Multi-camera Interviews

RTV 332

Interviews To find “gems,” of information Producers must

plan for the host conducting thoughtful and thorough interviews with credible sources

Good, timely interviews have a feeling of: Immediacy of the information Creating a mood Giving essential detail Interpreting events Giving viewers emotional and/or rational reactions\ Not watching talking heads, but engaged with a

conversation – bring out personality

Interviews Skilled interviewers:

Ask insightful questions Ask questions at the right

time Probe for honest

answers without offending

*This comes from knowing as much as possible about the source before doing an interview – the script

Interviews Good interviewers

write a few key words and only four or five questions - the rest of the interview comes from the dialogue exchange

Specific to the guest

interested you?background?qualifications?

stance on…future?

Interviews Tough questions…

are warranted but can also offend the audience if asked without just cause

Play hardball with the interviewees who try to “dodge” the issues

Follow-up, probe

Interviews Avoid Yes/No questions or questions that

“lead” sources to only answer a certain way Ask questions that require an articulate response

Avoid saying “I see” or “uh-huh.” This may indicate an understanding to the

interviewee, but the audience may assume you are agreeing.

Interviews Avoid asking two-part questions

One or both parts may be forgotten and it may allow the interviewee a chance to avoid unwanted questions

Avoid obvious questions It is a waste of time for you, the interviewee and the

audience

Avoid questions of bad taste Be sensitive to a situation - let your conscience and

sense of humanity guide you

Interviews Put your sources at ease with these

techniques: Host should appear relaxed him / herself

Prepare interviewees before you begin; let them know what story is about and what to expect

Use constant eye contact

Be a conscientious listener

Encourage the camera crew to consider the interviewee

InterviewsVary question typesOpen ended vs. closed-endPrimary vs. Follow-Up Interview script will establish this; host

will implement

Keys to interviewing success Break the ice with questions you do not

intend to use Start a conversation so the source gets comfortable talking

with a mic and camera

Jot down two or three key questions for reference This will help you remember what information you are

seeking, no matter where the conversation may try to take you

Know when to shut up Nothing is more annoying than watching an interviewer ask

questions that are longer than the answers

Keys to success Ask a subject to explain an important point

again This will serve two purposes - ensure you get the key points

AND send the signal to the interviewee that you care about important information and want to get it right. This will also help sources have faith in your reporting

Always remember the goal … to elicit a powerful, concise statements from a credible source

Other interviewing tipsDon’t pre-interview guestGuest is the starKeep a balance of host/guest timeDon’t refer to personal issues as the

hostDon’t refer to off-air conversationsAsk questions the viewer would ask

Mock Interview, Part 2 In a moment, interview a classmate for

5 minutes each about something he/she is involved with

Script for Practice Interview due as shared Google Docs file (to demarsmedia@gmail.com) before class time by 10 pm Wednesday 1/29, with hard copy and 4x6 note cards then also due at the start of class Thursday. 

Mock Interview, Part 2Practice productions Thursday.  Scripts must be formatted like this.  Your

practice interview is a 3:00 interview as a segment of Studio 122.  You must include a full open as discussed in class and a full close.

‘Correct script format’ vs. functional

 

 

Script contentOpen (content)Primary and follow-up questionsShow restatementClose (content)

Mock Interview, Part 2The show segment is an Information

Interview about someone in class and something they are involved with.

During the interview, roll some b-roll that will be on the server (content will not be about the subject, as a mock interview)

 

Mock Interview, Part 2You are directing a segment and writing

a script for the person who is your host to be able to interview the person who is your guest. 

While the training project last week was with a 'generic' guest, you are now planning to direct and interview with questions for a specific guest.  

Types of InterviewsPersonalityOpinion Information

Types of Interview scriptsFully scriptedAd-libSemi scripted

Interview Show ContentOpening TitlesBumper (for Project Interview)Open

Show name, host name, brief bio, overview of show / segment

Body Q& A with b-roll

Close (contains) and (credits)

Production ContentOpen from serverEstablishing shot, opening sequenceObjective POV / presentational POVChanging camera shotsMoving shotsReaction shots Inserting lower-thirdsClosing planned – pullback?

Production DaysScheduled time, set up timeTurn off cell phones and put awayMistakes last ThursdayAlways be in the studio before 2 pm –

on crew, start getting studio readyDirector and Floor Director must control

and keep things movingYou must be ready for any crew

position Information-gathering time!