Filming an Interview with Basic Equipment

There's a lot to keep in mind when it comes to effectively filming an interview of someone else on camera. The technical skills are just the beginning of the process! 

I want to share with you an entire module from our Video 101 for Marketers and Social Media Coordinators Online Course. Below is the content from the "Cheat Sheet", and here's the video!

The Cheat Sheet

✅ Have One Clear Purpose 

What is the message? Pick a clear purpose for your video. If your purpose is to “demonstrate the efficiency of a local dairy farm,” you’re going to find people who can speak authoritatively on this topic and you’re going to create questions that will encourage your interviewee to speak to that topic. 

✅ Come Prepared with Questions 

It’s easy to go down rabbit trails if you don’t have a clear direction for your video, and being prepared with questions is how to keep focused during the interview. Generate 5-10 questions to get the person on camera to share their perspective or expertise on this topic. Let people expand here and there and digress, keeping in mind that your interviewee knows things you don’t know about the topic. At the same time, use your questions to keep the “train on the tracks” and keep the interview focused. 

✅ Don’t Give Your Interviewee the Questions! 

It can be a big mistake to give your interviewee too much of a preview of what you want them to talk about. Give them a bit of an idea of the direction, but not so much that they come prepared with too many answers - you’ll end up with a rigid interview that feels like a small town highschool rehearsal. On Location

✅ Get set up early 

You don’t want to be fumbling with equipment and trying to get your interviewee comfortable at the same time. Get set up early, so you can spend some time face-to-face with the interviewee before you hit record. It’s your job to make this person feel comfortable and ready to share. If you’re working on a team, try to establish roles with your team early so one of you can focus on equipment and the other on getting the interviewee comfortable. 

✅ Off-Camera Vs. On-Camera 

Consider having the interviewee speak directly to you, rather than speaking directly into the camera. 

✅ Talk about Something Else 

Stay away from the topic until you’re rolling. You want to talk to the interviewee and get them comfortable, but if they’re going to talk about the topic you’re interviewing them for you’re going to want them to wait until the camera’s rolling. 

✅ Stop it, Shifty 

If you’re filming off-camera, make sure the interviewee doesn’t glance at the camera. It can make the person look real shifty if their eyes are darting around during the interview. If your crew has to be in the room, make sure they don’t stare at the interviewee! 

✅ Expand on Answers, Please! 

Get the question incorporated in the answer. 

✅ Right ✅ 

You: What colour is the sky? Interviewee: You know, when I look up and take a look, I see that the sky is blue. I like this because blue is such a great colour. It’s probably the colour you find most in nature... Things to Keep in Mind 

✅ Avoid Using Vocal Responses Over the Recording 

Use your facial expressions and body language to respond to your interviewee. You don’t want YOUR VOICE recorded while your interviewee is still speaking. Make sure they’re done making their point before you respond or ask a new question. You’ll thank yourself for when you sit down to edit. 

✅ Make Mental Notes for B-Roll 

It’s a good idea to film your interviews prior to any b-roll (b-roll is the additional footage you capture to reinforce the message you’re communicating). Listen as you’re recording the interviews and take brief notes. Consider any speaking points that might require additional footage to illustrate the point you’re making. 

✅ Pretend It’s Over 

Giving your interviewee the feeling that you’re “done” with the interview is going to trigger a sigh of relief. Use this opportunity to throw in one or more “bonus” questions. Your interviewee is going to feel like they’ve already “passed” and they’re just doing a quick favour. 

✅ Two Cameras 

Using two cameras to film an interview is a great way to keep your viewer engaged. More importantly, you can use your second camera angle as a way to “cut” out talking points that don’t reinforce the message you want to communicate. If you only use one camera and you “cut” out unwanted content, the cut will be obvious. Now get out and put this stuff into practice! Once you film one or two of these you’ll start to compile your own list of things to keep in mind for effective interview

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