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Latest Training
Take 5: Awesome Interviews
5 Tips for Shooting Perfect Interviews
Hosted by Chuck Peters
SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 113 RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 6, 2006
Chuck Peters shares with you his personal insights as well as time tested techniques for getting your interview subjects to look their best.
User Rating: 
4.81 (92 ratings)
User Views: 19908 User Views Today: 1
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- DJTV-Take5-s01e113-iPod
mp4 - 320x240 - 47 MB
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75 User Comments
Great segment, thanks. I'd like to see a follow up on editing tips, especially with interviews without an on-screen interviewee (more documentary style). Specifically, I'd like to see suggestions on how long each clip should be before cutting to b-roll or changing shot distance, to avoid a long and boring talking head.
Once again, another super show! You guys are the greatest! This gives me plenty of ideas since I do a lot of interviews with only 1 camera. Thank you!
Thanks for another great episode. One of the advantages of seeing these programs a bit after they have been available is the opportunity to read all the comments of the other viewers and I must say with this episode, Chuck, you brought out the best in many people. Many viewers gave some very useful feedback and tips as well - which I deeply appreciate and made the viewing of this show that much more informative and valuable. 5 stars, also, to those who gave such informative comments!
DJTV is not only giving us invaluable lessons in videography but it has created a much appreciated learning community.
Thanks!
Chuck, I just watched the DVD of your season. I really enjoyed it. All of you guys do a GREAT job. Keep up the great work!
Would like to see more on:
1. Lighting/Audio, with equipment details
2. Makeup, with specific type to use
3. Use of zoom to put background in soft focus
Enjoyed the piece. Keep it up. This stuff really helps to establish a bond to your customers.
Hi Chuck:
Great tips as always. I just have one question. When you struck your set, what wattage of rifas did you use? We need this type of info also. Maybe we could have an info page on the web site which lists all the equipment used, the lighting values and perhaps camera settings etc. for all the DJTV productions. Thanks for your help.
Jim Wall
Infinity Video Productions
Niagara Falls, Canada
As a beginner videographer, I was very greatful for the "Awesome Interviews" segment on your website. I really needed that help, since I am going to be doing a retirement video for a workmate soon. Now I am ready!! Thanks for all your help.
Very, very helpful. Wonderful instruction and illustrations. The one thing I had a question about was how to get the four different shots (wide, mid, closer, close) at different times during the interview. If you want a close shot for the emotion but don't know when it is coming do you do that part again? Or do you zoom in as you find there is an emotional part to the interview? Do you show zooms from one shot to another. I don't beleive you do this but with a single camera...this was the part of the instruction that left me wondering.
I shoot interviews and found this very helpful. Thanks, again Chuck.
As a beginner in production work, this is excellent insight from a professional! Thanks Chuck, I'll be back.
Chuck, great way to close out your season as well! I can't go on to thank you guys enough for what you're doing here. This is definitely helping a lot of people...be they veteran videographers, graphic designers, beginners, it seems as if everyone is learning something from you guys. Thanks for everything and keep up the great work!
Thanks for the tips keep them coming. When I shoot my next interview it will be better than before. It was nice meeting the guys at the DV Expo Thanks!
Chuck
Myers Video Productions
As always, fantastic Chuck!
I am looking forward to the season 1 DVD....I hope it is out in time for Christmas. I just bought videotraxx volume 2 today for myself for Thanksgiving...Ok, so I was looking for an excuse...:)
Over the years I waded through long boring books on shooting documentaries and interviews. Your video packed A LOT of good practical advice in a small segment.
One added comment on the seating advice. I often interview men in suits and sitting in a chair with a suit can sometimes be uncomplimentary. When available, I like to use a bar stool where their feet (or a foot) can touch the ground or bottom rung. This keeps them in one place and allows clothing to drape naturally. As you showed, angling the body (not parallel with the camera plane) is more flattering as well.
~ Tim
I can't help but continue to marvel somewhat that DJ produces these things as a way to "serve" their clients...at NO CHARGE. You folks are passionate about what you do and it shows, it really shows! It's things like this that move me to recommend Digital Juice over and over again. I pointed a friend to DJ and he bought some stuff just last week...he recently commented about DJTV and what a blessing it has been.
Always amazed and thankful for Digital Juice,
Brian in Charlotte
www.VoiceOverforyou.com
Thanks for this helpful video. The informaion and presentation of the material is excellent. I have used this in my television production class (hope you don't mind)at Western Illinois University and I recommend this to any instructor in the broadcasting.
Great job again. Excellent topic, and excellent tips. I recently had a host interview me, and some of these tips were used, but the best tips were not....too bad....would have made for a much better interview final cut. At least I know what to do when I interview someone, or set up an interview. "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" uses the over-the-shoulder shot almost 90% of the time for their interviews, and it makes for a flawless final cut. Good to see you spreading that valued information in here. If someone wants to see the over-the-shoulder interview full throttle, they can tune in to the Daily Show (Comedy Channel) and check it out. They use it in almost every show, and it will let them see on a professional TV level how your tips are used. You're the best Chuck!
