Step-by-step Professional Video Preparation Series: How to conduct a filmed interview

Knowing how to conduct and shoot an interview is the difference between making a mediocre documentary and an excellent one. With your choice of video equipment in hand, you can start to reflect on who your subject is and how you will approach them during an interview. From considering the backdrop to the art of questioning, each step of the interview requires good planning and research if you want to be time and cost effective.

1. Pre-Interview. The purpose of a pre-interview is a valuable pre production tool in several ways. Unless you already know your interviewee well, a pre-interview can be used to see who is in front of you. Is your interviewee expressive, relaxed, or nervous about answering questions or being in front of a camera? Do they speak clearly and converse freely? Does your subject respond well to instruction and guidance in shaping the interview? Taking these elements into account will give you an idea how to precisely personalize talking points and reactions when it comes time to film the interview itself. The pre-interview is ultimately a rehearsal that will not only give your film footage a higher quality, but will also save on precious resources when it comes to logistics, studio rental time, editing time, etc. This extra planning can also help to build a rapport with your interviewee which will ultimately make them more comfortable with you leading to a better interview. It may seem counterintuitive to invest in more pre-production time, but trust us, it will be time saving in the end!

    

2. Prepare questions. The most important first step is to thoroughly research the background of the person being interviewed, as well as the topic of their expertise. Once you have assembled your information and questions, think about how you could phrase your questions in a way that allows more to be said or a story to be told. Questions can be started in ways such as, ‘can you explain’, ‘could you please share’, and ‘what is your opinion’. A rule of thumb is that a great answer arises from a great question. Avoiding yes/no questions is a must. Instead, strive for questions that are open-ended and perhaps more challenging. Ones that demand reflection and welcome vulnerability. You can provide these questions to the interviewee ahead-of-time to allow them time to reflect and come better prepared.

    

3. The backdrop. When it comes to the environment you’d like to place your subject in, the options truly are limitless. Do you prefer to use natural light or a three-point lighting set-up? How will the backdrop add to or support the story? Scouting a good location in pre-production can make backdrops more meaningful and a way to make your documentary richer and more immersive. In general, try to avoid putting subjects up against a wall, as it’s much more aesthetically pleasing to have a depth of field in your final result.

    

   A film is not only about good visuals, but also good sound! If you’re filming inside, try to find a room with little or no reverb and echo. Do a clap test in the room and see if you can hear the sound echo off the walls, floor and roof. Likewise, if you are performing the interview outdoors, try to avoid settings with exterior noise that could botch a precious moment while interviewing. The most common microphone used during an interview is a lavalier. As this mic is essentially threaded through the interviewee’s clothing, be sure they dress appropriately with opportunities to hide the mic underneath a collar or under a thin shirt. Getting a lavalier mic to sit comfortably and still be effective as a wireless mic is a step few people account for in their production planning. Check our recent Equipment Checklist posting to explore an appropriate microphone.

    

4. Preparedness and flexibility. A great documentary interview must have a balance of preparation and spontaneity. This means, in addition to researched, carefully worded questions, you also have to let go. Follow the conversation where your subject takes you, embrace moments of irrelevance, and build off of their answers. The most insightful and the most candid answers can come from going off-script, so always expect the unexpected.

    

   You should also take into account your interviewee’s comfort level and ability to focus. You could start with questions that are not so important so that subjects can warm up and feel more relaxed. Next, try to quickly lead into more important questions relevant to your documentary. Some subjects tire easily in front of the camera and it is important to catch them before that happens. Try to notice the point where you both feel comfortable and you both still have the energy needed to form passionate and dynamic answers. Feel free to ask questions twice or rephrase in order to your subject the chance to correct slip ups or add to their answer. That said, try to arrive at the necessary information by promoting a natural and authentic conversation. 

   PRO TIP: Ask your interviewee before the day of filming what drinks they would like to have and make sure to get some water for them and yourself.

    

5. Shape the conversation. There are chances you may be interviewing someone who has never been in front of a camera before. You may also be questioning someone so experienced that you find it difficult to encourage spontaneity. It is important to have a few prepared solutions that you can identify in your pre-interview. For example, for the under-experienced, you may hear a lot of ‘ums’, or they may reply to your question without any context. In this case, it is helpful to request your subject to start their answers with the question you just asked or repeat the question altogether. This helpful trick makes stitching the interview narrative together later much easier, but also ensures that the speaker has fully understood the question. We also recommend reminding your subject to breathe, speak slowly, and take time in between each sentence. This often lowers stress levels during an interview and helps to format the information you receive into clips that can be rearranged to support the overall message.

    

   Being a good listener is also key to being a good interviewer. Maintain eye contact with your subject, and don’t look down too often at your notes and questions. Move the interview forward by responding to what your subject is talking about rather than waiting, poised to ask your next question. Don’t let opportunities to explore emotion slip away and be sure to follow up any generalizations with phrases like, ‘Tell me why,’ or ‘Please talk about that a bit more’. Also, respect their time and if they say they’ve only got half an hour to be interviewed make sure you stick to that.

    

6. Consistency. Even if you have hours of footage, remember that it will need to be pared down into a few hours or even a few minutes. It is important, therefore, to keep the questions, conversation, lighting, backdrop, visuals, camera gestures and sound quality as consistent as possible. Regardless if you use one camera or multiple, any changes in what you record will show up on the editing table and possibly in your final result. Bigger hiccups also take more time in post production to fix, so try to avoid them in the beginning.