How to Prepare for a Successful Documentary Interview

Preparing for a documentary interview requires more than just setting up a camera and sitting your subject down. It demands extensive research, an understanding of storytelling, and the ability to communicate effectively with your interviewee. By preparing thoroughly, you can ensure that you gather compelling content that will captivate your audience. In this guide, we will walk you through essential preparation steps to enhance the quality and depth of your documentary interviews.

Research the Background

Before the interview, immerse yourself in the topic you are covering. This includes understanding the background of your subject or the broader context of their story. By doing so, you can craft insightful questions that lead to captivating content, ensuring you are well-prepared to handle any unforeseen directions the conversation might take.

Outline the Storyline

Creating a storyline outline is crucial for any documentary interview. Know the narrative arch you want to achieve and how the subject fits into it. This helps in developing a focused interview that keeps both you and the interviewee on track, ultimately aiding in constructing a coherent and engaging narrative for your audience.

Understand the Subject’s Perspective

To conduct a meaningful interview, it’s essential to understand and respect the subject’s perspective. This involves recognizing their beliefs, opinions, and experiences, which could enhance the depth of the interview. By showing empathy and understanding, you can build a rapport that encourages candidness, enabling you to capture raw and genuine insights.

Crafting the Right Questions

Open-Ended Questions

Formulate open-ended questions that encourage comprehensive responses rather than simple yes or no answers. This technique can spark spontaneous and revealing discussions, allowing the viewer to see a more personal side of the interviewee. Open-ended questions enable the narrative to flow naturally, making for a more engaging documentary.

Avoid Leading Questions

Leading questions can bias the answers and limit the authenticity of your content. Strive to keep questions neutral to elicit candid responses from your interviewee. This approach fosters an honest discourse, ensuring the responses you receive are genuine and untainted by interviewer influence, thereby enriching the documentary’s quality.

Setting Up the Interview Environment

Choose the Right Location

The location of the interview can significantly impact the overall production value. Select a quiet setting that reflects the essence of the story and minimizes distractions. Consider elements like lighting and acoustics, as these can enhance the visual and auditory experience, contributing to a professional and polished final product.

Technical Setup

Ensure your technical setup is refined to capture high-quality sound and visuals. Invest time in setting up microphones, cameras, and lighting to create an optimal recording environment. Testing equipment beforehand and having backups ready can prevent any technical glitches, thereby preserving the integrity of the interview.

Interviewee Comfort

Prioritize your interviewee’s comfort to promote a relaxed atmosphere conducive to open communication. Ensure they are comfortable physically and emotionally, explaining the process to alleviate any nerves. Establishing such comfort can lead to more organic and relaxed responses, enriching the overall interview narrative.