Remote Video Interviews

Interview anyone, anywhere, and walk away with broadcast-grade footage — not a compressed video-call recording. You control the framing, focus and exposure on their phone; the file is captured at full resolution.

Short answer

A remote video interview is an on-camera interview where the subject and the producer are in different places. With CLOS you don’t just join a call — you take control of the camera on your subject’s phone, setting the frame, focus and exposure, while full-resolution footage records locally and uploads to your cloud dashboard. The result looks like a real shoot, not a pixelated Zoom capture.

Key takeaways

Direct the subject's camera remotely — framing, focus, exposure and white balance, not just a join link
Capture full-resolution footage locally instead of a compressed, bandwidth-throttled call recording
Files upload to your cloud dashboard in real time, ready to edit the moment you wrap
Browser-first rooms — guests and clients join with a link, no install or login friction
Works with any recent iPhone or Android, anywhere in the world

A remote video interview running in CLOS — the producer frames and exposes the subject's phone camera while full-resolution footage records.

What is a remote video interview?

A remote video interview is an interview shot on camera where the interviewer, the subject and the rest of the crew are not in the same room. Most teams reach for a video-conferencing tool, then live with the consequences: soft, compressed footage, automatic exposure that drifts, and framing they can’t fix. A proper remote interview workflow gives the producer real control over how the subject is captured and preserves the footage at full quality.

CLOS turns the subject’s phone into a directable cinema-style camera. You frame the shot, lock focus and exposure, and the footage is captured at native resolution on the device — then delivered to the cloud — so what you get back is edit-ready interview footage, not a screen recording of a call.

How a remote video interview works

CLOS keeps the shoot feeling like a real set, even when your subject is on the other side of the planet.

Step one of a remote video interview — creating a room and inviting the subject and clients with a link.

Create a room and invite your subject

Spin up a session and send a single link. Your interview subject, a second guest or a client can all join in seconds from a browser — no account or download required.

Step two — the interview subject joins from a phone on a tripod and the producer sees the live camera feed.

Pair the subject's camera

The subject opens CLOS on their phone and props it on a tripod or stand. You see their live feed instantly and can guide framing, distance and lighting before you roll.

Step three — directing a remote interview with full camera control and recording full-resolution footage.

Direct and record remotely

Set the frame, lock focus and exposure, choose white balance, then start recording. Footage is captured at full resolution on the device, not squeezed through the call's video stream. Every take uploads to your cloud dashboard as you go, so your editor can start cutting the moment the conversation ends — no file transfers to chase down.

Why producers choose CLOS for remote interviews

An interview is only as good as the footage you walk away with. CLOS protects image quality and directorial control end to end.

Why CLOS

Footage you can actually grade — full-resolution, locally recorded clips, not call compression artifacts
Directorial control — you set the frame and exposure, so every subject is captured consistently
No travel — book and shoot interviews across time zones the same day
Built to shoot, not to talk — a conferencing app optimizes for low bandwidth; CLOS optimizes for quality
Multi-subject ready — capture each guest at full quality for a clean two-camera edit
Fast turnaround — cloud delivery means the edit starts before your guest logs off

Remote interviews: CLOS vs. Zoom vs. flying a crew

How a CLOS remote interview compares to recording a video call and flying out a crew.
	CLOS remote interview	Zoom / call recording	In-person crew
Footage quality	Full-resolution, locally recorded	Compressed, bandwidth-limited	Full-resolution
Camera control	Yes — frame, focus, exposure, WB	No — auto only	On-site only
Travel & logistics	None	None	Flights, gear, scheduling
Time to shoot	Same day	Same day	Days to weeks
Consistency across subjects	High — you set the look	Low — depends on each device	High
Typical cost	From free	n/a for production	High

For a head-to-head, see CLOS vs. Zoom for photoshoots.

Remote video interview use cases

Podcasts & shows — capture guest video at full quality for a polished multi-cam cut. Pair it with a full remote video shoot when you need B-roll too.
Customer & founder stories — record interview footage for case studies and brand films. See remote customer case studies.
Video testimonials — collect on-camera quotes from customers anywhere. See remote video testimonials.
Documentary & brand films — direct distributed contributors without a travel budget. See remote video shoot.

What you get on each plan

Remote interviews scale with you — start free, upgrade when you need RAW-grade controls and more storage.

CLOS plans for remote video interviews.
Plan	Best for	Highlights
Free	A first remote interview	1 GB cloud, remote video capture, focus & flash control, hi-res, archive download
Pro	Working producers	5 GB cloud, advanced ISO / shutter / WB control, telephoto & ultra-wide, up to 6 viewers, non-expiring albums
Enterprise	Studios & agencies	Dedicated servers, team accounts, personal branding and custom features

See full pricing for details.

Shoot your next remote interview in full resolution

Create a room, invite your subject and direct their camera in minutes. Free to start — no credit card required.

Start for Free See pricing

Frequently asked questions

What is a remote video interview? +

It's an on-camera interview where the subject and the crew are in different locations. With CLOS, the producer controls the subject's phone camera — framing, focus and exposure — while full-resolution footage records on the device and uploads to the cloud, so the result looks like a real shoot rather than a compressed call recording.

How do I record a high-quality remote interview with CLOS? +

Create a room, send your subject a link to join from their phone, place the phone on a tripod, then frame the shot and lock focus and exposure before you record. Footage is captured at full resolution on the device and uploads to your cloud dashboard in real time. See how to create or join a room.

Why is this better than recording a Zoom interview? +

A conferencing tool compresses video for low bandwidth and records whatever its auto-exposure produces, so footage often looks soft and inconsistent. CLOS captures full-resolution video locally and lets you control the camera, so the footage is edit- and broadcast-ready. See CLOS vs. Zoom.

How is this different from a full remote video shoot? +

A remote interview focuses on capturing a person talking on camera. A broader production — B-roll, product shots, multiple setups — is covered by our remote video shoot workflow, which uses the same remote camera control.

Does my interview subject need to install anything? +

Guests and clients can join the room from a browser with no install. The subject whose camera you're directing runs the CLOS app on iOS or Android to enable full remote camera control and local recording.

Is CLOS free to use for interviews? +

Yes. The Free plan includes 1 GB cloud storage, remote video capture, focus and flash control, hi-res quality and archive download. Pro adds advanced exposure controls, more storage and additional viewers. See pricing.

Can I interview more than one person at full quality? +

Yes. Each subject is captured on their own device at full resolution, so you get clean, separate footage for a multi-camera edit instead of a single shared, downscaled call recording.

Is the footage secure and where is it stored? +

All transfers are encrypted and rooms are access-controlled. Footage is stored in your CLOS cloud dashboard, ready to review and download; Enterprise plans support a DPA and dedicated infrastructure.

Remote Video Interviews — Direct the Camera, Capture Full-Resolution Footage Remotely