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The Essential Skills for Personal Interview | Datavideo

The Essential Skills for Personal Interview

Oct 26 2017

Shooting personal interviews is a commonly encountered situation requiring thorough preparation of the topics to be covered. It involves planning a shooting script and coordinating the necessary equipment based on the script. Finally, the production team collaboratively generates creative ideas, records them, and selects the most suitable shooting script based on practical, executable plans.

The following are topics to be discussed before the shoot

Will the final solution resonate with a broad audience? Understanding the preferences of your target audience is essential.

The chosen solution may not necessarily allow for in-depth discussions in a short period. If circumstances permit, in-depth discussions on specific production details can occur while discussing the shooting plan.

Compile all relevant questions related to the upcoming personal interview. Prioritize and select the top six most important topics. Then, calculate the shooting time for these crucial topics, including the approximate speaking time for the interviewer and interviewee. If estimating time proves challenging, conducting actual rehearsal shoots can provide a more accurate calculation of the shooting time. After a few trial shoots, if the shooting time seems prolonged, consider reducing or shortening some questions. If there is sufficient interview time, additional questions can be added. The key is to manage the interview duration precisely during the live shoot.

Creating an interview program involves several steps to ensure a smooth and engaging interaction. Here is a simplified guide:

  • Start with Icebreaker Questions:

Begin the interview by asking straightforward questions for the interviewee, such as their hometown, hobbies, or recent exciting activities. This helps to break the ice, relax the interviewee, and gather basic information.

  • Use Warm-up Questions in Advance:

Prepare some warm-up questions to help the interviewee ease into the conversation. This ensures that they can get into character without feeling overly nervous, contributing to a more natural and uninterrupted filming process.

  • Avoid Interrupting:

During the interview, refrain from interrupting the interviewee. The interviewer's role is to facilitate natural speech, allowing the conversation to flow smoothly. Interruptions can turn the interview into a debate rather than a focused character profile.

  • Consider Non-Verbal Communication:

Non-verbal communication, such as body language, is a powerful expression. It reveals emotions and thoughts and provides insights into a person's mood. It's a silent form of communication that can enhance the interview experience.

  • Learn from Professional TV Hosts:

Observing professional TV hosts is an excellent way to learn effective body language. Notice their well-timed gestures, constant smiles, graceful movements, and how they always face the camera. These traits are not accidental but the result of training. Proper body language enhances the audience's viewing experience, making it more relaxing and enjoyable.

Remember, these techniques aim to create an environment where both the interviewee and the audience feel engaged and at ease, facilitating a more meaningful and memorable interview experience.

 

Here are some commonly used techniques in body language:

  • Maintain a forward-facing and "smiling" facial expression. Try to face the camera and maintain eye contact as much as possible.
  • Focus on the person you are interviewing. Look at them when they answer questions. It's crucial to keep eye contact with the interviewee and make them feel that you are genuinely interested in what they are saying. This technique is essential to keep your audience engaged, avoiding losing eye contact or looking at the camera when the interviewee is answering questions.
  • As an interviewer, pay attention to the other person. Establish interaction with the interviewee; nod or respond affirmatively while they answer questions. If the interviewee faces the camera directly, maintain eye contact with them.
  • Lean forward, nod, or tilt your head slightly. This shows attentiveness even when you don't need to respond. Actively listening to the interviewee and expressing agreement with their statements is crucial.
  • Shake hands with your interviewee. Touch is a powerful non-verbal cue. Research conducted by the Income Center at a trade fair showed that the chances of being remembered are twice as high when people shake hands compared to not shaking hands.
  • Avoid crossing your arms and legs. This technique can help you remember what you've said and make you appear relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera.

 

Shooting personal interviews requires highly skilled hosts who can lead interviewees to engage deeply in discussions. They must navigate discussions to cover both emotionally interesting topics and allow the interviewees to shine. Simultaneously, hosts need to ensure that the chosen themes are fully explored within the limited time frame and provide a perfect conclusion summarizing the interviewee's key points.