I love watching Chef's Table. I think that's the first time I saw a cinematic documentary. I love how they tell the story and the shots of the food are just breathtaking. It's inspired me to want to make everything I do cinematic, it shows me that something as "mundane" as an interview or a shot of a bowl of noodles can be art.
The documentary series "Explained" has stunning interviews. Not only because these scenes are super well lit, but also the lighting matches the compositions amazingly. The marriage between lighting and composition is something that should always be kept in mind.
In Free Solo, there were many interview scenes taking place in Alex's (the climber) van. It's a tight space where he eats, sleeps, and trains in, which helps build his character. And they make great use of different tones of natural light coming through the windshield indicate the passing of time and the growing tension leading up to his climb.
Just watched ReMastered: Devil at the Crossroads. It gave me a feel that they really knew how to work their lights. With depth, whole lotta contrast, playing with different colors on the background as well. They sure took care of preparing thoroughly the different location for the interviews.
One really great recent example are some of the interview setups in Three Identical Strangers. Simplicity at its finest. The mood, texture and framing were perfect for that doc.
I'm in love with the cinematic interviews in Chefs Table. They are all about the perfect balance of location, light and emotion. It's near impossible to find a single interview in that show that I'm not in love with, and want to analyse to improve my own interviews.
The first season episode one of Wild Wild Country has one of my fav interview set ups, from lighting the set, composition, color temp. I still use that episode for reference before I write my videos. Wayyy to nice!
All of the doco interviews from the series MARS are amazing - all shot close up on a really wide lens with nice lighting and huge, deep soft backgrounds.
I just watched the documentary short Nzingha. The lighting complements the natural sources so well! Incredibly dynamic and cinematic implementation. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Wild wild country . The interviews definitely popped to me. Some great lighting choices happening there (not to mention insane doc). And I loved your fyre fest and Jim carry refs. Thanks for sharing
My go to for interview lighting is Errol Morris' "Fast, Cheap and out of Conrol". Soft, wrapping light. Large source which I love. Natural roll-off contrast and brilliant use of the Interrotron. All of this is juxtaposed with the less formal cinematic style of the B-Roll, which utilizes black & white, dutch angles, scrubby video footage and so much more!
These behind the scenes of how to do lighting are very nice. Not only are they very good, but its showing that most of the time your using more or less the same equipment. When I first seen this, I was intimidated cause it looked like you needed 20 different lights and wrote it off. I'm glad its growing on me. :)
The Defiant Ones - an HBO mini docuseries of stories of Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Love the way each person was lit in each interview. They had tons of artists sit down and tell stories.
Hotel Cecil on Netflix has amazing interview setups, they are very contrasty and work well with the narrative. There was little to no reflection on their skin which looked very professional. My only think wrong with it was the white balance or at least the colour of the light hitting the interviewee's faces, it made some of them a bit red in the face but arguably it felt right for creating a dingy and mysterious atmosphere!
I tend to emulate a window for motivated lighting using tube lights and shower curtains as diffusion with a daylight key. I also tend to use incandescent practicals for colour contrast in the background.
Won't you be my neighbor had some of the best cinematic lighting for a documentary I've ever seen. It was snubbed at the Oscars, and deserves more recognition
The documentary I like how they use great cinematic lighting was Leaving Neverland and I liked how they use existing lightings plus a combination of two different temperatures. I think that help the viewers connect with the two main characters of the story.
I gotta win that light " Leaving Neverland" has some pretty good lighting with their interviews. I loved this tutorial, thx guys; I'll also follow you on the other platforms.
I recently watched The Dawn Wall on Netflix. Great documetary with breathtaking footage! They needed to be really flexible with the camera, so I think it was pretty hard to get good lighting for interviews, but in my opinon they made a great job using natural light.
The interviews in the netflix doc "The legend of Cocaine Island" were very cinematic. The lighting really conveyd a very moody feel and added to the story. Actually the whole doc looks very nice regarding lighting.
