Special Event Videography - The Perfect Interview or a Deer in Headlights?

You may be a wiz with a camera, a complete genius with a non-linear editing suite, have the heart and soul of a poet but if your subject has beads of sweat on their forehead, is making soft 'err err' noises and cannot remember their own name, you have not done your job in preparing for the perfect interview.

It is your job to make anyone you video interview feel comfortable and chatty. You want a subject who wants to talk to you, to tell you amusing anecdotes and participate enthusiastically in the process. Having a frightened and unresponsive client at the other end of your view finder is your fault and is going to make your film stilted and painful to watch.

Here are some tips to getting the best from your subjects and in turn the best results for your film.

Life is so much nicer when you know what is going on. The shock of being poked in the eye can be alleviated by being told you are about to be poked in the eye, although it obviously hurts just as much. It is the same with interviewing, if you let your subject know exactly the questions you are going to ask they can be prepared even though they are still apprehensive. It also allows for more accurate recall of details. We are not trying to catch them out cheating on their taxes or to confess that they inhaled, we are trying to elicit some humanity for our baby film, wedding or special event movie. Write down the questions and hand them over, preferably a week or two in advance. Let your client have time to mull over their story and how best to tell it. Remember, this is not your interview no one wants to hear you speak, we want a free flowing account, which incidentally is easier to edit.

Be Flexible

Give your client the chance to add some questions of their own. They might not like the way you have planned your interview. They may wish to provide an alternate vein of discussion. It's their dime, go with it. You are not a counselor, you are not there to heal family rifts, expose skeletons, create drama or out Uncle Jack. A calm, enjoyable, fuss free interview will make a good film and that starts with asking the right questions.

A Free Flowing Account

The type of questions you ask will have a bearing on how the interview progresses. This is not a discussion or a conversation, this is your client telling their story. To do this they need assistance in where to start, what to discuss and where to finish. For a lot of people being interviewed is a very traumatic experience, even if it is about their child's birthday. Be gentle and be organised. There are primarily two types of questions, closed and open. A closed question calls for a closed answer, they are yes/no answers. Don't ask these. An open question calls for an explanation such as 'So Jack, why are you wearing red stilletos?' Make your questions short and containing only one theme, also make them logically sequential. If you jump around a timeline you will confuse your client and cause havoc with your editing. Don't ask leading questions, let the client let you know the facts and how they feel.

Lastly don't ask anything embarrassing, too personal or too controversial. "Jack, I have noticed that you have been undoing buttons on your business shirt during this interview, is that your wife’s' peekaboo bra

Setting

You want a setting free of distractions and interruptions. You are asking for trouble if your setting is somewhere public. Everyone wants to be on camera (except ironically enough the person you are interviewing) and if you are in the public, guaranteed, some git will be standing behind your subject waving their arms madly trying to get in on the action.

Choose a location that is relaxed and familiar to your subject. Their home, the back garden where ever is appropriate. Also try for an outdoor shoot. Natural outdoor light is so much better than artificial light, not just because it is less effort for us but because bright lights in your client's face will instantly stiffen them up.

Shift the Focus

Obviously your big boy camera is the most important piece of equipment of your videography arsenal but you want it to be the shrinking violet. Nothing will cause your camera shy client to become more agitated and nervous than having that enormous lens concentrate solely on them. Of course you have to set it up, and it has to be close to both of you. But ignore it, pay it no attention. Cover the red record lights with tape. Don't even mention that you have turned it on. Set it up on a tripod and forget it until it is time for cut aways and alternate shots. By that time your subject will be comfortable and willing to help with the 'look at where I was before' footage.

One trick I use frequently is the 'this is a run through not the real interview' thing. People always like to leave being freaked out and tense to the last possible minute and invariably this method provides useful footage. Of course if Uncle Jack unwittingly tells you something that will cause Aunty Tilda a minor coronary because he thinks the camera is off, make a big show of turning the camera on, and remember to erase that footage later.

Ultimately remember your clients are not professional actors, they have no training and are not working to a script, but by keeping them informed as to the interview process and welcoming their input you can alleviate some of their concerns. Be calm, be patient and be professional. Lets face it, who would you rather have a cup of tea and a chat with? Michael Parkinson or Michael Moore?

Amanda Nella is a professional videographer who operates her own special event video business in Perth WA. She provides quality documentary style films for parents about their children. She is trained in the field of investigative interviewing. She holds Diplomas in Investigations, SCAn,Stage Production, Computer Programming & Business. Visit her site at Bump2babyFilms