| How to Film Interviews Posted: 05 Aug 2019 09:00 AM PDT Filmed interviews convey the information and the experiences that the subject discusses directly to the camera and saves it for posterity. Every interview will be as different as the person being interviewed, but there are still guidelines and structures that you want to follow to effectively film an interview. You should always research and prepare for your subject, set up a location for a good shot, and conduct the interview politely and efficiently. [Edit]Arranging the Inteview - Schedule the interview in advance to allow your subject to prepare. Contact the person you want to interview and ask them when they are available to do an interview. Give them a brief summary of what you plan to talk about and ask them if they have any questions. Try to be as friendly and accommodating as you can be.[1]
- Be polite and professional when you set up your interview.
- Research the person you are interviewing. To conduct a professional interview, you need to be as prepared and knowledgeable about your subject as you can be. Learn as much as you can about them so you can craft an effective interview.[2]
- Ask people close to your subject for information about them, but be polite and respectful of sensitive topics.
- Look through your subject's social media for information you can use in your interview.
- Watch other filmed interviews to get an idea of how you want to do yours. A great way to prepare yourself for your interview is to watch a bunch of different interviews with other people so you can use what you think works for your own interview.[3]
- Look online to watch other filmed interviews.
- Pay attention to the structure of the interview and model yours after one that you think is effective.
- Use questions that you thought worked well in the interviews you watch.
- Make an outline of the structure of the interview. As you research and prepare for your interview, create an outline of the main points that you want to cover. Add subpoints beneath them of specific items that pertain to the main points that you want to cover.
- Organize your outline in the order of the way you want to cover each topic to help guide your interview.
- Write out questions that you want to ask. When you finish your outline, write a series of questions that will help guide the interview according to the structure of your outline. Use open ended questions to get the subject talking and use specific questions to get direct answers.[4]
- For example, you could ask the person you're interviewing, "What was your childhood like?" That will get them talking in broad terms about their life. Then you could ask them, "How old were you when your mother died?" That will get them to give you a clear and direct answer.
- Write your questions on notecards so you can reference them during your interview.
[Edit]Setting the Scene - Choose a space that fits the look and feel of your piece. The background of the interview can communicate information as well. A solid white background feels more formal and professional while an interview conducted in an open space with a brick wall can make your subject appear more vulnerable.[5]
- Interviewing someone in their place of work can add another layer of interest by allowing people to see how and where the subject operates. For example, interviewing a painter in their studio or an executive in their office allow for an interesting perspective for the viewer.
- Make sure you have enough space to conduct the interview. You'll have camera, lights, and possibly crew members that will all need to fit in the space as well.
- Use a location that doesn't change over time. Sunlight coming through windows or framing a clock in your shot can distract and cause continuity issues in your piece. When you go to edit your interview, changes in the background can make it difficult for you to organize your final piece into a cohesive interview.[6]
- Avoid interviewing someone outside. The changing light and background noise can distract the viewer and make it difficult to edit without any continuity issues.
- Use blackout curtains if you're conducting an interview in an open room to prevent the outside light from changing.
- Consider the ambient noise in the space you choose. An environment with distracting audio can ruin the sound quality and degrade the integrity of an interview. Check for air-conditioning noises or outside traffic to make sure your interview can be conducted undisturbed by any ambient noises.[7]
- A plane flying overhead or a siren outside can distract the viewer.
- Check that there are enough electrical outlets. You'll have lots of equipment to conduct your interview, so you need to check to make sure there are enough outlets and that the circuitry of the space can support your devices without shorting out a fuse.[8]
- Use a surge protector or an extension cord to give yourself more outlets and a longer reach.
- Use a 3-point lighting system to illuminate your subject. Set up a key light, which is the main light shining on the person you're interviewing. Use a smaller fill light to remove shadows on your subject's face. Then, use a backlight to create a slight glow on the back of your subject that separates them from the background.[9]
- Test your lighting system by taking a few shots of yourself to make sure it looks good for your subject.
