Essays on Filmmaking by Bill Olson

Conducting Better Interviews

Here are some tips for conducting better on-camera in interviews.

First, know as much about the subject as possible.

Second, avoid having written questions. Sometimes your first question will yield answers to additional questions, too, leaving you fumbling through your list to sort out the ones that have already been answered.

Third, don't interrupt the interviewee.

Fourth, don't beat yourself up for asking a stupid question. Stupid questions can prompt insightful answers.

Fifth, be respectful of the person you're interviewing, even if you don't agree

Sixth, if the information you need is clear in your mind, focus your questions on that. It will make your interview go quicker and you'll have less useless information to wade through at the end.

Seventh ask open questions {questions that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no). A closed question would be, "Do you like Eau Claire?" An open question would be, "What do you think of Eau Claire?"

Eighth, when you run out of questions, ask the person if there's anything else they'd like to say or that we should know. The typical response is, "No...except...."

Ninth, avoid double-barreled questions. That is, ask one question at a time, because your subject will probably forget the second or third part.

Tenth, children often don't know what to say. We all like children, but most of them are poor interview subjects.

Broadcast Quality

To ensure broadcast quality, worry about the following:

1. The format you're shooting on. Hi8, Super-VHS, 3/4", and any digital medium can create broadcast quality.

2. The camera you use. Some cameras can create a picture quality on Super-VHS that rivals digital. Some single chip Digital 8 camcorders produce beautiful video.

3. The technique. Even if you have a VHS-C camcorder (not broadcast quality), you can develop quality techniques in camera operation and shooting that will prepare you for the day you obtain a broadcast quality camera. Do the following:

a. Use a tripod when possible.

b. If you can't use a tripod because you are catching action, you must discipline yourself: hold the camera steady, stay on one subject for at least ten seconds when feasible. In other words, focus not just the lens, but your attention without moving the camera too much.

c. Avoid using the auto features as much as possible, especially auto focus. It will often change when you don't want it to.

d. Shoot with plenty of light. If you can control the light, do so: have a camera light or cheap 500 Watt Halogen work lights from a hardware store.

e. Know your camera inside out. Know what it does and how it works. Don't just grab it and shoot. Know it's limitations and how to overcome them. For example, pro-sumer camcorders often pump up the gain automatically if the light is low. You probably want to prevent that most of the time. Gain is electronic and can be pumped up in a non-linear editor if necessary, so when you're shooting, try to keep the gain at 0 db and add more light.

f. On a related note, be aware that a consumer or pro-sumer camcorder will often produce an overly-saturated picture. Be aware of this and develop ways to avoid it, perhaps by putting your exposure on manual and decreasing it.

g. Know your craft. Again, don't rely on just aiming a camera, but know the art form you're working in: Study and practice good picture composition, know the ins and outs of good lighting. If you buy 500W work lights, you may want to buy some gels, too: neutral density, color temperature blue and color temperature orange, for example. Experiment with reflective lighting. With my Panasonic AG DVC15, I get amazing results in shooting interviews by using a neutral density filter to tone down the light, black foil (from the Lee gel folks) to control for spill (surrogate barn doors) and an orange poster board to reflect fill light for a nice warm effect.

If you have a non-linear editor and a DV camcorder, don't worry about your technology, worry about you technique.