I recently watched a short documentary from The Atlantic about the Pearson Twins. It was called “Identical Twins Who Look Nothing Alike” - it was interesting itself, but I did find it intriguing how they were able to honestly make Mr Adam Pearson as flattering as they were able to in many different locations. It was a pretty neat video and also a bit heartbreaking.
Im a sucker for chefs table, but the most recent one ive seen, a few days ago to be precise was hand cut, by Griffin Hammond. Yeaah, bring over them lights! Hehehe
To be honest I haven't really watched any documentaries lately in Netflix, but I'm super into Banger TV's interviews to Metal musicians. That is something I'm really working hard to achive in my country: create mature and serious content related to Metal and Rock bands.
Hi my name is Erick Villaran... I really like the interview setups from the Netflix Canadian reality show "Highway Thru Hell", specially when they sit in front of the lit rescue trucks to narrate their versions of the wrecks they rescued. Thanks!
I LOVE these cinematic 101 videos! One question, what would you recommend when the lighting source comes from fluorescent lights, like in an office space?
I thought the lighting in The Legend of Cocaine Island was really great. Varied and interesting, they did a great job of communicating the contributor's personality. The reconstructions using the actual protagonist gave it a very humorous feel. What impressed me most was the use of a moving camera in one of the interviews (not sure if it was on a dolly). It takes a very good eye/ear to direct a move like that on the fly, and a good editor to recognise that the move-in works with the moment in the story, and not try to cover it up.
I'm watching this in 2021 😬😬😬!! But my most recent documentary with amazing cinematic lighting for me was Britney vs Spears!! Thanks for the tips. Much love from Nairobi, Kenya
I thought Nobody Speak was done beautifully. The interview lighting drew you into the subject and kept you interested in what they were discussing. Maybe not the most creative, but i think used for the purpose of the story.
I haven't watched a documentary in a while but I did just watch The Creative Brain on Netflix and some of those interviews had some interesting lighting.
The new reboot of "Unsolved Mysteries" on Netflix does an amazing job of using existing light. The subject blends so well with the environment, and the exposure on everything is so even, that it looks as if there is no studio lighting at all. "The Last Dance" is another great example of this. I am shooting a documentary, and I am looking for a video that explains how they accomplish this! Can you guys so a video on that?
This wasn’t really what you’d expect “on location”. But interesting. Personally I’d like to see more indie filmmakers rather than big DPs. Most of us watching this don’t have half the resources those guys have. Keep the good work. Love your channel
MasterClass's Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking, if you look at the trailer, at 0:37 is an incredibly beautifully lit shot. A lot of other interviews from MasterClass felt very standard, and this one felt like Scorsese had a lot of influence on the lighting set up.
A recent documentary I watched that had GREAT and diverse on-location lighting was Netflix’s The Creative Brain -and, is a fascinating collection of insights mixing neuroscience & creativity! Definitely check it out!!
Hands down, "James Dean - The First American Teenager" for the best on-location interviews. This documentary showcases some of the best interviews/lighting, plus the iconic footage of the one and only James Dean, plus a lot of stuff I never knew about him (Which is rare bc I read a Lot about him). But if I win the contest, I would make a video review on CZcams for the prize and call it, "Aperture AL-MW - My First American Lighting" xD (Since all the lights I bought, from overseas, busted in the back of my car yesterday otw to set-up for a photoshoot that my client later canceled anyways... lol)
I like the lighting on the latest Netflix F1 documentary (Drive to Survive). Almost every time a classic very simple one light setup with lots of shadows on the other side of the face. But what was interesting for me, that sometimes on a B cam they intentionally left the light in the frame as an element of the shot. First time seeing something like that. If it wasn't a Netflix production it would definitely look like a production mistake ;-).
I just watched "The Seven Five" on Netflix. They used a very interesting camera overhead shot with harsh light as the criminal spoke about action sequences of the story. It really did give an animated feel to the events he was talking about. The other interviews were almost disturbing as they interviewed violent drug lords with soft light and soft shadows.
Not sure if this is technically a documentary, but the Masterclass interviews look sooo buttery and cinematic.
That's what I searched, how to light like they do for their interviews, and landed on this!
