Interview Techniques

Interview Techniques

Before conducting my interviews for FMP I have written a list of 10 basic techniques from leading film makers, that I must establish before I start my shoot.

1. Question preperation.For the interview process I must think ahead about the type of questions that I want to ask the interviewee. I need to think carefully to what information i'm looking for from this particular person, considering what questions will prompt the information needed. According to Faith Fuller, a leading news reporter, video producer and documentary film maker I need around 5-10 questions, stating that i shouldn't go dramatically over the top with too many questions.

2. Avoiding "yes" and "no"My questions should be asked in a way that avoids “yes” or “no” answers. It is emperative that I ask the right questions so that the interviewees gives substantive answers that will make it to the final cut. Faith Fuller again gives an example quetion that will prompt a better response from your subject. Instead of asking “Are you happy with the outcome of the court case?” Ask, “What is your response to the outcome of today’s court case?”

3. Allow spontaneity.Although I will prepare questions in advance, I will let the interview flow through the interviewees hands, allowing room to veer away from my preset question. Encouraging the interviewee to express points that they believe is relevent to the topic in hand. I believe that the unplanned “spontaneous” questions & answers will produce footage that will make the final cut.


4. Sit back and relax
At the start of the interview I will ask a string of question to warm up both of our voices. Once the video camera starts to roll I will ask the interviewee basic and east information, such as their name, what they eat for breakfast, whether they have a family or not etc. These questions are designed to ease the interviewee into a comfortable situation where ideas and information flows naturally. I will also ask them to spell their name out on camera, for the post production process - referencing their involvement in the project.

5. Keep it to yourself.
Another tip given by Fuller is keeping your questions secret. Giving the interviewee a list of questions will promt a memorized response to your questions, this will cause answers that are less spontaneous, answers that will appear stale, rehearsed and unauthentic.

6. Have them repeat your question
Since there will be no narration I will encourage the interviewee to repeat my questions in their answers. This will help grately in the post production process as I carve a narrative out of the footage I have. For example, asking, “How are you feeling?” The interviewee may reply, “How am I feeling? I’m feeling excited!”

7. Camera Positioning.

In the interview process I will be the both shooting and interviewing at the same time, this means that I must position myself away from the camera, eliminating the possibility of the interviewee looking into the camera. Although looking into the camera for an interview can produce footage that feels personal, I beleive that the interview will flow better with the eye connection centred on the interview rather than the daunting camera. I will take up an off-camera approach which is the most common interview techniques used. The interviewer sits or stands right next to the camera so that the interviewee is looking just off camera. I beleive that I will get the best results if the interviewer is standing right next to the camera, that way you can see the full face of the person you’re interviewing and not a profile. Which may be unattractive and distracting to the viewer because you can’t see their eyes and facial expressions very well.

8. Keeping my mouth closed.
It is important to stay quiet when the interviewee is talking. I do not want to hear myself in the background when in the post production process. This includes making any affirmations such as "hmmmmm" or "Oh right...". I will soley ask the questions that need to be asked and avoid interrupting the interviewee. In stead I will make gentle facial expressions to encourage conversation.

9. Final comments.
Always ask the interviewee if they have any final thoughts. Ask them if there was anything you missed. This can sometimes bring out some great information you hadn’t thought to ask about.

10. It's not all over yet.
If the interviewee didn't loosen up in the interview I will anounce after asking for their final thoughts that I am finished with the interview; whilst making sure that the camera is still rolling.

Psychologically, the interviewee will no longer feels the pressure of the camera and will relax, allowing for a last chance to snap some authentic footage.