its shadow in the shot, especially when doing a multi-camera shoot that includes a wide shot.