If you’re looking for advice on how to conduct an interview for film, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to interview for film, which will help you nail the perfect pre-interview prep as well as provide you with the ultimate toolkit for the buzz-worthy interview.
The Difference In Quality Of Interviews
One of the biggest frustrations for any filmmaker is the variation in quality of interviews. You could be doing everything right and have the most engaging interviewee on the planet, yet the narrator may not bring enough energy to the table or they could be so engrossed in their own ideas that they barely notice you are even there. The good quality interviews generate engagement, while the poor quality ones can leave you with an overall disappointing experience.
The difference is largely in the prep work that you do before you sit down with your interviewee. While the poor quality interviews may not seem like they were well-prepped, the fact is that they probably were not. Interviewing is a skill that you can learn and it’s all about preparation. The more you prepare, the higher quality your interview will be. It’s not just a matter of luck or chance.
How To Interview For Film
If you’re looking for guidance on how to interview for film, then we’d like to welcome you to the Southeast Asia filmmaking community. You may know that we are a little crazy about filmmaking here and welcome any opportunity to share our passion. Having said that, let us also admit that the process of interviewing is not as easy as it may seem.
The first thing you’ll want to do to prepare is to learn about your interviewee. Who are they? What are their skills? What do they want out of life? These are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself prior to the interview.
The more you know about the individual you’re interviewing, the more you can prepare to bring out their best qualities and minimize their weaknesses. You’ll want to learn everything about them from a professional standpoint, but you also need to interview them as a human being and not just a data point or a piece of information.
The Importance Of Ethics In Your Interviews
There are a few basic principles that cannnot be overlooked when it comes to research- and data-driven news stories, particularly when you’re interviewing a highly visible public figure. Oftentimes, journalists get caught up in their subjective emotions and their personal biases during the course of reporting the news, and in some cases, this can even tend to turn a casual viewer into a partisan of the political figure being reported on.
A major theme that we’ve covered is that of ethics – the more you know about your subject, the more you can do to remain objective and fair in your reporting. While we don’t think that all interviews need to be conducted with the highest level of objectivity, it’s a good idea to at least try to play fair and honest with your interviewee.
The Purpose Of The Interview
Another important consideration to keep in mind when interviewing is the purpose of the interview. If you want to learn more about our favorite subject, then why are you interviewing them? What is the purpose of the interview? Make sure that you clear this with the interviewee before you start sitting down to talk.
In some cases, the interview may be a means to get some information that you can use for a specific piece you’re working on, but more often than not, it’s a chance to learn more about your subject and see how they think and what they value in life.
Make Sure That You Follow The Golden Rule
Speaking of the specific piece you’re working on, make sure that you stick within the bounds of fair journalism. You may be writing a story about the most famous man in the world, but that does not mean that you can report on anything and everything related to him. Make sure that you follow the golden rule of journalism which is: do your homework before you talk. Familiarize yourself with aspects of his life and work ethic. In other words, make sure that before you interview someone, you’ve done your research and have a good handle on the subject.
Set A Budget For The Interview
Another thing you’ll want to do is to set a budget for yourself regarding this interview. How much are you going to pay this person and how much are you willing to spend on transportation, food, and hotel rooms? These are just a few of the questions you’ll want to ask yourself prior to the interview.
The more you know about the individual you’re interviewing, the more you can prepare to bring out their best qualities and minimize their weaknesses. You’ll want to learn everything about them from a professional standpoint, but you also need to interview them as a human being and not just a data point or a piece of information.