Tips And Tricks For An Interview
Published by Bre Pettis on 1 Apr 2006 at 11:51 am.
1 Comment.
Filed under Interviews, Tips and Tricks, Vlog News.
I’m going to be doing some interviews next week with a camera operator and editor. This is an upgrade from my usual routine of shooting everything by myself and pointing the camera back and forth and so I went to the yahoo videoblogging list to ask for advice.
Anne Walk sent me some great links:
“Here are some tips for interviews and this on basic three point lighting (the best for faces) and if you’re going to be shooting someone doing some sort of activity, this one is good too.”
Jack Olmstead gave me some good advice:
“Give yourself editing “room” on the front and back of each scene. Shoot a couple of “listening shots” of yourself and the interviewee….60 minutes style.”
Andy Carvin gave me his two cents as well:
“Here are some of the basic ideas I try to teach students: Getting subject comfortable in front of camera. You generally don’t want to start peppering them with questions the moment you meet them. Get them situated in front of the camera and start rolling before you ask questions; just chat and let them get settled. This works well with sit-down interviews; if it’s on the fly, of course, this doesn’t really apply.
Eye perspective. Have them either looking at the camera or just off-camera, but not both in the same interview. Off-camera is more common.
Avoid too many people behind the camera. Not usually a problem for vloggers, but if you’re working as a team, don’t crowd around the interviewer. If there are several people hanging out behind the camera, the interviewee will make eye contact with all of them, which looks terrible on film. Just get them to look either at the interviewer or the camera, whichever you prefer.
Have subject repeat question as statement. You want to make sure their answers convey the question.
Compare these two responses:
Bad response:
Q: When did you start the band?
A: In 2003.Good response:
Q: When did you start the band?
A: We started the band back in 2003…By having them incorporate the question into their answer, it’ll make for better interview footage?”
Thanks for the great advice folks! I’m taking it and will use it!
Anne Walk on 1 Apr 2006 at 12:23 pm: 1
Sweet, Bre!
Thanks for the link love and good luck with the interview!
-Anne