2. Other Resources
Lynda #LinkedInLearning Courses
http://bit.ly/ArtofInterview
http://bit.ly/HowtoScript
Corporate Video Weekly
https://www.lynda.com/Video-tutorials/Having-pre-interview-session/590838/659164-
4.html
https://www.lynda.com/Video-tutorials/Researching-your-subject-before-video-
interview/590838/659168-4.html
https://www.lynda.com/Video-tutorials/Staging-video-interview/590838/659172-4.html
The Producer’s Playbook: Real People on Camera from Focal Press
https://www.routledge.com/The-Producers-Playbook-Real-People-on-Camera-Directing-
and-Working-with/DeLouise/p/book/9781315686936
3. Getting in Touch
Slides on slideshare.net/amydelouise
Slides are also on my website at
www.amydelouise.com/speaking
Follow me on Twitter @brandbuzz
On Instagram: adbrandbuzz
www.Lynda.com/AmyDeLouise
4. Today
How can we…
Be more effective storytellers?
Overcome obstacles?
Make the best use of
technology and budget?
Bring out the best from real
people?
Even challenging people (or
about challenging subjects)
5. Agenda
Why Real People
Planning
Research
Preparing Your Subject
Location Scouting
What Type of
Learner?
Defining Your Story Arc
Tips for Challenging
People
Production Tips
Sound
Picture
Lighting
Wrap-Up
7. With Real People We Can…
Enter their lives for a moment
Gain an emotional connection for viewer
Give a “window” into main issue or story theme
Have a natural narrator rather than actor
Be authentic to an issue, cause, or environment
Provide an expert with specialized information
8. Research Tells Us…
When we connect with other people on screen, we
develop “Narrative Transportation”
Empathy
Proximity to content
Identification with characters
Emotions experienced
Our brain chemistry even changes when we are
engaged with characters in a strong narrative!
9. When NOT to Use Non-Actors
“Because it’s cheaper.” It’s not.
Mountains of dialogue or teleprompter copy
Story is not connected to their personal experience
Not enough time
Producer doesn’t have time to get to know them/pre-interview
Subject doesn’t have time for camera set-ups, retakes
A subject who doesn’t take direction well
A subject who is self-conscious in front of others
11. Pre-Production Road Map
Get to Know Your Subject
What role will real characters play in your story?
Prepare Your Subject
How can you make them most comfortable and ready?
Avoid over-preparing
Get to Know Your Location
What role does location play in your story?
Challenges and solutions?
13. Why Pre-Interview?
Personal connection before on set
Phone can give you insights (better than Skype or in
person)
An opportunity to reinforce WHY you want to tell
their story
Understand their perspective, THEIR goals and
concerns
14. Pre-Interview Keys
At least 2 wks prior to shoot when possible
Record (with permission)
Use it to…
Share the game plan
Finalize logistics (including wardrobe)
Map out key themes
Uncover visual and audio elements
Begin to build your story arc
Develop questions that elicit best answers
15. After the Pre-Interview
Create a shot list
Create an elements list
Send an email with follow-up on any wardrobe or
logistics discussed
Themes will be shared prior to shoot
Begin to reverse engineer your interview questions
Consider other platforms/versions
Think about how to elicit “evergreen” answers
16. Additional Research
Use multiple background sources
Talk to validators – family, friends, gatekeepers
Read articles, blogs, book summaries
Know stories he/she is likely to tell
Who are the gatekeepers?
What are their concerns? How can you help them?
Learn views, biases, concerns
18. Prepare Interviewee for the Experience
Three areas to prepare:
1. Content Delivery
2. Appearance
3. The Shooting Environment
19. Content Delivery
You are the expert
We’re here to work with you
We want you to look and sound
your best
Send in advance
General themes and topics
Prompts to think of examples
What NOT to send in advance
Your story arc
Your exact questions
20. Appearance
Send in writing
Repeat 24-36 hrs before shoot
Repeat day of shoot
Personal grooming
Men may need to shave right before taping
Do you want women to groom their own hair?
Explain makeup artist’s role, if you plan to
have one
Ask for multiple clothing options
Extra ties, scarves, jackets, tops, accessories
21. The Shooting Environment
On camera subject
prepped for seeing gear
and crew
Reassured we are having
a conversation
We are on their side—not
a confrontational setting
23. Setting is a Character
Sets tone
Supports theme
Defines characters
Can add or detract
from emotional impact
24. Setting Decisions
Interior or Exterior?
Real or Studio?
Green screen?
Impact on non-
professionals
Comfortable
Distracting
Intimidating
Welcoming
25. Plan ahead for obstacles
Sirens, busy times of day, internal noise issues
Parking, load-in, staging area for gear
Location permits and permissions
Look for copyrighted images, buildings, sculptures
26. Location Scouting Tips
If you can’t scout, use
tools
Websites
Flickr
Google Map street view
OpenStreetMap
Foursquare
LightTrac
29. What Kind of Learner?
Visual – needs to visualize; may want to see
your questions or a diagram of action first
Auditory – conceptualizes; good storytellers
Kinesthetic –learns by doing; may need to
walk through the process several times; or
describe process if an interview
30. What Kind of Learner?
Visual – up
Auditory - side
Kinesthetic –down/right
31. Now That You Know…
Adapt question style to learning style
Consider other locations for interview
Consider how person will be most comfortable
Let them look at their notes – it depends
34. Sound Environment
Who/what is nearby?
