A video interview and a video course look similar: one or more people talk to the camera, and the viewer has to hear every word. The difference is how they are prepared. An interview rests on questions and conversation, a course rests on a plan and short, clear parts. In this guide we describe how we film both formats in the studio, what to prepare in advance and what it costs.
How an interview differs from a course
An interview is a conversation. One person asks, the other answers, and the value is in answers that cannot be written down word for word in advance. What matters most here is that both people are heard equally well and that the edit has shots to choose from.
A video course or training is a lecture split into parts. Usually one person talks alone, looks into the camera and guides the viewer through the topic. What matters most here is the plan: which lessons, how many, what each one says and where the text has to be word for word.
We film both formats with the same equipment, but we set up the cameras differently and plan the filming day differently.
How we film an interview
- A separate microphone for each speaker. This way each voice can be treated on its own in the edit, and one person's cough or a creaking chair does not drown out the other.
- Several cameras at once. Usually a wide shot and a close-up for each speaker. The studio has up to 5 professional Sony video cameras, so a cut sentence does not show up as a jump in the picture.
- Questions in advance, answers not. The interviewee should know the topics and the first question, but should not rehearse the answers. Rehearsed answers sound read out on camera.
- The interviewer in the shot or off it. If the interview will be shown as a conversation, we film both. If it will be answers only (for example, client testimonials or expert comments), the interviewer sits next to the camera and the interviewee looks at them, not into the lens.
- A longer recording, a shorter result. We almost always record an interview longer than the final video, so the edit has material to choose from.
How we film a video course or training
- A plan before filming. A list of lessons with the main points for each. It saves the most filming time, because nobody has to stop and think about what comes next.
- Short parts. We film each lesson or part of it separately. After a mistake only that part is repeated, not the whole lesson, and it is easier for the viewer to return to a specific point.
- The teleprompter where precision matters. Definitions, numbers, introductions and closing lines can be read from the teleprompter. We do not recommend reading the whole course from it: it can be heard, and the speech becomes monotonous.
- The same look in every lesson. Clothes, light and background should stay the same, so that lessons filmed in one day or over several days look like one course. If you film over several days, bring the same clothes.
- Graphics and captions in the edit. Titles, diagrams and key points on screen are added during editing, so there is no need to hold them during filming.
What to prepare before you come
For an interview: the list of questions, the names and job titles of the interviewees for captions, and where the video will be shown. This decides whether we film horizontally only or you will also need short vertical clips for social media.
For a course: the lesson plan, text for the teleprompter where it is needed, and your logo or colours if you want them in the video. You can bring your own decorations or other branding items.
The studio has a separate make-up and changing area and a small kitchen for getting ready and taking a break. We write more about clothes and getting here in our guide on how to prepare for your first studio shoot, and if the camera makes you uneasy, our guide on how to feel confident on camera will help.
How long it takes and what it costs
A short interview or a few expert comments usually fit into two hours in the studio. For a course with many lessons, a full day is the better choice: cameras and light are set up once, and you film as many lessons as you manage. The operator works throughout the whole shoot and is included in the price.
The studio is soundproofed and located one floor below ground in a courtyard, so street noise does not get into the recording. Up to 4 people can take part in a recording at once. The full equipment list and photos are on the studio page.
| Service | Price | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Studio with operator and cameras, 2 h | €200 + VAT | An interview, a few expert comments, a short training |
| Studio with operator and cameras, 8 h | €700 + VAT | A video course with many lessons, several interviews in a day |
| Video editing | from €100 + VAT | Editing interviews or lessons with graphics and captions |
| Shorts, Reels, TikTok | from €40 + VAT each | Short clips from an interview or a course |
| On-location filming, 2 h | €350 + VAT | Interviews or trainings at your office or event |
The editing price depends on length and complexity. You get the edited video within 3-7 working days, and one round of changes is free. A weekend rate applies on Saturdays. The full price list is on the prices page, and more about editing is on the editing page.
When we are a good fit, and when we are not
We are a good fit when an interview or a course has to look and sound professional, when you need several cameras, separate microphones and a teleprompter, and when you want others to look after the technology while you think only about what you say.
We are not a good fit if the course is mostly a screen recording and your face only appears in a corner. Such a course does not need a studio, and we say so openly. We also do not rent the studio without an operator: if you only need a quiet room and have your own equipment and people, we will be too expensive.
If it is more convenient to film interviews or trainings at your office, at an event or at the interviewee's place, we come with the same team and equipment anywhere in Lithuania. We write about this on the on-location filming page. If you plan the interviews as a regular show, also see our guide on a podcast for business.