- Set up 2 cameras to film your interview. Set up 1 camera for a wide or medium shot, looking directly at the subject as an establishing shot. Then, set up another camera for a close-up shot, either on the left or the right side of the establishing shot camera.[10]
- The close-up shot should tightly frame the person you're interviewing and the establishing shot should take in more of the background behind them.
- Frame the subject to the opposite side that they're looking.
- Clip a lapel microphone on you and your subject. A lapel mic allows you to clip the microphone onto you and your subject so they're hidden from the view of the camera. Because they're clipped directly to the person, they'll pick up the speech audio without too much background ambient noise.[11]
[Edit]Conducting the Interview - Dress well for the interview. You don't necessarily have to wear a suit and tie, but you do need to dress appropriately to make your subject feel comfortable talking to you. Regardless of what you choose to wear, you should practice good hygiene so you don't offend the person you're interviewing.
- If the person you're interviewing is a strict businessman, you need to dress accordingly. If your subject is a laid-back, jeans and t-shirt kind of person, then it makes more sense for you to match their attire to elicit a genuine interview.
- Make sure your subject is comfortable before you begin. Offer them something to drink and ask them if they're ready to begin before you start rolling. Make sure the lighting isn't too bright in their face and they're comfortable in their seat.[12]
- Ask them if they can hear you clearly so there isn't any confusion when you ask them questions.
- Have the subject look right at you. When you're asking your subject your interview questions, have them look directly at you when they speak. If they look at the cameras it can make editing a continuous shot more difficult later on.[13]
- Look at the subject when you ask them questions and when they speak to you to make them more comfortable and to give them a consistent focal point.
- Ask the subject to repeat the question before answering it. It can be really difficult to know what question a subject is answering when you edit the footage together. One easy way to keep track of their answers is the have them repeat the question back to you before they respond.[14]
- It also allows you and the subject to make sure they fully understand the question you're asking.
- Follow your outline and ask questions in order. Use your outline to help guide your interview and keep it on track. Your subject may go off on a tangent for a while, and your outline and interview questions can help bring you back to the topic you were discussing.[15]
- Take a break if your subject needs it. Interviews can sometimes be long and tedious, and you want your subject to give you considered responses. If they need a break, take a short 5 minutes and pick up where you left off.[16]
- If the interview gets heated or contentious, suggest taking a short break to calm any tensions.
- Let your subject know that they can take a bathroom break whenever they need to.
- Keep the camera rolling at all times. You never know when you'll get a great response from your subject. Sometimes, people being interviewed will answer a question and then add an interesting bit of information after their initial answer. Once you start filming, keep the camera rolling at all times, even during breaks.[17]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - 2 cameras
- 3 lighting sources
- 2 lapel microphones
- Notecards for questions
[Edit]Related wikiHows
[Edit]References |
| How to Save a Friendship Posted: 05 Aug 2019 01:00 AM PDT Losing a friend can feel like the worst pain imaginable, so it's understandable that you want to save your friendship. Fortunately, you can revive a dying friendship by reaching out to your friend and showing them you care. If you've had a fight with your friend, apologize for your role in the fight and talk things out. Additionally, help your friendship grow by making new memories with your friend and learning to compromise. [Edit]Reviving a Dying Friendship - Ask yourself if it's a good idea to save your friendship. Typically, there's a reason your friendship isn't going well. Think about what seems to be keeping you apart and if you can solve that problem. Then, decide if it's the right decision to try. Here are some reasons your friendship may be dying:[1]
- You aren't making time for each other.
- One or both of you is going through a stressful time.
- You don't have much in common.
- One or both of you has trouble listening.
- One or both of you criticizes the other.
- Communicate with your friend daily to maintain your connection. If you and your friend used to talk a lot in the past, try to get back into that habit. Talk to them in person, text them, or send them digital messages. Regular communication will help you keep your friendship going, even when both of you are busy.[2]
- For instance, send your friend a meme every morning.
