E-course for youth educators how to use the videoed Casebook

It is advisable to choose the right shots and style, as well as being able to manage the interviewed people: We can inform the interviewee about the type of interview that will be conducted, trying to put him at ease and asking if there are sensitive topics for him that he does not want to face.

- Prepare and sign the declaration of consent to use images and the processing of personal data. 

Decide on Location & Time

You’ve found your subject. Now, you’ll want to find a good place to shoot the interview, and schedule a time that works for both of you. As you work with your subject to decide when and where to conduct the interview, it’s important to be as accommodating as you can. A great way to make scheduling a smooth process is to offer them a few different time slots and let them choose one. In addition, make sure you give yourself enough time to set up and change course if problems arise. When selecting a location here are some things to consider:

- Are there windows? It’s best to avoid natural light if possible because sunlight is variable. You can’t control the weather, but you can control your own lighting. A fairly bright room will be enough.

- What noises do you hear? Buzzing from lights? Cars driving by? You’ll want to avoid locations with lots of background noise, it is useful also for editing phase.

- Are there enough power sources? If not, make sure to bring equipment (such as extension cords) to counter this.

Framing & Composition 

- Try to standardize the types of shots of each partner involved so that they do not look like disconnected videos but parts of an entire project.

- Don’t Stop recording. Even after the interview is over it is best to keep the cameras rolling to catch any  moment that might be useful in the final edit. At the very least it gives you a little pre/post roll so you can more easily edit.

- Filming from the correct angle - Interview videos work best if you shoot all subjects from an angle. This is a common technique which is used on film and television.

- Using this approach the camera is only on the interviewee. The interviewer asks the questions and stays out of the camera’s shot. Filming only the interviewee is easier to edit, only one microphone is required and you just need to make sure that the interviewee is adequately lit up with proper lighting.

- Style 1: Questions are asked by the interviewer, but the interviewee does not have to include them into their answer. Instead, the question appears graphically before or while the interviewee answers the questions.

- Style 2: Interviewee starts repeating the questions at the beginning of each answer. For example, if the interviewer asks ‘ what did you think about event XYX ‘ , the interviewee would say ‘ I thought event XYZ was fantastic and I enjoyed it because …”

During the Interview

• Listen to the Answers: The biggest make that beginner interviewers commit is that they do not listen to the answers of the questions they ask. Instead, he/she is thinking about the next question already.
• Never Interrupt Your Interview Guest: You never know when they’ll blurt out the perfect soundbite. Keep the interview about them and not you. This includes making agreeing sounds like “oh, yes” and “mmhmm”. Those sounds are hard to edit out later on, and can be distracting. Try to just politely nod your head and refrain from any verbal communication while your guest is speaking.
• Keep an Eye on Your Camera. Again, whether you have a huge crew or are operating alone, someone needs to be paying attention to the camera. You never know when it will stop taping, refuse to record audio or turn off altogether. The last thing you want is to have to ask your guest to do the interview all over because of a technical malfunction.
• If there are some answer not clear ask to the interviewee to repeat it
• If during the interview will arise some interesting details go deep and ask him/her explanations.