GEAR
BUYERS’ GUIDE
T he contemporary aesthetic of direct-to-lens interviews lends a sense of honesty and intensity, but it can also unsettle subjects. To address this, TV companies employ shoot-through mirrors and large lens hoods, enabling interviewees to converse directly with a reflection of the interviewer. Affordable kits for replicating this set-up are now readily available, offering swift and straightforward assembly. DOWN-THE-LENS
VOXBOX PRO £1650 primelightdesign.co.uk
MAGIC VIDEO BOX £940 magicvideobox.co.uk
The Voxbox Pro – now in Mark II guise – costs £1650 for the complete kit, which comes in a hard case and can be left fully assembled for quick use. Instead of coming with a riser plate, it slides directly onto standard camera rails, while the height is adjustable. It comes with a set of soft doughnut-shaped seals to seal the light between the lens and the box. The box can also fit to a light stand for use with smaller cameras or cameras without rails. A clamp-on side mirror comes equipped with the Voxbox Pro II, which can be angled so the interviewer doesn’t have to be exactly 90° to the camera. The Voxbox Pro II can also be used as a teleprompter, either by turning the box on its side so the mirror glass is in a horizontal position, or by moving the glass. A tablet computer can then be placed on the bottom, acting as the teleprompter. The presenter can see the words while still looking directly into the camera; it’s a two-in-one solution! This also applies to the Magic Video Box. There are several different apps available to turn your standard-sized tablet into a teleprompter. Primelight Design offers its own £70/$96 Zeecue application for PC and Mac. It can be operated from a laptop by anyone off- camera, leaving the talent to concentrate on delivering their presentation.
The Magic Video Box comes in a fitted flight case, complete with everything you need. The kit is also available for rental, with the British-based company providing training services. Included in the kit is a riser plate designed to fit between your camera and tripod. While initially intended for bigger cameras, the riser can be adjusted for smaller models using the included hex wrench. Featuring slots for two standard 15mm rods – also provided – the riser can be securely fastened with clamps, protruding from the front of the camera. A large, square plate is fastened onto the rods, before the actual box is placed on top. A black cloth is included to form a light seal between your camera lens and the box, which fastens on with Velcro. Inside the big box unit is a shoot-though mirror glass at 45°. This special beamsplitter allows you to shoot right through it. When the box is placed with the mirror set vertically, the interviewer sits 90° to the camera. The interviewee gazes directly into the lens but sees a reflection of the interviewer, and vice versa. Additionally, the kit includes a rod and cloth to fasten across the box, forming a blind that prevents the talent from seeing the side of the interviewer’s face. This set-up encourages the interviewee to focus solely on their reflection, helping those who are not professional presenters.
Pros: Fast deployment Cons: Software costs extra
Pros: Works well and easy to use Cons: Set-up takes some time
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PROMOVIEMAKER.NET
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