How to Create Hollywood-Style CEO Interviews

You’ve landed an interview with a CXO. The stakes are high, their time is short, and the office lighting? Usually “fluorescent nightmare.” To make a corporate leader look like a visionary, you need more than just a camera—you need a strategy. Here are three cinematography tips for the C-suite.
First, kill the wall. Most executives want to sit right in front of their bookshelves or awards. Don’t let them. Pull your subject at least six to eight feet away from the background. By increasing the distance between the subject and the “clutter,” you create a shallow depth of field. Use a lens like a 50mm or 85mm at a wider aperture—say, $f/2.8$—to melt that background into a soft, professional bokeh. It makes the CXO the undisputed focal point of the frame.
Office ceiling lights are a cinematographer’s enemy—they create “raccoon eyes.” Turn them off if you can, or at least dim them.
Position your key light 45 degrees to the side to create a slight shadow on the far side of the face. Then, use negative fill—a black flag or foam board—on the opposite side. This adds “shape” to their face, conveying a sense of seriousness and authority. You want them to look like they’re in a boardroom, not a grocery store.
Finally, watch your camera height. While a low angle can make someone look powerful, it can also look aggressive or unflattering for a CXO.
Keep the lens exactly at eye level. This creates a sense of transparency and peer-to-peer connection with the viewer. It says, “I’m a leader, but I’m accessible.” If you’re using a second “B-cam,” offset it by 30 degrees to capture a profile shot, giving your editor the ability to cut away during long answers.
Depth, shape, and level. Master these three, and you’ll turn a standard office into a cinematic stage.