That was the breadcrumb that got me here.
I love watching Chef's Table. I think that's the first time I saw a cinematic documentary. I love how they tell the story and the shots of the food are just breathtaking. It's inspired me to want to make everything I do cinematic, it shows me that something as "mundane" as an interview or a shot of a bowl of noodles can be art.
The documentary series "Explained" has stunning interviews. Not only because these scenes are super well lit, but also the lighting matches the compositions amazingly. The marriage between lighting and composition is something that should always be kept in mind.
In Free Solo, there were many interview scenes taking place in Alex's (the climber) van. It's a tight space where he eats, sleeps, and trains in, which helps build his character. And they make great use of different tones of natural light coming through the windshield indicate the passing of time and the growing tension leading up to his climb.
Just watched ReMastered: Devil at the Crossroads.
It gave me a feel that they really knew how to work their lights.
With depth, whole lotta contrast, playing with different colors on the background as well. They sure took care of preparing thoroughly the different location for the interviews.
One really great recent example are some of the interview setups in Three Identical Strangers. Simplicity at its finest. The mood, texture and framing were perfect for that doc.
I was floored by Netflix's documentary about the FYRE festival. Very classically cinematic...and GREAT lens choices!
I'm in love with the cinematic interviews in Chefs Table. They are all about the perfect balance of location, light and emotion. It's near impossible to find a single interview in that show that I'm not in love with, and want to analyse to improve my own interviews.
The first season episode one of Wild Wild Country has one of my fav interview set ups, from lighting the set, composition, color temp. I still use that episode for reference before I write my videos. Wayyy to nice!
All of the doco interviews from the series MARS are amazing - all shot close up on a really wide lens with nice lighting and huge, deep soft backgrounds.
I just watched the documentary short Nzingha. The lighting complements the natural sources so well! Incredibly dynamic and cinematic implementation.
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Wild wild country . The interviews definitely popped to me. Some great lighting choices happening there (not to mention insane doc). And I loved your fyre fest and Jim carry refs. Thanks for sharing
My go to for interview lighting is Errol Morris' "Fast, Cheap and out of Conrol". Soft, wrapping light. Large source which I love. Natural roll-off contrast and brilliant use of the Interrotron. All of this is juxtaposed with the less formal cinematic style of the B-Roll, which utilizes black & white, dutch angles, scrubby video footage and so much more!
I *LOVED* Free Solo. It's a must watch, and the cinematography is outstanding.
Needed this! Would like to see more on cinematic natural lighting for daylight, maybe against a window like the shot at 0:49
"Dealt" documentary's interview lighting is top notch!
These behind the scenes of how to do lighting are very nice. Not only are they very good, but its showing that most of the time your using more or less the same equipment. When I first seen this, I was intimidated cause it looked like you needed 20 different lights and wrote it off. I'm glad its growing on me. :)
Leaving Neverland! Some of the best interview lighting I’ve seen
The lighting for the Fyre Documentary on Netflix is Nice. It was very cinematic!!!
For Netflix, Wild Wild Country!
In general, The Imposter is my favorite doc for cinematic interview lighting.
The Defiant Ones - an HBO mini docuseries of stories of Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Love the way each person was lit in each interview. They had tons of artists sit down and tell stories.
Please more of these lighting for interviews :) its always great to get inspired from you guys.
Hotel Cecil on Netflix has amazing interview setups, they are very contrasty and work well with the narrative. There was little to no reflection on their skin which looked very professional. My only think wrong with it was the white balance or at least the colour of the light hitting the interviewee's faces, it made some of them a bit red in the face but arguably it felt right for creating a dingy and mysterious atmosphere!
I tend to emulate a window for motivated lighting using tube lights and shower curtains as diffusion with a daylight key. I also tend to use incandescent practicals for colour contrast in the background.
Wormwood has amazing cinematography on both interviews and recreated scenes!
Errol Morris is the GOAT.
