Interviewing Techniques - Sony PDX10 Workshop Handbook

Interviewing Techniques

by Ann Theis
Interviews are the most important component of a documentary. The people you get to interview are
what makes or breaks your project. In most types of documentaries you will need to find people who
will either support, contradict or frame the questions you want to present in the project. These people
can come in the form of "experts" i.e. professors, members of an organization, or anybody working in
the field of interest. They can also come in the form of "vox pop" a.k.a. "person on the street" inter-
views which means you are getting the opinion of the general public. In many cases it is good to get
both forms of interviews, in other words to get the expert opinion and then support or contradict it with
the thoughts of the public, or vice versa.
The sound you get from an interview is more important than the video. Of course you want good
video but if don't get good audio no one will hear the point you are tying to make. So, if you aren't
going to bother to make sure you will get the best possible sound, don't bother making a documentary.
In most situations the best sound you will get in an interview will be with a lavalier, or lapel micro-
phone. A lavalier enables you and your interviewee to be hands-free and the mike will stay in a fixed
position. A lavalier is a condenser mike so don't forget the battery! Also it is generally a good idea to
mike the interviewer as well as the interviewee, in case you need the questions in the edited piece.
As for the video, place the camera on a tripod at the eye-level of the subject. The interviewer should be
seated next to the camera so the subject looks toward the camera but not directly into the camera.
When setting up the camera and composing the shot look for a visually interesting location that pro-
vides depth and a sense of space. Avoid white walls and objects that will look like they are growing
out of the subject's head. When moving to different shots wait until the interviewer is asking a ques-
tion, avoid moving the camera while a question is being answered you'll be grateful in the editing
process. And always make sure you white balance.
Before the interview you should have done some research on the person you are interviewing and what
they can contribute to the project. Write up the questions on note cards so you don't forget to cover
everything, you don't want to bother them a second time because of your errors. During the interview
maintain good eye contact. Listen carefully to what the person is saying. Listen to their answers so
you will be able to lead in to the next question or to ask them another question based on their answer.
If they hit upon the right notion ask them for specific examples and detail. Be very gracious and make
sure that you get the correct spelling of their name and title. If you use 'release forms' (highly recom-
mended), make sure that they are signed.Alternatively, you can shoot the release, ask the person on
camera if they give permission for their image and voice to be used in your production, also ask their
name and correct spelling.
SONY PDX10 Handbook page 19