Interview

FOR TEACHERS:

Resources
About the Program
Participating Schools

1. Set up the video camera

Indirect, natural sunlight provides the best lighting.
Position the subject in a comfortable chair with a back.
Keep the background behind the subject relatively neutral. Avoid items that distract from the subject (ex: paintings, fish tanks, etc.)
Set the camera on a steady surface. The camera should not move at all during the interview. Using a tripod will ensure consistent positioning.
Position the camera close to the subject. “Tight framing” is important: when viewed through the camera, the subject’s head and upper body should fill the frame.
Do not position the subject in the center of the frame. Position him/her to the side, facing the empty part of the frame.

2. Prepare the subject

Provide water and encourage the subject to drink in between clips.
Make the subject as comfortable as possible.
Discuss the content of interview with the subject ahead of time. Do not give the subject the questions, but do outline the main idea of the story you expect him/her to tell, as well as the general structure of the story (the beginning, the middle, and the ending).
Instruct the subject to talk to the interviewers, not the camera.
Instruct the subject to answer questions using complete sentences. For example, to the question “How did you register to vote?”, the response should be “ I registered to vote by walking to the state office of elections..” not “I walked to the state office of elections..”

3. Conduct the interview

Stop the camera after each section: personal information, beginning, middle, ending. This will help simplify the editing process later on.
Interviewers should begin by asking the subject to introduce him/herself by name: “My name is Henry Smith. I live in Whitestone, New York.” etc.
Interviewers should take care to remain still and not shuffle their papers.

Interviewing Tips:

Give positive feedback to the subject by nodding and reacting to his/her story with appropriate facial expressions (smiling, frowning, etc.)
Don’t worry about silence; let the subject think and fill in the gaps (which will be removed in the editing)