Interview Basics for Project 2

PRE-INTERVIEW:
The pre-interview is designed to identify interesting areas for an interview. Use your 'story radar' to find areas of special interest, or intriguing aspects of the life story of your interview subject. If you are interviewing someone about a specific topic, it is better to have good questions. If you pre-interview and someone tells you they are really into tennis, and you know nothing, you might
want to do a bit of research to be able to ask a good question. On the other hand, you don't want to get people giving you staged or rehearsed answers, so don't get too specific.

FORMAL ISSUE:
You need to figure out if your questions are going to be in the final product and let people know if they're not.

LOCATION:
Minimize background noise that is very obvious, such as a piece of music, both for interference and for editing.

WRITTEN QUESTIONS:
Have questions written down. On the other hand, don't consult your list too often or you will lose rapport with your interviewee. A related idea is to have more than one approach to a difficult question.

THE SOUND BITE:
In TV news the average answer to an interview question is 9 seconds long. In documentary people speak more in 'paragraphs' where one answer is one idea or thought.

FLOW:
There is always a tension between breaking flow vs. getting something you'll need. Be ready
to both interrupt and not interrupt. Don't be afraid to ask someone to rephrase for either an incomplete answer, or condensing an answer that is too convoluted. But stay calm and your subject probably will too. Don't be afraid to wait for an answer. One way to get people going is to ask them to 'tell a story' or 'relive' an event. Try to develop 'story radar.' Be tuned in to when someone is not giving you anything new. It's up to you to move on or dig more.

FAIR QUESTIONS:
What is a 'leading' question? (You were at Duffy's Bar on the night of the 15th, weren't you?”) What is a 'loaded' question? (Have you stopped beating your wife?)

Interview Tips:

1- Listen to the background noise. Is a fan on? Air conditioner? Can you move to a quieter location? Can you close a window? If outside, is there wind noise? Cars, airplanes?

2- Have the subject talk about their breakfast so that you can get the correct audio level. If you're just doing sound (no video) make sure the mic is about 4 to 6 inches from the subject's mouth. And check the audio level. It should be a little above the middle. Around -12 db.

3-Notice your subject's speaking style and body motion. If they have a very dynamic way of speaking, be prepared for louder moments like laughter and move the recorder slightly farther away or slightly closer when they are talking softly.  If they are a little nervous, they might fiddle with something in their hand or chew gum. Try to make them feel comfortable, have them remove the gum and reduce noises in the audio.

4-Try not to ask Yes or No questions. If you don't want your voice in the audio, remind the subject to answer questions in a complete sentence, including your question in the answer.

5-Don't suggest an answer in a question or finish sentences. Try not to say, "mmhmm, or "right right", or make any remark as they are talking even if it makes both of you feel a little uncomfortable. Just nod your head quietly to let the subject know you are listening.

6-Listen to their answers instead of thinking about your next question. Follow up with questions related to their answers if they are telling a story that warrants more exploration or details or clarification.

7- Ask questions that conjure a story and give the listeners a sense of being there. For example, a line of questioning could be: Tell me about the day you first came to the United States. What were you wearing? What was the weather? How did it smell? What were you surprised by? How did you feel?

8-A good ending question is to ask the subject if there is anything else they'd like to add and/or anyone else you should talk to for more about the story.

9-Make sure to record some room tone while no one is talking!! At least 1 or 2 minutes, so that you can use it for editing.