Context footage
What is context footage?
Capturing the moment
Context footage serves to show viewers some aspect of what the interviewee (or narrator) is actually talking about. For example, if the video features a cyclist talking about training, context footage might capture key moments in the process: close up of preparation; wide shot on race track etc...
Context footage also allows the editor to cover edit points. Continuing from the above example, if the interview with the baker lasted 15 minutes and the target time for the video was 2 minutes, most of the interview footage will be edited out and likely reordered too. Without context footage these edits would be visible to the viewer and possibly jarring to the extent of making the video unwatchable.
There are a number of approaches to capturing context footage. The simplest is fly-on-the-wall style: the camera operator takes shots from a distance, without getting in the way of the activity. This can produce natural and spontaneous looking footage.
A second option is to "stage" the activity. Often this just means repeating something that has been picked up as potentially useful but from a different angle or closer to the action. This can really bring out detail in an activity.
In practice, generally the only limits to staging settings or activities are available time and willingness of participants.
Whether spontaneous or staged, context footage plays a key role in producing video which engages and holds the viewer's attention. It supports the spoken element by letting the viewer see both the detail and broader picture. In fact, it's not uncommon for context footage to take up more screen time than interviewees, especially if the film uses a narrator.
Our advice would be to always try and go the extra mile to get good context footage. Time spent identifying and organising opportunities during preproduction is usually time very well spent.