Nice Job Chuck. I've been shooting TV news for over 25 years and it's good to see the core basics reinforced in such an enjoyable way. The only tip I would take exception to is the #5. While sometimes I have shot RQ's (reverse questions) after the guest has left, most consider this practice not entirely honest to the guest. There are so many tiny changes that can affect the way a guest answers a question. Reporter’s body language, small facial expressions and even the amount of eye contact between the two that affects the answers that this practice is not used much. However, with that said, some network producers have done it. Shooting listening shots is totally fair game after the guest leaves. Even them, I prefer to shoot the listening shots, two shots etc, to include the guest. This means that I light for both positions before the guest arrives or preplan to move only a couple of lights to keep the disruption as small as possible. Audio is another topic.
Don Ford
Chuck, you have produced the most helpful and informative segments of DJTV. In the event you have already covered it (and I missed it), please help with eye placement both WITH and WITHOUT reading a script. What are you using for your script? What camera elevation is best when recording (for eye placement) relative to the talent when looking at the camera? Into the lens, below, above (at angles or not) and distance are all variables I am trying to figure out. I am about (max available) 8-10 feet away with a projecter beaming a scrolling video (text) image (out of view) from the camera above which puts my eye placement just below the lens. On wide shots its no problem but medium and tight don't look like your eye placement. So, whatever you are doing please come up with five (or more) tips for perfect eyeplacement, equipment and alternatives. I can't afford a teleprompter at this time. You have no idea how much you have helped me via DJTV. I would pay for it if was for sale. Thanks!
Good for you, Chuck, for making "Interview Techniques 101". It's absolutely imperative to know. I almost thought you were going to leave out 'reverse angles and reaction shots', but there they were in Tip 5. I did like Shawn Beuscher's comment about also shooting hand gestures for cutaways. I'd never thought of that before, but that's a great tip for making a more compelling interview. Thanks to you both!
I love your shirts. Every week you've got some different brightly colored shirt on. Nice. I LOVE being able to take this information and present it to my students. It's a lot of stuff we've put into practice for a while now, but sometimes I just can't articulate it as well as you do. You are GREAT at using laymens terms Chuck! Way to interpret for those of us who have lost touch!
You can snap-zoom in/out while asking the question, then edit out the questions and have medium, tight, and wide shots of the answer that cut together well, perfect for cleaning up blown takes or partial answers. Do NOT zoom while they talk, but only between responses. Lots of gratuitous zooming during the talking is distracting and makes clean cutting impossible. When interviewing various people on two different sides of a story, I make sure all the people on the same side of the issue physically face the same direction when they are taped. The opposing viewpoint people face the other way, and after the edit you can thus tell which "side" is arguing even with the sound off. Keep your rule consistent whatever you decide. For "news" type shooting, the reporter "in the middle" of the story faces the camera head-on, visually not taking a "side". Its a subtle, semiotics kind of thing. Changing the facing also breaks up the monotony of always having them in the same visual quadrant. .
Great Tips! But you forgot one of the most important "must dos"
When doing news style interviews, you have to remember the "reporter sandwich" That is- always place the reporter between the camera and the key light. That way the subject's face is a little darker on the camera side. If you put the camera in the middle (like in your video) the lighting is flat! Lighting 101 - shadow side towards the camera. Look at CNN interviews or any major hollywood production- All done with the keylight on the opposite angle of the camera.
Great job Chuck! Your Take 5 segments are so informative and straight to the point! Keep up the great work!
Millie
This video is full of great tips. Having done interviews in all the wrong ways, it's good to see how best way to utilize the talent.
Your episodes are a "must watch" every week! I learn something every time. You do a fantastic job of capturing the essence of your topic in a concise and easy to understand way. Thanks!
5 stars as always Chuck......It's really amazing how many great tips you can squeeze into under 9 and a half minutes......I would like to know how long it took to prep, shoot, and edit this (or any other DJTV segments) clip. Maybe that could be part of the behind the scenes part of the Season 1 DVD.
Just a thought...
Keep it up!! :-D
Chuck. Excellent information!
I appreciate your sharing I really enjoy and look forward to each new session. Keep up the Great work. I hope season two starts next week.
Thank you , Thank you!! I have some interviews coming up this month and being new to shooting I needed this.
adam
Wow! That's how they do it... All through this episode I had visions of TV interviews I've seen. Knowing those tricks will really help me get similar results. Thanks so much!
Chuck,
Pefect timing on the video. I was talking to my manager today abou how best to shoot interviews of our sales execs and your tips answered all of our questions.
Thanks,
David Hoch
Sales Training
ADP National Accounts Services
Some of this stuff I knew even as an amateur. Probably because I've seen it done badly so many times. Your right, even pros get it wrong and it shows. Thanks for all the stuff I hadn't figured out yet its a great way to learn.
Great tips presented highly effectively. Having recorded a number of interviews in peoples' homes, I know there are heaps of things to consider. You have really zeroed in on the fundamentals and given me some new ideas. Fantastic work!!!
Man, I am almost in tears, lol. I really needed to see this for an upcoming interview. You guys are the best!