In the media 1 Week 5 reading, ‘Conducting and Shooting Interviews’ educates me on the various approaches to the phases of creating a documentary.

Firstly a director/ interviewer functions as a catalyst on behalf of the audience and draws out the interviewees stories. To conduct an interview a research interview should initially take place and the notes written down from these about where to explore should later be transferred into probing questions on cue cards. A researcher can interview (prolong that ongoing relationship) or a director can interview (providing spontaneity or fresh approaches for the interviewee). Setting should be somewhere significant for the interviewee and take note of the presence of others off screen. Interviews can also be conducted in groups of Vox Pops (voice of the people). Make sure as a director to explore and ask the right questions e.g.. is there an antagonist or major conflict?

Common shots used in docos:

• Wide Shot- to cover each question
• Mid Shot – used after the answer has got under way
• Close Shot- for anything intense or revealing

Before the interview tell the interviewee:

• to say what they want to say
• that as a director you have the right to interrupt
• to relax

In this doco forming process there are various decisions to consider. An On-Axis Interview VS Off-Axis Interview. Do we edit out the interviewer? Avoid jumps and cutaways, questions should administer flow! Aim to elicit feelings and lead by example.

The Cons:

• Power
• Witness
• Interviewee unsatisfactory
• if they don’t want to talk about something, let it go!

Lastly confront the emotional threshold and break new ground in the doco. Have authority and do not comfort when the interviewee gets emotional. Have authority and assess yourself afterwards. Make sure everyone involved is given payment and release forms are signed.

Nakita xx