The Art of the Interview
by Tom Miller
The person sitting across from you is a potential treasure trove waiting to be mined. They have something to say, an opinion to convey, a story to tell.
Your job is to get them to tell it in a compelling way that serves your production, on camera, under all these bright lights. The camera person says, “Speed!” Now what?
I’ve had the privilege of being around hundreds of interviews - from presidents to actors, athletes to CEO’s, rock stars to the guy next door. Most of them I spent behind the camera, many in the interviewer’s chair, and even some in the hot seat itself. What they all seem to have in common is as old as communication itself - storytelling.
The toughest interviews I remember were part of a Steven Spielberg project called “Survivors of the Shoah.” I huddled safely behind the lens as holocaust survivors unfolded horrific stories of their time in the concentration camps - sometimes for the very first time. This was storytelling in its rawest form - with sweat and tears pouring down our cheeks. They went on for hours with interruptions only to change tapes. I felt like we were part of something much bigger than ourselves. And we were. These stories are now part of history - catalogued for all to see.
Then there was Hunter S. Thompson. His interviews started late at night. They were crazy, rambling affairs, that produced little usable content. It was worse in his final years. One time at his home in Woody Creek, he started throwing things at us. We calmed him down by turning off the lights and talking politics. Then slowly, one at a time, the lights came back on, and the interview could start. Fascinating times with a fascinating man!
Most interviews are nowhere near this challenging. Here are some things that the best interviewers seem to have in common:
They’re Curious - The best questions seem to stem from a genuine curiosity in what the subject has to say. The ones who go into an interview trying to reveal what they know about the subject won’t get the answers they need. The interviewer represents the audience. Sometimes it’s best to be naïve, even if you do know the answers through your research.
They Listen - Good interviewing is like a dance, an interplay with questions stemming from answers, rather than from a list on a sheet of paper. Let the paper be a guide, but let the subject’s answers reveal your next questions. Along that line, the best interviewers maintain eye contact with the subject for as long as possible. Looking away or down at a list makes them feel like you don’t care about what they are saying. It also makes them break eye contact with you, which doesn’t look good on camera.
They Offer Guidance - It’s okay to gently direct the subject back from a tangent that isn’t useful to you. Your subject may not understand what part of their story you want for your program, or they may even have their own agenda. Everybody’s time and stamina is limited, so don’t use it up on material that you can’t use.
They Treat the Subject Like a Guest - The subject’s seat is the hardest place to be, so it’s the job of the interviewer and the camera crew to make them feel at home (even if we’re actually in their home!) Offering them water, breaks from the lights, and plenty of ‘Thank You's” goes a long way towards making them feel more at ease. Another tip is to put a small light on the interviewer so that the subject can see them better. Often with the bright lights, the interviewer disappears into the void - eliminating comfort, as well as good eye contact.
These are just a few ideas. Please write back with your interviewing stories and tips that we can share in future issues!
For other behind-the-scenes stories, along with production tips and tricks, visit Big Pictures News
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This Article first appeared in the July 2008 issue of Big Pictures News.
Copyright 2008, Big Pictures Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
