The power of staging and scenery.

Sometimes the background distracts from what is being said. I became interested in a rug in Professor Semple's home this morning and missed a bit of the dialogue.

I refuse to Zoom anyone, but will occasionally FaceTime grandchildren because they have zero interest in judging what's in the back ground and wondering whether I have dusted sometime in the last 20 years...

Did anyone see that poor woman in Ireland who'd left something dubious on her bookshelf when she was being 'zoomed' for the news?

But yes, staging and placement are extremely important if you're managing an image, or trying to sell something...

I must confess when ever I see any interview online, on the tv or in a magazine, whether a personal interview or formal, the first thing I do is deconstruct the background and/or comment on the decor.

grandmajet that must have been embarrassing for your daughter, the whole truth your Honour dishes and all!

I think the comment "how they want to be seen" is true. I agree The Queen wants us to see her as being stately (furniture), and yet homely (family photos) at the same time. I also think she could sit in the garden shed in her Barbour and still get her message across.
The union jack behind them does add a certain importance to politicians' speeches too. The backdrop enhances their message and maybe makes them feel more confident and proud. Although, to be fair I think ministers are doing a fairly good job when they are interviewed from the kitchen table. Whether this makes them more human, I am not sure.
The younger royals like Catherine and William seem very at home on zoom and engage well. I've noticed they sit very close to the screen, so the background is shown less.
The Oprah garden interview is an interesting one. It is obviously going to be meticulously staged as it took 2 days to film at great expense. The tranquil background may well serve as striking contrast to the explosive material up for discussion, but is it really necessary when eyes will all be on the faces and expressions of Meghan and Harry and what they say? Would zoom with Oprah not have had the same effect?
Thinking about Neville Chamberlain's WW2 announcement on the radio, no one even saw his face or the background, but the sounds of that message resonate to this day.

When I sell on Ebay, I always pick a nice setting. It's usually shoes which I place on a garden table, surrounded by plants!

well of course it matters. that's why people go to such lenghs to set up ' work from home' zoom meetings.

H an M oprah setting is in a friends garden not their own.

I like the beautiful wood panelling and doors in the No10 briefings. I get distracted wondering if they polish the wood or beeswax it. The Persian rug is beautiful too. I suppose it's right that the British PM and ministers speak to the nation from such a plain but high quality setting.
(Van Tamm's little step is painted a discreet black I notice)

J52, someone on a Zoom call I recently did had put a sunny beach scene back ground on but every time she moved she got a halo of fuzzy green hair so I have been scared to do that!

Does the presence of the Union Flag add a certain gravitas to the pronouncements of Cabinet ministers addressing us from their homes??‍♀️
Perhaps MH hasn't got space in his red downstairs loo?

(Can anyone recall when this addition became a feature?)

When I zoom on the large screen computer in DHs office, I choose one of the National Trusts downloadable backgrounds. They’re always a smart, glam background.

Yes, of course it does.
My daughter, a psychiatrist, had to ‘attend’ a coroner’s court by zoom, and assumed she would be able to choose an alternative background to her pile of breakfast dishes in her kitchen. However, the Zoom set up of the meeting was not her usual one and she had to appear, kitchen clutter and all, as an expert witness! She was a little embarrassed.

Of course it does and always will, Whenever we meet someone, see photographs etc we are automatically 'reading' it - how someone is dressed, how they look, what there surroundings are.

Any posed photos of anyone in the news will be especcially thought through. H&M's photo in 'the garden of their beautiful Californian home' was designed to give the message that Prince Harry's life is now the antithesis of his previous life, relaxed and casual in a garden setting that hints of foreign climes. The setting for the Queen's photo is saying how comfortable and happy she is in her life.

It has always been done. It is fascinating to analyse those portraits from the 16th century onwards, Lords and monarchs, painted with background that tells you so much of weho they are and how they want to be seen.

Yes, I’m sure settings do matter.

H&M’s will have been chosen to emphasise how peaceful and beautiful their garden is, the glorious weather, how relaxed and ‘normal’ they can be, showcasing their new lifestyle, casually chatting away to Oprah. Much better than being indoors.

As for others, Matt Hancock, Robert Peston et al, I am always trying to read the titles of their books. Probably many of them have never left the shelf.

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I do regular zoom sessions and was going to do them in the study (largely dh's domain) but took one look at the back drop and decided people would get too stressed looking at the 'piles'. So, yes I do think it matter.

Not pure Hollywood at all. I'd say it was part of being professional, just as presentation matters in most business settings. I found it interesting that sales of 'smart-looking-books-by-the-metre' have increased during lockdown as people want to create Zoom backgrounds that make them look intelligent!