Louise Turley’s practical introduction to the basics of interview technique was incredibly valuable to me. I’ve done some informal interviews before (mostly with bands and musicians) but never really learned about the techniques themselves and why they are employed.

The most important aspects of interviewing can be summed up in “The 5 Ws”: who, what, where, when and why.

• Who
  • Does your subject have something to say?
  • Are they credible?
  • Can they deliver on camera?
  • Are they good “talent”?
  • Who is my audience?
• What
  • What are your questions?
  • Research your subject – read about them, speak to others about them, observe them
  • Write your questions – simple, as short as possible, open ended, check for bias, avoid leading questions
  • Practice the interview ahead of time and try to anticipate if your questions will elicit the types of responses you’re hoping for
• Where
  • Location – home, work, other? Why? Do you need permission?
  • Light – is there enough? Will it change?
  • Sound – background noise, interruptions?
  • Backgrounds – what does it say? Will it change? Avoid artworks you’ll need clearance for
• When
  • When conducting your interview, brief your subject
  • Clothing – no black, no white, no small stripes, no checks
  • Maintain eye contact
  • Listen – use nods and facial expressions, not verbal noises
  • Be flexible and adaptable depending on your subject’s answers
  • Be respectful and show empathy
  • Stay focused
  • Be quiet – it’s not about you
• Why
  • Always have a result in mind

I’m glad I learned of these techniques before conducting my interview for Project Brief 3, because I was able to better prepare for the interview and as a result I think I got much more usable footage than I otherwise may have.

Interviewing technique is also part of Alex Blumberg’s 21-lesson Creative Live course Power Your Podcast With Storytelling, which I’ve been meaning to watch. Maybe now’s the perfect time.