Being interviewed on camera can be a daunting task for many people. It is a foreign task for most and can be extremely nerve racking. At Big and Small Productions we are experts at putting interviewees at ease.
We have interviewed hundreds of people from all walks of life and have implemented guidelines that can make the experience of being interviewed much more comfortable and believe it or not, enjoyable!
Interview Montage - Just a few of the thousands of interviews we've undertaken
How to prepare for an on-camera interview
There are some important guidelines we recommend at Big and Small Productions to ensure a comfortable experience for the interviewee and a professional and superior interview.
1. Dress Code
Dressing conservatively and stick to solid colours rather than patterns or distracting designs. The best solid colours to use are blues and browns. White should be avoided unless a black jacket and/or tie are paired with it. If you are being interviewed in a studio check with your producer if you are being shot on a green or white screen – and if so, avoid wearing these colours. And always bring a back up outfit, just in case!
If you wear glasses please ensure you bring lens cleaner!
2. Preparation
At Big and Small Productions we love our interviewees to be prepared. Having dot points or topics/themes that you wish to discuss are the most successful method of preparation. It allows the interviewee to have an outline of what they wish to say and it comes across as natural. Scripting your answers usually puts more pressure on the interviewee to remember what they have written and it comes across fake.
3. Relax!
This might seem obvious and difficult but relaxing makes for a much more enjoyable experience a more effective result. Relaxing your body; including shoulders, eyebrows and your face ensures you don't come across as anxious or uncomfortable (even if you are)! Your posture also makes a huge difference. When sitting during an interview, lean forward around 20 degrees when you talk to open up your diaphragm, increase your air supply, prevent you from slumping and make you look engaged in the discussion. Remember, we are not live, you can always have another go if you make a mistake and there is always the luxury of editing!
4. Speak to the interviewer, not the camera
Always use eye contact with the interviewer rather than the camera when answering questions. If pausing to think look up, not down. All these elements help create a honest and genuine account. It is also a good idea to remove any distractions such as mobile phones, coins in your pockets or even swivel chairs that might take your attention away from your answer.
5. Answer with part of the question in the response
When the final video is edited, it's most likely that the questions asked by the interviewer will not appear in the video. The interviewer may not even feature at all. So that your responses have context and make sense in the final edited video, we will need you to include a component of the question in the lead in.
6. Make up
When on camera, makeup is everyone's friend! It helps rid any glistening skin.
7. Try to have fun!
The best interviewees are the ones who relax and enjoy themselves. So don't forget to smile and remember you're the expert and most likely discussing something you're passionate about so make sure you let that show in your interview.
Final Thoughts
Just remember, we will make you look and sound amazing - and we're with you the whole way. We will work with you to ensure the best outcome possible!
