Video Taping Interviews If you have ever sat down with your parents or grandparents, its quite possible you have heard them share stories about something they experienced or something about you that you didn’t know. The fact that these highlights of history are important to preserve and cherish is something that HomeMovie.Com wants our customers to understand and learn. It’s also important to point out that our relatives tie us to our past and capturing it on tape is something to be proud of. We will learn here and in the following that the single most important factor in the interview is the setting. If the light is off or the sound is compromised, this may distract the viewer’s attention, instead of focusing on the interviewer’s questions. Consider these other important points rules and steps when videotaping an interview. The Setting Choose a space that is easy to work. You also do not want the audio to conflict with the interview Working indoors usually works better because the surroundings are controlled. It may sound odd, but video taping an interview outside can be more bothersome than videotaping inside. Audio problems and other noises can occur. It’s important to stay away from extremely bright walls as a backdrop during the interview. You want to make sure the backdrop complements the interview setting Create an intimate setting by moving excess furniture from the area around the interview subject Getting Ready for the Interview Where and how a person sits during an interview creates a feel as well as the way the person tells their story. This and other factors play into the way a person is composed during the interview. Here are some ideas on how to position the person so the flow of the interview goes smoothly. The interview chair should be placed in the middle of the room, about 6’ from the wall. This provides depth of field. This is when more of the shot is in focus if you’re zoomed out. If the background is too close it will overwhelm the subject. The type of chair provided makes a big difference in how the person feels and reacts to the interview in general. People tend to slump and relax in a comfortable chair. The best choice is a wooden kitchen chair with a low back and a hard seat. If you are in a room where there is sunlight spilling in onto the subject, it will have an affect on how the they look. If it is behind him he will look like a silhouette. If you expect the interview to be long, you should have someone else run your camcorder for you. This allows the interviewer to concentrate on every word the subject says. This makes a big difference; since looking into the camera makes most people feel uncomfortable. Sound Without sound, what is the point of the interview? Before beginning the interview, it is important to understand sound. When you watch these videos years down the road you will want to understand what the person has to say, instead of trying to strain to hear them. Here are some tips to help you with sound during the interview: Although camcorders have built in microphones, they really are not good enough for interviews. They can cause slightly hollow sounds to the sound as well as a background hiss created by the distance of the camcorder and the subject A separate microphone such as a lapel microphone, provides a much higher quality of audio that gives the subject’s voice a full sound Place the microphone close to the subject’s mouth. Never hide the microphone under clothing, where it will cause sound problems Close the gap between the microphone’s professional connection and the camera’s consumer connection with an adapter Try to monitor the audio levels through a set of headphones plugged into the camcorder Interview Preparation Like any other interview, it is important to be prepared before you sit down with the interviewee. It’s also imperative that you fine-tune your questions so you are not trying to shape them correctly after you’ve already started the interview. When videotaping interviews, there are some common rules to follow during the question and answer process. Here are some points to take note of before you begin: A couple of days prior to the interview, it might be wise to prepare by asking them for any diaries or journals they might have kept from their past experiences. Interview preparation is important because it lets the subject know you are interested in their story. Also, preparing correctly also lays the groundwork for good questions Make a list of the questions you are going to ask in a notebook for easy reference Look through childhood photographs as part of the background research. To truly understand where the person is coming from, it’s important to get good anecdotes. HomeMovie.Com encourages you to try video taping a relative or family member to practice shooting with your digital camcorder. Interviews with people you know can be a little uncomfortable, but if you have the right equipment and prepare well, the interview will go smoothly.