- Don't be afraid to be the first person to text. However, don't send more than 2 texts without receiving a response because they might feel like you're bombarding them with texts.
- If you haven't spoken to your friend in awhile, reach out to see how they're doing. You might text, "Hey! This is Amy from camp. How have you been?"
- Tell your friend how much you value your relationship. It'll be easier for you to heal your friendship if you and your friend are both on the same page. It's likely that they don't realize that you're trying to fix things. Choose a time when you can talk to them alone, then tell them that you're hoping to improve your friendship.[3]
- You might say, "I know we haven't been able to hang out lately, but I really miss you. I'm hoping that our friendship can be as close as it was before."
- Make time for your friend so they feel important. Your schedule is probably packed, and your friend is likely really busy, too. However, you guys will need to make time for each other if your friendship is going to work. Include them in your life more by trying the following:[4]
- Invite them to go do something fun.
- Have a meal together.
- Join a club with them.
- Take a class together.
- Set up a study date.
- Exercise together.
- Set up a talk or text date.
- Do a video chat.
- Ask your friend what's going on in their life in person or via text. Your friend will feel more connected to you if you show an interest in their life. The easiest way to do this is to ask them how they're doing and what they've been up to lately. Then, listen to what they have to say.[5]
- You might ask or text them, "How are things going?" or "Anything new in your life?"
- Be sure to ask follow-up questions like, "What did he say when you told him that?" "What are you going to do now?" or "How are you feeling about all this?"
- Make sure that you aren't interrupting your friend to talk about yourself.
- Give your friend a small, personal gift to show you care. You don't need to spend a lot to give a nice gift. Pick out something small that will mean something to your friend. Here are some gifts you might give them:[6]
- Bake your friend's favorite cookies.
- Frame an instant photo of you 2.
- Give your friend the book you just finished reading.
- Make your friend a bracelet.
- Get your friend's favorite candy.
- Give your friend a memento from a memory you share.
- Set a regular date with your friend. It's easy to forget to make plans with people, even if you really care about them. To prevent this, set a regular date with your friend so that you never forget! Turn this into a regular habit so you can keep your friendship going strong.[7]
- For example, you and your friend could have a movie night on the first Saturday of every month, or you could meet up every Wednesday night for pizza.
[Edit]Making up after a Fight - Allow time for you both to calm down before you reach out. Don't try to meet up with them or reach out to them right after the fight happens. Both of you will be upset, and this can make the situation worse. Instead, take the time you need to work through your feelings and give your friend some space to deal with theirs. Once you feel like you can talk to them without getting upset, try to start a conversation by messaging or calling them.[8]
- If your friend says they need more time, give them the time and space they need. It could take them longer to calm down, and pushing them will likely make them more upset.
- Try not to worry if your friend doesn't want to make up immediately. That doesn't mean your friendship is over! However, it might be best for you to spend some time with other people you care about.
- Apologize for your part in the fight. It's hard to apologize, especially if you feel like you didn't do anything wrong. However, acknowledging that you made mistakes will help repair your friendship. Tell your friend that you realize you aren't perfect and know you could do better. If you know what you did wrong, be specific about what you would change.[9]
- You might say, "I'm really sorry for what I said yesterday. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but I know I did. In the future, I'll try to see things from your perspective."
- Similarly, you could say, "I'm sorry for my part in our fight yesterday. I know I could've reacted better."
- Use "I" statements when talking about what happened. "I" statements keep the focus on how you're feeling and what you're doing, so they don't put the other person on the defensive. This helps you explain what happened without assigning blame. As you talk to your friend, make sure you're sticking to "I" statements.[10]
- For example, you'd say, "I felt like you weren't listening to me," instead of, "You don't listen to me." Similarly, say, "I need to feel like I'm choosing what we do sometimes," rather than, "You always pick what we do."
