Conducting filmed interviews is an art, with skill and style to it. Filming interviews also a muscle you can grow and exercise, and requires adaptability. Interview content doesn’t happen in a vacuum: the atmosphere contributes significantly to the experience, and the end product. If you want to come away with compelling content, here are a few interviewing insights regarding the practical and physical aspects, that I’ve gained from my experience in television, corporate media, and my studies in Psychology.
Choose the right environment.
This is not only about making the interviewee feel comfortable but also about representing them and their message well on video. Interviewees verbal answers can be supplemented by the visual atmosphere they are situated in. Factors to think about when choosing the environment for filming interviews includes the people in the room. Have only the necessary people there, others can be in a nearby room with a monitor if needed. Place the person in a space that represents them well. If it’s a customer giving a testimonial, try having them in their normal workspace. If it’s an executive, place them in a high-rise office with a CBD backdrop. If it’s a private individual not used to being on camera, interview them in their home (if they are comfortable with that).
Always give wardrobe direction when filming interviews.
If you look good, you feel good. There is nothing worse than being over or under-dressed for an occasion. Having direction on wardrobe helps relieve pre interview anxiety for the interviewee and creates common understanding of the interview’s tone. I always ask interviewees to bring a back-up outfit incase of any issues. Once, in a documentary shoot, my interviewee spilled coffee on their shirt and ended up needing to wear their it backward!
Get comfortable with silence.
In sales they say whoever speaks first is the loser, and that somewhat applies to conducting interviews too. This is one of the common things people fail on when interviewing. I’ve seen many times where an interviewee pauses to gather thoughts, but stakeholders in the room panic and offer unsolicited advice to fill the silence. This is not ideal. Allow the person to take a moment. Give space. It’s often in these moments that interviewees find confidence and feel compelled to offer something unexpected or deeper.
Use nonverbal feedback when filming interviews.
It feels counter intuitive to stay completely quiet while someone is talking to you, but when filming interviews it’s a good discipline to keep. You don’t want to cause the interviewee to re-do their answer due to the recording being muddied by the audio from your voice. Non-verbal feedback can include: nodding, shaking your head, raising eyebrows, smiling, furrowing brows, tilting head, leaning in etc.
Make sure practical needs are met.
Think of things like providing a glass of water for the interviewee, somewhere safe to put their bag or phone, ensuring the microphone isn’t uncomfortable or awkward for them. For larger shoots there may be an assistant or runner who you can brief beforehand about these priorities. For smaller shoots this is something the interviewer can take upon themselves. Whether or not you are directly responsible, never see a task as below you and always check to make sure it’s being done.
For tips on the interview questions, look out for part two of this ‘filming interviews’ blog series. If you’re not confident conducting interviews, or feel it would be better done by an expert, let our team know. We can provide you with a great interviewer to bring the best out of your talent.