Guest Blog Post from The AV Department
You’ve prepared your production schedule, identified the filming location, confirmed your guests are available, and hired a videographer. You are also most ready to call action on your video production, whether it’s needed for your blog, conference, or YouTube channel. Follow these five tips for conducting a great interview on camera.
Prepare Thoroughly
There are specific reasons why you selected the people who will appear on camera. Show respect for their time and experience by researching as much as possible about their relevant background and their work in order to ask insightful questions.
Create a Comfortable Environment
Many people are nervous to appear on camera. One way to make everyone more at ease is to prepare them with helpful information in advance, giving them the opportunity to ask questions before they are on set. Share tips about what to wear on camera and provide an outline of what they can expect including a schedule for the day and general topics that will be covered during the interview.
On the day of the video shoot, help the interviewee feel more comfortable by establishing a friendly atmosphere and addressing any concerns they may have. A light conversation will build rapport before diving into your planned questions, helping the interview flow naturally.
Listen Actively
We recommend sharing an overview of the topics that will be asked – rather than exact questions – in order to keep the interview conversational. You don’t want your interviewee to focus on memorized answers. At the same time, as the interviewer you need to be actively listening to the interviewee’s responses, allowing for follow-up questions and deeper exploration of interesting points. Avoid interrupting the interviewee, respecting their thoughts and allowing them to fully express themselves.
Stay Flexible
Even the best laid plans can go in an unexpected direction. Be prepared to adapt and remain flexible and open-minded. For example, during a recent in-studio interview, the videographer expected to film b-roll on site and was surprised when the client instead invited everyone to a favorite cafe to continue the interview. Plan well and be ready to adjust when new possibilities arise.
Work with a Professional Video Production Team
Unless you or your team has the appropriate background and equipment, partnering with a professional video production team is alway a good idea. Professional videographers will test all equipment beforehand, ensuring cameras, microphones, and lighting are working properly to avoid technical issues during the interview. They will also have backup equipment available. Most importantly, they bring experience and expertise to guide on-camera interviews. They will also film b-roll for background shots and to add context in the video.
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