Being interviewed for a video is an experience which some people find easy, but for
most, even the thought of it is enough to send them running screaming from the
room! A few people are complete naturals in front of the camera, but for the majority
who find it nerve-wracking, you’d be surprised at how an experienced and
sympathetic interviewer can make all the difference.
In today’s high-speed world, where a video only has seconds to catch and hold the
viewer’s attention, an interview has to be instantly watchable. That’s not easy when
the average interviewee has probably starred in nothing more taxing than a few
wobbly holiday clips.
Here at Flagship Films, we’ve reassured and supported many apprehensive
interviewees and coaxed stellar performances out of them which they’d never have
imagined they could achieve.
Here are our six top tips for getting the most out of our sometimes reluctant on-
screen talent!
Make the contributor comfortable
This is pretty important. No one’s going to pull a great performance out of the hat if
they’re wriggling on a hard chair or have nothing to drink if their throat dries up. Make
sure the room temperature is comfortable too. Your contributor will probably be
perspiring with nerves, and you won’t want a tropical ambience under the camera
lights. Have a good chat beforehand to get to know each other, and ask easy
questions to help them get used to answering you – what are your hobbies? What
did you have for lunch? How they come across is as much down to you as them, so
be relaxed, friendly and encouraging.
Prepare your questions . . .
. . . but be ready to go off-piste if the interview takes a spontaneous new direction. It
hopefully means the contributor is warming up and getting enthusiastic which can
only be a positive – and sometimes the best footage is shot in these situations. In the
same vein, don’t let them have the questions in advance, however much they beg! If
they know exactly what they’re going to be asked, they’ll write the answers down and
rehearse and it’ll come across as wooden and contrived.
Ask open-ended questions
There’s no point asking questions which can be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Everything you ask should be geared towards helping the contributor find their way.
What is it about your charity’s work which makes such a difference? What’s so
special about this new product? What can people expect when they join your sports
club? An interviewee will (hopefully) be genuinely enthusiastic about what they’re
promoting otherwise they wouldn’t be doing it. It’s the interviewer’s job to bring that
out and make it infectious so everyone watching the video wants to be a part of it,
whether by visiting the website, buying the product or following on social media.
Give the contributor time
This is actually one of the most difficult things to do – we’re socially programmed not
to leave gaps in a conversation! If the interviewee has given a short answer to a
question, don’t immediately leap in with another. A few seconds with an encouraging
smile may well give them time to expand on what they were saying. Any gaps can be
edited out, but it’s surprising how often great footage results from an unhurried
atmosphere.
Remove distractions
Chances are, you’ll be filming in your interviewee’s office, factory, golf club or other
business premises. It may sound obvious, but many a good take has been ruined by
someone flying in with an urgent question, a printer bursting into life or a machine
starting up mid-conversation. Then there’s the dreaded mobile call tune trilling out at
just the wrong moment, someone walking past the window or the office dog deciding
it wants to be in on the action. Check external traffic noise, reflections on glass
partitions, squeaky chairs, rain drumming on the roof . . . there’s a lot to think about.
Finally – smile!
You want your contributor to be unstressed and calm (maybe the office dog does
have a part to play here) and to come across as business-like but also friendly and
approachable, the sort of person people will want to engage with. While you’re
interviewing them, smile regularly. It’s hard not to smile back.
Next steps
Hopefully, this blog has been helpful for prospective interviewers – and also
reassuring for anyone who may end up starring in a professional video. It’s honestly
not as scary as you think if you have someone who knows what they’re doing
helping you through. If you’re looking for a video production company which will get
the best out of interviewees as well as tell a great story with stunning visuals, skilful
editing and outstanding creativity, look no further – contact us.