We’re trying to get the gear together to setup our own interrotron in the office. Two teleprompters, two tripods, special plates, our go-to camera, and a camcorder. An Errol Morris creation, used to capture incredibly intimate and (depending on the content) unsettling interviews. It’s difficult for people not accustomed to being in front of a camera to stare directly into the lens and speak. Our hope is that with our DIY interrotron the interviewee can look directly into the lens of the camera without sacrificing the comfort or openness that comes with maintaining eye contact with the interviewer. I’m looking forward to getting the equipment and setting one up and seeing the footage that comes from it. Once we have the device setup though, we’re going to have to resist the urge to use it for every interview. There’s probably no need for the subject to be staring down the lens as though he’s looking into your soul if it’s just a promotional video for an investment banking firm. It’d give too much weight to something that really doesn’t require it. Nonetheless, it’ll be interesting to study the power of eye contact. In some ways to impact of direct eye contact almost feels in line with the impact of the Lumière brothers’ Train Pulling into a Station, although I’m not sure if the account of the audience running away from the screen in terror is just a rumor or not.