REFLECTION TRANSCRIPT
For our sketch in week three we were tasked with interviewing a classmate. I have been in the role of interviewer before in previous studios, so I felt quite comfortable. However, previously I have already known the story I want from someone. So, to have the interviewee decide on what story to tell me was challenging. This meant I had to create interview questions whilst trying to envision the angle or overarching tone of the piece.
During the pre-interview stage I was able to listen without pressure and Niamh was able to tell her story in the way that she felt best. Recording the interview didn’t go as smoothly. It felt quite awkward for both Niamh and I to record within school grounds and often spoke over the top of each other. From this I’ve learnt to make sure the person you are recording is completely finished what they’re saying. Even holding silence for 5 seconds too long might be useful in the future.
When I started editing the audio I decided to cut out my questions and build it around Niamh’s answers only. I found my questions weren’t that useful in guiding the story and if anything, they got in the way. If I could do this process again, I would record the pre interview and listen to it a few times and decide how I wanted this story to be told. Then when I wrote my interview questions, I could guide it a bit more.
This activity has imbued in me a new respect for interviewers and their ability to know when to ask questions and when to respond. For example, Louis Theroux’s podcast. He would obviously have questions to jump off of, but he can also build on what the person is saying. I also know now how easily one could take the interviewees responses and manipulate them to mean something completely different. I’ll definitely be a bit more sceptical.
REFERENCES
Windy Beach Waves.wav by uagadugu — https://freesound.org/s/199283/ — License: Creative Commons 0
Kids Voices with Natural Reverb by Cornwallis89 — https://freesound.org/s/244593/ — License: Creative Commons 0
10 Minutes Past by <a href=”https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/307698″>Blue Dot Sessions</a>