Preparation
- Gather your materials: a camera, tripod, and microphone (optional, but highly recommended). Your space may need to be lit properly as well. See this link for tips.
- Find a location to conduct your interview that is visually appealing, lit well, clean, and represents your topic or interviewee. Be sure the seating is comfortable.
- Create your questions prior to the interview and give them to your interviewee beforehand. Chat before the interview to become familiar with one another.
Set-Up
- Make sure your camera is set up on a tripod about three feet away from your subject at their eye level. Sometimes the camera is offset (not directly in front of them) to make it appear as though it is capturing a conversation rather than a straight on image.
- Check the frame before you begin recording for any misplaced objects, poor lighting, or
- If you can, mic your interviewee so the audio is clear and crisp (watch out for hair, jewelry, or clothes that will brush it or make noise). If you don’t have a microphone (preferably a lavaliere), make sure you are in a quiet place that has minimal background noise.
- Sit to the side of the camera so the interviewee is talking to you and not directly to the camera.
The Interview
- Begin recording. Begin speaking slowly and clearly and allow enough time for your interviewee to answer your questions. Don’t worry about pauses; you can edit the video later.
- Try not to lead your interviewee with any audible comments or leading questions. Remain silent but still engaged.
- You can reframe the question and ask it again in order to capture richer information that could be edited later.
Editing
- Save the video to your laptop and open it in iMovie.
- Review with your instructor the appropriate length and content.
- Follow the directions for editing your video.