Things to Consider Before Filming an Interview
Project: Gilead Sciences Strategic Committment
Are you ready to conduct a promotional video interview? Assuming you’ve already thought about the content of your video and how it will be used, below are some insightful questions to ask yourself, along with tips and general guidance to help you make the most of your time and effort.
1) Will the interviewer will be featured in the interview?
In other words, when a viewer watches the final video, will they see and hear the person asking the questions? If the interviewer won’t be featured in the interview, have them refrain from making noise. That means not saying “ok” or “hmm” when the subject is answering a question. They can nod and make gestures, but keep it quiet. This makes sure excess noise isn’t picked up by the microphone and helps speed up the editing process.
If the interviewer will be featured in the interview, they can make those aforementioned remarks while the interview subject is talking. This is a common way to do an interview but it will take longer in the editing process.
Tip: If the interviewer won’t be featured, make sure the interview subject reiterates the question. Example: If you ask the subject about their favorite part of the day, make sure they start their answer with, “My favorite part of the day is ______.”
2) Where will the subject be looking?
Project: Gilead Strategic Committment
Prior to filming, you should know how you want to address your audience. Decide whether you want the interview subject to look off camera, like the shot above, or directly into camera, like the shot below. Occasionally, a mix of both can work, although it can be tricky to pull off.
Project: Webflow x Shift Customer Story
For interview subjects who aren’t professional actors, it often helps to have a human face to look at and connect with while they’re answering the question. This can be accomplished by having them look off-camera, so that they can see the interviewer. However, there are specialized tools that can allow them to see the interviewer’s face while they look directly into the lens.
Tip: To foster even more connection between interviewer and subject, avoid asking Yes or No questions. Instead, make them open ended, or use a “fill in the blank” prompt.
A prompt can help the interview subject think about their answer in a new way. For example, asking, “Have you ever broken a record?” will often get you the answer “No.” Instead have them fill in the blank by saying, “I’m pretty sure I could break the world record for ______.” and you’ll get answers like “I’m pretty sure I could break the world record for ‘Most TED Talks Ever Watched’ I love them!”
See the fun results of engaging interview questions in this video for Okta.
3) What is the best the setting for the interview?
Project: Educational Broadcasting System (Korea)
The setting says so much about your company and your brand. If you are short on options, consider using a seamless backdrop to create a clean, de-cluttered image. If you are interviewing a subject in a visually stunning environment, you can often use the setting to your advantage without it being distracting. Using a camera and lens that allow for shallow depth of field helps to center the viewer’s attention on the subject.
Project: Educational Broadcasting System (Korea)
At the interview location, make sure there is enough space for the crew and interview subjects to feel comfortable (even if it’s just you an a few co-workers or friends). Is it conducive to keeping a calm and soothing environment throughout the shoot? Is there enough space for your gear and equipment? Is there a restroom accessible? These are all major questions to ask yourself during the pre-production process.
Also consider the sound environment. Subtle echo, traffic noise, etc. tend to show up more clearly in a video than they do in real life. Make sure the microphone is pointed directly at your subject’s face for the clearest audio. If you are going to be using B-roll or graphics over the interview, audio becomes even more important than video.
Tip: You almost always need more space than you think you do. In addition to being uncomfortable, small conference rooms will actually make the final video look worse.
4) Have you considered Hair, Makeup and Wardrobe?
Having stylists for hair, makeup and wardrobe on set is sometimes an afterthought. Even though budgeting for these crew members isn’t a hard need for most interviews, they can drastically improve your subject’s look and confidence. Stylists are often adept at chatting with interview subjects, putting them at ease prior filming. This can help your subject be more open with both the interviewer and the camera.
It’s usually best to have your on-camera talent wear solid colors on the day of filming. Small patterns and stripes on shirts may cause visual issues with digital sensors. Wearing solid black or solid white clothing is also difficult to properly light. Try to keep logos on-brand for what you’re filming.
Tip: If subjects are doing their own hair, makeup, and wardrobe, have them come to the shoot a little more groomed than they usually would, but still in the '“natural” range. They are representing both themselves and their company, so they should look well-kempt. However, heavy makeup that’s not done by a professional can look off.
5) How many people will be on camera at once?
Project: Handyman Connection Recruiting
When planning an interview, you’ll need to decide how many people will be on screen at once. Filming an interview with two people on camera requires a much different set up than just one. You must take into consideration how many cameras you’ll have, how many microphones, lights, crew members and space for filming. All of these factors will change how much time you spend on set and filming the interview.
You should also take advantage of the interview space while it is set up. With all the lights, mics, cameras and crew ready to go, think of other people that would be good to get on camera, whether they are related to this project or not.
Tip: When in doubt, keep it simple. Having multiple people on camera at once can bring up continuity issues, and/or make the interview shoot take much longer since all on-camera subjects have to be on their game at the same time.