Looking to record your contributors yourself? These interview tips will help you to get the best from your contributors, and make it a rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone
1. Help them to prep
Share the Seenit project link with the contributor ahead of the filming date, so they have a real insight into what it is you're trying to achieve.
It can also be helpful to have a quick call with them before you meet on the filming day - this gives them an opportunity to ask any questions and get any concerns off their chest. The more you can bring them along on the journey, and make them feel an integral part of the process, the more likely they are to take part and give it their all.
2. Make your subjects feel supported and special
Don't be afraid to give your interviewee a pep talk before you start filming. It can be a really vulnerable thing telling your story in front of a camera, so reassuring them that they will come across as the best version of themself in your video can really help.
Talk them through the process, and explain that it's just a conversation and they don't need to prepare any scripting. We want the content to be really natural and authentic, so you'll be chatting back and forth and they should try to forget that the camera is there. The most important thing they can do is speak from the heart - you're paying attention to the content, so they don't need to worry about what they're saying, you've got that covered and will always ask additional questions if you need them to elaborate more.
3. Get to know them!
Make sure you take the time to have a pre-interview, away from the camera, to get to know them. Ask them questions about their life, not just the topic you want the video to focus on. We want to understand the person behind the job title, and we're always most relaxed when talking about ourselves - it's who we know best after all!
You can take notes and then highlight the aspects of their story that you really want them to focus on when the cameras start rolling. If they're particularly confident, you can always film this part as well - you might find that you get some great stories and you can always use the audio over some of their b-roll if the framing isn't exactly what you want.
4. Try not to fire off your questions one by one
Your questions are a guide to direct you toward the content. Try to weave them into the conversation, rather than quick firing them off one by one. You don't want the answers to be stilted, so approaching the interview as a conversation will mean that you get a more natural response from your interviewee.
Share your own experiences, and try to connect with your subject. By sharing yourself, you give them "permission" to share their own stories, and they are more likely to relax in your company and give you some lovely natural responses.
5. Change up your locations
Don't be afraid to mix up your locations. This adds interest to your video, and also helps to show rather than tell. If you're able to film in locations that are in context of what is being discussed, even better!
Most of all, move around, play with camera angles and locations, and don't be afraid to film the same sections a few times to give yourself options when it comes to the edit.