Your personal lights, camera, and action.

Capture the perfect DIY footage with a Heck interview kit.

Pro-grade, beginner-friendly.

If you need to film a quick proper interview, but your time or budget are short… this DIY interview kit is the perfect solution. Easy enough for anyone to use. We ship you the kit, you film the interview, and ship it back to us for post-production.

What’s in the kit:

  • iPhone Pro

  • 2 mini lights

  • Wireless mic kit

  • Compact tripod

  • Phone mount

  • Charger & cable

  • Hard case w/ lock

Great videos, starring you.

This kit makes filming easy for a beginner working solo, but it’s even faster with a friend. Watch this handy tutorial! There’s also recap below.

Before filming

Everyone looks their best on camera when they are feeling clean, comfortable and confident. Start with your best look:

  • Clothes you love (avoid very fine lines, which can vibrate on camera with moire)

  • Haircut and/or shave

  • A clean, focused, quiet space with plenty of light

  • Makeup if needed

  • A bottle of water

Setting up

A few simple tips will help you look better than the average virtual meeting.

Lights

  • Best to film in daytime, facing a window or natural light source (but not in direct sunlight)

  • At night, you'll need to add as much light as possible to the room

  • Use one mini light as the keylight, beside the camera. Use two lights if needed. Or, the other light can go behind you as a backlight, to give some highlights and separation from the background

Camera

  • Most projects should be 4K, 24fps

  • Use ‘Cinematic Mode’ on the iPhone if available

  • The camera should be in horizontal/landscape mode, unless otherwise instructed

  • Put the camera at eye-level

  • Instead of a flat wall behind you, try a deeper background space

Microphones

  • Hide the mic among your clothing if possible, near the center middle of your chest

  • A second microphone should be placed by the camera (as a backup mic)

  • When the receiver is plugged in to the Phone, both microphones will automatically record you. But you should also press the REC button on each microphone for an internal backup recording

Action

  • Summon your best confidence, personality and enthusiasm for the topic. Smile! Draw us in.

  • Speak quickly, as fast as you can comfortably speak (nobody likes a slow presentation)

  • Make solid eye contact with the lens as you speak

  • Try standing if that brings out better energy

  • Slate: start each recording with a clap on camera, and say your name: “(clap) Michael Scott, take 1”. This will help the editor sync up your video and audio files later

  • Re-take as many times as you need. The editor will trim it all down so you sound your best :)

Wrap

  • Power-down all the devices, and re-charge them if possible

  • Carefully re-pack the kit, protecting the lenses and screens from damage

  • Files: the video and audio files can stay on the devices, we will transfer them when we receive the package

  • Lock or zip-tie the case closed (Contact your Heck producer for the combination)

  • Ship it to your assigned contact, or to the address on the Heck sticker

    • Contact your Heck producer for FedEx/UPS account numbers to bill it to our accounts

    • No box necessary – just stick a shipping label on the case

    • Be sure to share the tracking info with us

Thanks for filming with Heck!