Interview tips

[momoffduty]

What is the best way to get interviews or well wishes at events? The last two events when I shot well wishes people asked me when they should start or if the cam is on. I usually say 'whenever you are ready' and then they immediately start speaking. The problem is editing my audio out because I don't have a tail at the beginning so I have to find filler audio. The other problem is that after they speak some walk away quickly. Again, no tail at the end.

Is it rude to point or hold up your hand? Or do you explain the setup? When I got interviews for the Flat Stanley project I did tell the students that I was shooting an extra second or two at the beginning and end of their segment, but this method seems too much when you are at a reception. Any tips?

[Steve Grisetti]

People always respond better to direct rather than open questions. In other words, if you ask someone what they'd like to talk about, they'll give you a blank stare. But if you ask them to tell you about they day they first met their spouse, they'll get right into it.

In other words, the more specific you are, the better, clearer stories you'll get.

Also, it helps if you decide in advance what you want the interview to be about, specifically. Then have some direct questions about specific things that they can respond to.

I also encourage people to begin their answer with a complete sentence rather than a response to my question. That way I can edit myself out completely from the interview and it sounds like the interviewee come up with everything on their own!

[momoffduty]

Thanks Steve, very good points. When I ask for well wishes and they aren't sure what to say then I do give examples. The problem is they start speaking too soon after they ask 'should I start now', etc. Would it be okay to hold up a finger or just nod yes instead of speaking a reply?

Good point too on being specific. After editing old family tapes of previous reunions there seemed to be a lack of introductions. So at the 50th Anniv Party which was like another family reunion I did suggest to the interviewee to say who they were, their children's names, where they are from, how are they related to the family ancestor A & L, any stories they wanted to share or well wishes for M & K. My Aunt did go around the room and introduced every single person (over 100) and I followed her. This was right after they gave their speech so the crowd was all sitting down.

Some people are real hams and others do not want to be on camera. The ones that decline the offer of a well wish I suggest that they may want to be on camera with a small group and let someone else speak. That usually does the trick. But, that still leaves the problem in the first paragraph above, no tails for dissolves between clips.

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

...Would it be okay to hold up a finger or just nod yes instead of speaking a reply?....

That's how I do it. Thanks too, to Steve, for the other hints.

[sidd finch]

I always hold the camera away from them and ask the question like we are talking. Then they can see that I am positioning the camera and they naturally wait for me to get ready and start. I then make a motion that I am ready and that they can answer. This works pretty well.

Sidd

[momoffduty]

I always hold the camera away from them and ask the question like we are talking. Then they can see that I am positioning the camera and they naturally wait for me to get ready and start. I then make a motion that I am ready and that they can answer. This works pretty well.

Sidd

Great idea! I guess that would be good too if you are walking around with the cam that way you don't get asked 'is it on?'.

And thanks John, good to know.

[cdeemer]

I do a lot of interviews for Oregon Literary Review using a minicam and what I love about it is that it is so SMALL the person forgets it's even there. I actually use two ... I have one hand held but I set a 2nd on a bottle tripod for a 2-shot, so I can cut away during editing for variety. Sometimes I even use three (the 3rd focused at me) -- I use pepsi bottles for the tripod, also practically invisible. With minicams it's real easy to create an environment in which the cameras are functionally invisible. (There are obvious disadvantages, of course, but for my purposes this works perfectly. I especially like shooting with 2 or 3 cameras, all by myself.)

[Steve Grisetti]

I'd never heard of a bottle tripod before, Charles, so I had to look it up.

Very interesting toy!
http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/ ... ap-tripod/

[momoffduty]

Great idea on the bottle tripods. Those would come in handy on vacation and would be good to get night photos without the flash.

[Dave McElderry]

I'm usually just "the guy behind the camera" and someone else is doing the interviewing. But one technique that I've noticed one of our interviewers using to get that "pause" before the speaking begins is for them to first briefly review the topic or question, and then they say "now take a deep breath, relax, and begin."

[Chuck Engels]

I like that method Dave, accomplishes multiple things

[momoffduty]

Another great idea, thanks Dave. A funny interview at the 50th Anniv party was with a cousin who shot the videos from 1981 & 1992 reunions. I told him turn about was fair play. Before he started his interview he asked "are we rolling?" and "where is the red light, I need my red light, etc....".

[Dave McElderry]

Another great idea, thanks Dave. A funny interview at the 50th Anniv party was with a cousin who shot the videos from 1981 & 1992 reunions. I told him turn about was fair play. Before he started his interview he asked "are we rolling?" and "where is the red light, I need my red light, etc....".