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The continuing power of the talking head
There’s a fair amount of criticism about using talking heads in videos these days. There seems to be a feeling that the standard talking head is a stale stylistic choice or that it’s inherently boring since it’s been the norm for so long. Many pieces nowadays sparingly use the talking head shot (or don’t use it at all) and instead engage the viewer through immersive b-roll. This works well for a wide variety of subject matter.
However, when the storytelling is compelling, the use of the talking head remains one of the best ways to communicate ideas visually.
This piece which is one of the New York Times Op-Docs is a masterclass in storytelling and I think partly what makes it so extraordinary is that it’s nearly 12 mins long with only talking heads and zero b-roll. Congrats to the filmmaker, Irene Taylor Brodsky. It’s phenomenal work.
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2 Replies
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People will forgive a lot, if the content is compelling enough. And an eternal truth is that humans are innately fascinated by other humans. From carnival “freak” shows of old, to Kardashians today, it’s the same thing.
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[Mark Suszko] “And an eternal truth is that humans are innately fascinated by other humans.”
This has to be the single most important thing a film-maker needs to know.
There is literally nothing as engaging as watching another human being be another human being.
No amount of fancy visuals will ever compete with the magic that happens when a camera looks at a human face,
Simon Ubsdell
tokyo productions
hawaiki
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