How To Make the Most Of Your Interview
The absolute most important thing is for the person being interviewed to feel comfortable and appreciated. There will be some minor tips here, but the main one is to do everything you can to make them feel comfortable. That means:
Pick a chair and room where they feel comfortable.
Assure them they can answer questions multiple times if they don’t like an answer.
Have them look at you when they speak (although it’s okay if they look at the camera every now and then).
Some other tips I’ve gathered from a decade of filming are to:
Start with Easy Questions
Like with public speaking, the first twenty seconds are the scariest, so it helps to start with simple questions to help ease them into it. I usually start with, “What’s your name? What are your parents name? And then go into “Tell me about your childhood”
Listen Actively
People like sharing stories with people who are enjoying the stories. You must be interested in them that you planned this interview so show that interest! Nod, smile, and feel free to comment (e.g. “That’s amazing” or “I never knew that”) on what they’re sharing.
Respect Their Boundaries:
If they seem uncomfortable with certain topics, don’t push. You can try to come back to it later, but the more you push, the less likely they are to share.
Avoid “Yes/No” questions
Ask open-ended questions that invite stories and details. Instead of “Did you like school?” try “What was school like for you?”
Prepare, but stay flexible
You might have a list of questions to ask, but try to let the conversation flow and be open to where different stories take you. This is where the most genuine moments come from.
If you have any questions ahead of the interview please send me an email: daniel@diamondvids.com
