NYU Student Interviews

A series of interviews of English language students at NYU Shanghai

About NYU

NYU Shanghai is a branch of New York University located in China’s largest city. It was established in 2012 and is the first Sino-American research university with independent legal status in China. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a range of fields, including business, engineering, humanities, and social sciences. With a diverse student body representing over 70 countries and regions, NYU Shanghai provides a unique global education experience that prepares students for careers in an increasingly interconnected world. The university is also known for its commitment to research and innovation, with state-of-the-art facilities and collaborations with leading institutions and companies around the world.

Credits

Client: New York University in Shanghai

Director of Photography: Philippe Roy

www.Philippe-Roy.com

Production House: Kore Studios

www.KoreStudios.com

Editing: Bastien Robilliard

www.bastienrobilliard.com

Location: Filmed in Shanghai

What We Did

As the crew arrived at the studio, they were greeted by a team from NYU who had arranged for several students to be interviewed for the video. The crew quickly set up the lighting and cameras, making sure everything was in place for the first interviewee.

The interviews were designed to capture the experiences of NYU students in Shanghai, so the crew had prepared a set of questions that would prompt the students to reflect on their time in the city. The questions ranged from practical matters such as housing and transportation to more personal topics like cultural differences and language barriers.

The students were excited to participate in the video and shared their stories with enthusiasm. A big part of our role was to reassure them as they fought through some nervous moments in front of the cameras and crew. As the crew filmed each interview, they made sure to capture a variety of shots and angles, including close-ups of the students’ faces as they spoke and wider shots.

We settled on filming the interviews on a black background to really have the attention focused on them, but to also humanise them to the viewers.

Throughout the day, the crew worked efficiently, moving from one interview to the next with a minimum of fuss. They were careful to make sure that each interviewee felt comfortable and relaxed, and they took breaks when needed to ensure that everyone stayed energized and focused.

By the end of the day, the crew had captured hours of footage that would need to be edited down into a cohesive and engaging video. But as they packed up their equipment and said goodbye to the NYU team, they felt confident that they had successfully documented the unique experiences of NYU students in Shanghai.