Interrotron - a great invention, but a terrible name…

In the 1990s, legendary documentary maker Errol Morris revolutionised filmed interviews with his new device.

It involved two cameras - one pointing at the subject, one at the interviewer. Each camera had a teleprompter in front of the lens, which showed each person the face of the other.

This meant that when the subject looked at the interviewer's face and spoke to them, it gave the impression that they were speaking to the audience. And because they saw the interviewer instead of the camera lens, they were calmer and more confident.

You may know the name of that device - the interrotron. Who thought that name was going to put people at ease? It sounds like a torture device!

Nevertheless, it was an ingenious invention. But it was thirty years ago. Times have changed, and carrying two cameras to every interview isn’t ideal.

Are you still using the interrotron setup? Or would you benefit from something more modern and efficient?

Take a look at our VoxBox series for perfect (not torturous!) down-the-lens interviews.