- Listen to your friend's perspective on what happened. You and your friend experienced what happened through different perspectives, so you likely won't agree on everything that happened. Both of you can see the situation differently while both being right! Ask your friend to tell you how they experienced your fight so you can see things from their perspective.[11]
- Say, "How do you feel about what happened yesterday?"
- Forgive your friend for their actions. While forgiveness is hard, it helps you move on so you can have a bright future. Additionally, it's the only way for your friendship to heal. Reflect on the hurt your friend caused, then tell them that you forgive them. Do your best not to bring it up in the future.[12]
- You might say, "What you said yesterday really hurt me, but I know you didn't mean to make me cry. I forgive you for what happened."
- Remind your friend of the good times you had together. Right now, you're probably both feeling hurt about what happened. It may be helpful to talk about your good memories. Tell your friend about your favorite moments in your friendship. Then, ask them to remember their favorite moments.[13]
- Say, "My favorite memory of you as a friend is the time we both got each other the same sweater as a holiday gift. That was the moment I knew we were meant to be BFFs."
- Tell your friend what you expect from the friendship moving forward. You and your friend probably have different expectations for your friendship, and your friend likely doesn't know what you expect. Talk to your friend about how you want your relationship to be. Then, listen to what your friend expects from you.[14]
- Say, "In the future, I want us to talk to each other without making critical comments about each other's bodies," or "Moving forward, I need to be able to pick half of the activities we do."
[Edit]Helping Your Friendship Grow - Make the first move to start the healing process. Being the first person to reach out is super scary, but it may be the only way to fix things. Don't let your fear hold you back. Send the first text, give the first smile, or say the first, "Hey, how've you been." Soon, your friendship might be on the road to recovery.[15]
- Keep things simple at first. Send a simple text that says, "Hey! :)"
- Act like you're just getting to know them for the first time. You likely wish things could go back to the way they were, but that may not be possible. Instead of trying to pretend things are the same, embrace the chance to start over. Get to know your friend all over again by having long talks and making new memories together.[16]
- Invite your friend to have coffee or bake cookies. Then, use this time to talk about yourselves.
- Enjoy new experiences with your friend. Doing fun, new things will help you move your friendship forward. Choose something you and your friend have always wanted to try, or pick something that's scared you in the past.[17]
- For instance, you might go skydiving, run a 5K, take an art class, or try out for a play.
- Ask your friend if they have any ideas for activities you can try.
- Acknowledge your differences and compromise on your expectations. Talk to your friend about your differences and how they might affect your friendship. Then, work together to figure out how you can still make your friendship work.[18]
- For example, let's say you have a job but your friend doesn't. You'll have a lot more demands on your time, and you need to make that clear to them. In this case, you could make plans for after work or on your day off.
- Similarly, your friend may have family responsibilities that you don't have. It's important to respect your friend's time with their family and the demands they face. To compromise, you might spend more time at their house or you could include their younger siblings or children in your activities.
- Give your friend space if they need it. Despite all of your efforts, it's possible your friend will want to slow things down. If so, respect their wishes. Keep your distance while they sort through their feelings and decide what they want. In the meantime, work on building new friendships.[19]
- Tell them, "I understand how you feel. I hope that we can be friends again in the future, so I'm going to give you space until you're ready to talk."
- Don't expect them to give more than they're willing. If you're putting a lot into saving this friendship, it's understandable that you'd want them to put in the same amount of effort. However, you can't force them to do something they're not willing to do. Focus on what you're putting into the relationship and don't expect anything in return.[20]
- If you feel like your friend isn't doing enough, talk to them about how you feel. Say, "I feel like I'm the only one trying to make plans."
- If your friend refuses to step up, it may be best for you to focus on your other friendships.
- Don't be afraid to be the one to talk, especially if your friend isn't speaking up.
- Turn off your cell phone while spending time with your friend so that your full attention is on them.
[Edit]Warnings [Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
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