Filming an interpreter beside the main speaker

Decide who the video is for, then plan so the interpreter can be seen, heard or both, as that audience needs. Agree positions, lighting and sound with the organiser and the interpreter before the event, not on the day.

An interpreter is part of the message. If they are cut off by the frame, hidden by a podium or drowned out by the main speaker, the video loses what the interpreter was there to provide.

Should the interpreter be seen, heard, or both?

The answer depends on the interpreter and the viewer.

If the video will also carry subtitles, see captions, translated subtitles and transcripts so the interpreter and subtitles do not repeat each other without reason. Our event video captions and subtitles service covers the subtitle side.

How is an interpreter framed?

There are three common ways, and each has trade-offs.

1. One wide shot holds speaker and interpreter together. It is simple, but both may look small on a phone.
2. Two cameras, one on each person, let the editor switch or show both side by side. This gives clearer detail but needs more crew. Read about multi-camera event recording.
3. A fixed inset keeps the interpreter in a corner of the picture throughout. It suits sign language, where the interpreter must stay visible at all times.

Whichever you choose, check how it looks at phone size, because most viewers will watch on a small screen.

For example, at a one-day forum with a seated interpreter beside a lectern, a second camera on the interpreter may be worth planning. This is an illustration, not a fixed recommendation.

What should you agree with the interpreter and organiser?

Interpreters often work from a booth, a table or a spot beside the stage. Speak to them before the day and settle these points:

• Where they will stand or sit, and whether it will change.
• Lighting on their face and hands, and a background that does not distract.
• Sight lines, so the camera never blocks the audience.
• Their microphone, or access to a feed from the venue’s system.
• Whether they agree to be recorded and shared, and where.
• Whether interpreters take turns, so position and sound stay the same.
• Which language each voice speaks, so the editor can label them.
• Whether the interpreter’s voice is delivered as a separate file or mixed into one video.

The organiser should confirm the venue allows extra camera positions and cables. Our venue filming questions checklist lists what to ask.

How should the sound be recorded and delivered?

Clear sound comes from clear sources. Ask whether the interpreter can have their own microphone or whether the venue can give a feed. The audio brief builder helps you write this down.

Decide how files are delivered: a single video with both voices, or separate audio tracks the viewer can choose. Separate tracks are possible only when each voice is recorded on its own. Confirm this in advance.

Test before the day: agree a short test frame showing the interpreter and speaker together, and check it on a phone as well as a large screen.