Won't you be my neighbor had some of the best cinematic lighting for a documentary I've ever seen. It was snubbed at the Oscars, and deserves more recognition
The documentary I like how they use great cinematic lighting was Leaving Neverland and I liked how they use existing lightings plus a combination of two different temperatures. I think that help the viewers connect with the two main characters of the story.
Great video. I loved the lighting in Wild Wild Country!
Loved this episode..... I’m a fan of the lighting setup in No Country for Old Men
Any of the Chef's Table interviews are sooo well done
I loved the lighting on "Trespassing".
Street Food on Netflix was great. Even the interviews looks delicious.
I gotta win that light " Leaving Neverland" has some pretty good lighting with their interviews. I loved this tutorial, thx guys; I'll also follow you on the other platforms.
The Fyre Festival documentary’s cinematic lighting was pretty well done.
I recently watched The Dawn Wall on Netflix. Great documetary with breathtaking footage! They needed to be really flexible with the camera, so I think it was pretty hard to get good lighting for interviews, but in my opinon they made a great job using natural light.
The interviews in the netflix doc "The legend of Cocaine Island" were very cinematic. The lighting really conveyd a very moody feel and added to the story. Actually the whole doc looks very nice regarding lighting.
Epic! Keep this series going... love it
I recently watched a short documentary from The Atlantic about the Pearson Twins. It was called “Identical Twins Who Look Nothing Alike” - it was interesting itself, but I did find it intriguing how they were able to honestly make Mr Adam Pearson as flattering as they were able to in many different locations. It was a pretty neat video and also a bit heartbreaking.
Masterclass interviews is the best!
whoa, actual experts on youtube! Gotta study a bit to take this all in.
the casting of jonbenet had some of the nicest middle of the frame interview lighting I’ve ever seen
I liked the outdoor interviews used in Free Solo!
Wow! I didn't know that Aputure was making tutorials. Thumbs up!
I LOVE these. Keep rolling!
I think the lighting in the FYRE documentary is beautiful and cinematic!
webling3 yes!
Melhores dicas, SEMPRE!
I love the interviews in The Defiant Ones and in The 13th
This was really, really awesome...great stuff.
Wild wild country !!!! Danm how they have mixed old footages and interviews
Aputure + Cooke Optics = best cinematography channels, thnx!
Im a sucker for chefs table, but the most recent one ive seen, a few days ago to be precise was hand cut, by Griffin Hammond.
Yeaah, bring over them lights! Hehehe
Amazing light setup..I've always wanted to know who lights the Masterclass interview ads that I keep on watching online, now I know 👍
Great tips here. Really like the b cam compositions
Cartel land had some crazy awesome cinematic interviews
i loved the netflix documentary Hellier, the interview shots looked so real/natural but so creepy!
To be honest I haven't really watched any documentaries lately in Netflix, but I'm super into Banger TV's interviews to Metal musicians. That is something I'm really working hard to achive in my country: create mature and serious content related to Metal and Rock bands.
The imposter has my favorite interview lighting as of recently.
Hi my name is Erick Villaran... I really like the interview setups from the Netflix Canadian reality show "Highway Thru Hell", specially when they sit in front of the lit rescue trucks to narrate their versions of the wrecks they rescued. Thanks!
OMG the video is gold!
My fav documentary nowdays is the Dan Brown interviews from Masterclass
I LOVE these cinematic 101 videos! One question, what would you recommend when the lighting source comes from fluorescent lights, like in an office space?
I thought the lighting in The Legend of Cocaine Island was really great. Varied and interesting, they did a great job of communicating the contributor's personality. The reconstructions using the actual protagonist gave it a very humorous feel. What impressed me most was the use of a moving camera in one of the interviews (not sure if it was on a dolly). It takes a very good eye/ear to direct a move like that on the fly, and a good editor to recognise that the move-in works with the moment in the story, and not try to cover it up.
I'm watching this in 2021 😬😬😬!!
But my most recent documentary with amazing cinematic lighting for me was Britney vs Spears!!
Thanks for the tips.
Much love from Nairobi, Kenya
I thought Nobody Speak was done beautifully. The interview lighting drew you into the subject and kept you interested in what they were discussing. Maybe not the most creative, but i think used for the purpose of the story.
