What to ask?
To get the best sound bites - the short clips of your interview - you need to be sure to ask the right questions. Here are some hints to getting what you need to make your story even better.
2. Reaction to what is happening
3. The emotion involved (how does this make you feel? What is your reaction to this support?)
- Ask open-ended questions - if you ask yes/no questions, those will be the answers you get and it will be very difficult to use any of those sound bites in your story
- Have a conversation with your interviewee, it will result in more natural sounding responses
- Ask questions that result in:
2. Reaction to what is happening
3. The emotion involved (how does this make you feel? What is your reaction to this support?)
- Always make your final question: "Is there anything else you can add?" That question often gets you the best soundbite.
Framing an interview
- Frame them off to the side: When framing an interview, they should be off to one side or another, leaving "look off" space on the side they are facing. This creates a natural look. If they were looking to the right and there was no empty space, it would look like they were getting cut off.
- Create depth in the framing - Do not put a subject right against a wall. the camera will make it look like they are literally "backed against the wall" and it makes the shot uncomfortable.
- Keep the background appropriate to the story, but not too busy. If your eyes are getting distracted by the background, choose something else.
- Keep the interview in a natural setting and the background with the tone of the story.
- During the interview, get a wider shot, medium shot and tight shot. Only moved the camera when the person is NOT talking.