How to Conduct a Live Video Interview

You have to ensure the camera is working properly before the interview starts.

Conducting a video interview requires a lot of preparation. You need to know the topic of your interview to avoid sounding incoherent on camera. The interview must be riveting enough for viewers to watch to the end. You also must use the right equipment to ensure high sound and picture quality.

Instructions

1. Prepare for the interview by researching information on the person or the topic you want to discuss during the interview. Gather as much background information as possible. You may have to discard some of the information, but it is always good to have sufficient information to work with. Besides, the more information you gather the more you understand the person or the topic of your interview.

2. Write down the questions you want to ask once you're finished your research. It is important to start with the reason why you're interviewing the person. Let the people watching the interview know what the interview is all about before going into finer details. Your questions have to answer the 5 "W"s and "H" used in journalism: who, what, when, where, why and how. Your interview is well-rounded if you can have the interviewee answer all these questions. They cover the entire range of a subject.

3. Prepare the location for your interview. Avoid a dull background. A background with art work works well for a video interview. Avoid plain white walls.

4. Set up your equipment ahead of the interview. Your camcorder should be on a tripod. You don't need an external reference monitor if your camera has an LCD viewing screen. Use an external microphone to ensure high quality sound. Many people usually use lapel microphones to get a clearer sound. The cameraman must use headphones to monitor voice quality. You also need to set up your lighting to ensure high picture quality.

5. Test the equipment to make sure it is working properly before you start recording the interview. It is very important to be sure the camera is recording properly.

6. Turn the camera on and wait a few seconds before starting the interview. Don't look uptight when conducting the interview. You should sound like you're having a casual conversation. Avoid sounding like you memorized the questions. You can depart from the script when the interviewee says something you did not expect. Conclude the interview by thanking the interviewee.

References

• Media College: Remote Interviews
• "Video Maker"; Shooting an Interview TV-Style; Jim Stinson; July 2002
• Chandler-Gilbert Community College: The Five W's and the H