Faces/Places, killer lighting
Love the lighting in "The Legend of Cocaine Island" on Netflix, so cinematic and so clean!
Loved the interviews in the pool hall and bar in The Legend of Cocaine Island.
Great video. Love the channel
Does Lt Joe Kenda's interviews count? I just love how the light his talking head scenes.
Maluma CZcams Original has one of the most appealing setups Ive seen for a documentary.
great job guys great chatting at NAB too
The Fear of 13 had some amazing cinematic lighting interview set ups
Strong Island was very well shot
I haven't watched a documentary in a while but I did just watch The Creative Brain on Netflix and some of those interviews had some interesting lighting.
glad I found your page!
I really liked the lighting in Omega: A Name Born in 1894 (told by Eddie Redmayne)
Great! Thanks!
The Defient Ones was the first documentary that actually blew me away with their cinematics. Even with the interviews
The new reboot of "Unsolved Mysteries" on Netflix does an amazing job of using existing light. The subject blends so well with the environment, and the exposure on everything is so even, that it looks as if there is no studio lighting at all. "The Last Dance" is another great example of this. I am shooting a documentary, and I am looking for a video that explains how they accomplish this! Can you guys so a video on that?
the boyband con I found interesting with the framing
This wasn’t really what you’d expect “on location”. But interesting. Personally I’d like to see more indie filmmakers rather than big DPs. Most of us watching this don’t have half the resources those guys have. Keep the good work. Love your channel
The 4 part series on Punk rock produced by Iggy Pop. Great interviews.
Spitfire documentary has amazing naturalistic interview lighting.
The disappereance of madeleine Mccane had some awesome cinematic interviews!
MasterClass's Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking, if you look at the trailer, at 0:37 is an incredibly beautifully lit shot. A lot of other interviews from MasterClass felt very standard, and this one felt like Scorsese had a lot of influence on the lighting set up.
Hard to pick a favourite here. But one I saw recently with amazing cinematography and lighting is fight world on Netflix
David Yarrow’s interview on YouPic. It’s black n white but the lighting is amazing.
A recent documentary I watched that had GREAT and diverse on-location lighting was Netflix’s The Creative Brain -and, is a fascinating collection of insights mixing neuroscience & creativity! Definitely check it out!!
Leaving never land doco looked nice
Hands down, "James Dean - The First American Teenager" for the best on-location interviews. This documentary showcases some of the best interviews/lighting, plus the iconic footage of the one and only James Dean, plus a lot of stuff I never knew about him (Which is rare bc I read a Lot about him). But if I win the contest, I would make a video review on CZcams for the prize and call it, "Aperture AL-MW - My First American Lighting" xD (Since all the lights I bought, from overseas, busted in the back of my car yesterday otw to set-up for a photoshoot that my client later canceled anyways... lol)
It would be very helpful if we would know the lighting contrast between all the lights. Thanks
I like the lighting on the latest Netflix F1 documentary (Drive to Survive). Almost every time a classic very simple one light setup with lots of shadows on the other side of the face. But what was interesting for me, that sometimes on a B cam they intentionally left the light in the frame as an element of the shot. First time seeing something like that. If it wasn't a Netflix production it would definitely look like a production mistake ;-).
Wild w country evry day of the week
Bit late but some of the location interviews on Finding Big Country are perfect.
I loved the recent documentary from MKBHD about the original Gameboy
Id have ti say finding Neverland was really beautiful lighting
What focal length did you use with the arcade video? 21/24 ish? Love to know.
Is there any reason you didn't just ND the practical or add dimmer/lower wattage bulb versus the lens and compensating with even more luminance?
I just watched "The Seven Five" on Netflix. They used a very interesting camera overhead shot with harsh light as the criminal spoke about action sequences of the story. It really did give an animated feel to the events he was talking about. The other interviews were almost disturbing as they interviewed violent drug lords with soft light and soft shadows.
"For Sama", amazing documentary by the way! Is the Apurture giveaway still happening? 🙏🏼