This is the first in a series of behind-the-scenes blogs about the story behind the making of a documentary - in this case, my film, "Life Online," the story of a family in Florida that's uniquely dedicated to the "YouTube" lifestyle.
In today's blog, I share some of my favorite basic techniques in conducting an effective, "authentic" interview.
First:
Be prepared
This doesn't just mean that you should do your research - you need to be technically prepared as well.
Whether you are your own crew, or you have one, two or three people helping you on documentary shoot, it's imperative that you work with individuals that are experienced and/or motivated to prepare camera, sound and lighting as quickly and efficiently as possible. There's always going to be a balance - some would say tension - between setting up a great shot, and engaging your subject as quickly as possible.
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| Interviewing Neil Parikh, one of the boys featured in my documentary, "Bollywood Steps" |
If you have an individual waiting to be interviewed, and the preparation process is too slow, they start to feel impatient - even rushed - and increasingly nervous. A minor inconvenience becomes a major disruption. Particularly in sensitive situations, this can impact the quality of the interview when it finally occurs.