If noise, is it part of the
story?
Room tone for long
interviews
Planning for wild sound
and other natural elements
Authenticity
38. The Visual Environment
Minimize distractions
Plan ahead to cut lingo
Watch eye lines
In larger setups, use a
silk to hide people and
video village
39.
40. Lighting Decisions
Key Light
Natural, sourced or mixed?
Lighting Options
LED Panels
Genaray Bi-colors
Nila
Kino Flos
3200 and 5500k tubes
Other Options
41. Framing Your Shot
Information that
informs us about this
person
Interviewer in or out?
2 camera options
42. Re-enactments
What constitutes a re-enactment?
Broll retake of action
Full-scale re-enactments
Shot coverage and multiple angles
Sliders
Hang a Go-Pro
44. Plan for Assets to Support Story
“Interstitial” shots (even in
studio)
BTS photos for social shares
If OK with subject!
45. Other Camera Considerations
Hand held, on sticks or dolly?
Multi-cam or single?
Always consider impact on real people
46. Releases
Use this time to connect with your interviewee
Resources
iRelease
ReleaseMe
https://asmp.org
Be careful about
Copyrighted buildings, sculptures, artwork
Logos on T-shirts, soda cans, computers
Put release PDF with your interview files!
48. Secret to a Great Interview
A list of questions isn’t
enough
A great subject isn’t
enough
An interesting person isn’t
enough
Story plan is essential
49. Story Arc
The Hook and
the Climax
are related.
(Hook hints at
Climax or
Turning Point
in the story)
50. Questions to Build a Story Arc
Preamble
Your first questions are throw-aways, confidence-builders
This is not really the open for your show
Exposition
What info does our audience need to know?
Challenge & Resolution (and Hook)
Ask “how” “why” and examples questions
Get a short version for your hook—”it all started with…”
51. Questions to Build a Story Arc
Impact / Resolution Get big-picture answers/Thematic
Elicit a call to action if relevant (better than using text or a
narrator)
Call to Action
If you would say one thing to someone in your same
situation…
52. Questions to Build a Story Arc
Conclusion
The conclusion of the interview should be a high point, but it may not
be your ending in terms of the edit
Build in a satisfying end to your conversation for interviewee
Opportunity to continue relationship
Give them the opportunity to share anything additional
Don’t start throwing in extra questions or go back to the big story
now
Help them wrap up by asking big picture” questions: “What’s the
ONE THING you think people should know about X?”
53. Review: Questions to Build a Story Arc
Preamble/Warmup
Exposition
Challenge/Climax
Hook
Resolution
Call to Action
54. More on Story Arc
FREE RESOURCE http://www.lynda.com/Video-
Shooting-Video-tutorials/Creating-story-arc-your-
questions/141499/155890-4.html
56. Transcript Workflow
Record Timecode and Track Info (speaker name, frame rate,
sample rate, bit rate)
TC Recorders: Sound Devices 744t, 788t, 664, and 633 and
the Zaxcom Nomad and Maxx
Mixer: Sound Devices 552
Need to record TC to audio track: Tascam DR-05 and -07 and
the Zoom H4N and newer H5 and H6
Output mp3 or wav files of audio only
Outsourcing transcriptions
Note alternative sound bites for future versions or related
web/social media
59. Build Rapport
Pre-interview chat
Introduce crew
Makeup artist can
break the ice —or that
might be you!
Don’t let tech issues
distract your subject
60.
61. Make a Human Connection
For interviews, don’t break
eye line
Lean…sideways
Confidence-building
Show them you’ve spent the
time to learn about them.
Make reference to a speech,
book, etc.
Constant smiling and
nodding
62.
63. Can You Repeat That?
Try body language first
Or a quick gesture
Or a “sorry, I didn’t…”
If you must ask them to repeat, ask another way
Avoid “as I said before”
Get them to use your words
“Can you tell me why this is a bold new program?”
64. Can You Please Stop Talking?!
Try body language first
Or …break eye contact
66. Interviewing Experts and VIPs
Come prepared
Writings
Lectures
Give big-picture project goals
Encourage storytelling
They may want to give a thesis
Ask “for laypeople…”
Be prepared for them to be distracted
Know the Handlers
Give them a place to sit out of
eye line
Give them an opportunity to talk
67. Limited Time Situations
Build rapport during release-signing or walk to set
More like a conversation
No more than 4 questions, if interview
Maximize multiple cams for re-enactments
Keep as many handlers out of the room as possible!
Big picture wrap-up “the one thing”
68. English as a Second Language
Seated best
Q&A format may not work
Offer more background on Q
Ask for a story
Get clarifications, definitions
Be Prepared to Wait
69. Couples
Get to know their style
together
Prep them on which
order for interviews
Capitalize on the
relationship for re-
enactments
70. The Very Young
Avoid Yes, No Answers
Encourage storytelling
Ask “how,” “why” and feelings questions
Get declarative descriptors to edit into overly short answers
Interview standing up
Try to avoid parents cueing (speak with them before-hand)
Play the invisible game!
71. This slide deck is at https://www.slideshare.net/AmyDeLouise
WRAPPING UP: FINAL THOUGHTS