Vox Pops

Vox Pops

Vox pops are interviews with the members of the public; they help to gather information on a variety of opinions from a variety of people. They can be identified by looking at the setting, clothing and the look of the person being interviewed. The interviewed person does not look directly at the camera as he/she looks at the interviewer.

Conventions of a vox pop:

·       Vox pop is short for ‘vox populi’ which means ‘voice of the people’ or ‘man on the street’ in Latin.

·       Name, age and occupation of the interviewee

·       Usually on the street or a crowded area.

·       Question to the public and answers from the public.

·        Interviewer not visible, interviewee stands slightly to the right of the screen.

·       Straight cut between people.

·       Random selection of people.

·       Title with the question instead of hearing the question being repeated.

·       Duration of each shot is very short to avoid boredom for the audience with a rotation of people answering the given question with short, snappy answers.

·       Gaze is off camera, indirect gaze towards the interviewer, more informal.

·       Background is out of focus to avoid distraction from the interview.

 

6 questions to be asked in vox pops:

1.      Favourite thriller film opening? or What is your favourite thriller film?

2.      Why?

3.      What makes it different?

4.      What does a thriller need to make you want to watch on?

5.      What are the key conventions you would like to see in a thriller?

6.      What thriller openings do you remember?