Choosing the Best Backdrop for a Video Interview

We’re showing you how to find the best video interview background for your production. Considering things like whether you’re shooting inside or outside, in a large space or small, and what the purpose of your interview is, we show you how to make the choice as to which video backdrop is best. Captivate your audience, keep them interested, and let your interview subject shine with these tips for choosing the best backdrop for a video interview.

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Solid Background or Not

The first major decision to make when choosing the best backdrop for your video interview is whether to shoot with a solid background or to shoot with a busy background.

A solid background, such as a greenroom, allows for the background to be adjusted to your liking in editing by visual effects designers but this is not always a cost-effective approach for interviews. You would be amazed at the difference in quality when viewers are not distracted.

A busy background is not usually ideal because we don’t want to distract viewers from the subject of the interview. Therefore, it is usually best to choose a solid or semi-solid background that will provide enough visual appeal to the audience without being overly interruptive of his or her view.

Get Permission for the Location

Before you think of a great background where you can shoot your interview, you need to make sure you have permission to do so. Some backgrounds are certainly pristine, but they are not always welcome to video production. If you don’t have permission to shoot, things could get messy fast. 

If shooting an interview at your local office or a similar place where permission is not needed, the only major concern will be to ensure that the area will be free and quiet when you intend to shoot.

Perhaps you’ll shoot in a particular room or zone. Just make sure that you take the appropriate steps to secure the location in advance so as not to reach any obstacles at film shoot time.

Avoid Distracting Visuals

Backgrounds that are overly busy can be extremely disruptive. Viewers struggle to listen and pay attention to the interview because they are busy focusing on the background in these situations.

Likewise, shooting in a place where there is a lot going on, people coming and going, loud noise or other interruptions can make for a tough interview. You won’t be focused, the subject won’t be focused and there’s a good chance the audience won’t focus either.

Choose a Relevant Background

The background that you choose must be relevant to the overall interview that you are conducting. You wouldn’t want to have a background full of flowers and butterflies if your interview is about men in the union.

That’s a poor example, but you should get the point. The background needs to be relative to the topic. It should help the viewer to connect the dots of what the interview subject is saying.

Use Texture and Depth to Your Advantage

Sometimes, blurring the background is a great way to capture the shot without going over the top. You can add depth and texture to the shot simply by blurring the background in a way that brings focus on the subject.

This naturally makes the subject easier to focus on and it pulls the viewer’s attention slightly in. 

Don’t Shoot in a Conference Room

A conference room simply does not provide the background that you need to keep the interview interesting and the background relevant to the topic. Conference rooms are quiet, but they are also as boring as it gets. Your viewer will likely be dissatisfied and uninterested if you shoot in this type of location.

Choose a Background Based on the Topic

Again, staying relevant, it is important to choose a background that aligns with the topic of production. An office background may be great for a testimonial video, but not so much if you’re interviewing an archaeologist.

Similarly, the office environment can quickly get noisy and interruptions are almost guaranteed so this is likely not the best choice for most interviews even if this is where you meet up with your subject to prepare. 

Preparation is key in choosing the best backdrop for video interviews. If you’re not prepared, it’s easy to overlook important elements or to miss noises or other interruptions that could derail your interview. Before you begin filming, make sure you choose a background that’s perfect for your production.