If you're filming a corporate video, then I might be right in assuming that you're working with non-professional talent in front of the camera - mangers, staff, stakeholders etc While these authentic testimonials are key to a natural corporate video, they can bring untold issues in their delivery.
There are a few key things to remember when you're conducting an interview that can help your production run more smoothly... Once you have these understood you don't have to follow them precisely - it's possible to conduct an interview without a regimented formula, but it's a good idea to stay within the guidelines. Remember the Chris Stark and Mila Kunis interview that went viral recently? Yes, well... everything about that told us it should have been a terrible terrible interview, yet it actually worked.
The first rule is to make your subject comfortable in your presence, whether they are a celebrity or a business representative, the interview will not run smoothly if the subject can not relate to you. Talk to your subject beforehand and develop a rapport. Be interested in what they have to say and get them motivated about talking to you.
Secondly, If the subject remains nervous, despite all your friendly methods they may continue to fidget, either with their hands, their feet of the jewellery. If this occurs, consider framing a tight shot instead to cut out the offending tic. Do everything you can to avoid this nervousness though, a casual conversation before the interview starts can make all the difference.
Something you should also consider letting your subject sit where they like. You are the professional and you do know the best composition. But you should try as much as possible to mould your shot around the comfort of your subject - in the end, that's the most vital aspect of the interview. Don't force them to sit out in the middle of an open plan office just because it grants you a nice wide frame (unless they're cool with that) otherwise you're putting more pressure on your subject in front of a larger audience.
Once your subject is seated, make good use of lighting and a little makeup to ensure they stand out beautifully. A strong image combined with a strong delivery is the absolute goal of a powerful and persuasive corporate video.
Lastly, stress the nature of video production, especially the editing. Informing your subject that they can have multiple takes and can take their time when delivering a response can do wonders for their stress. A lot of nerves in front of the camera stems from a lack of understanding about the production process - many subjects believing it all has to be in one take and word perfect.
There are a few key things to remember when you're conducting an interview that can help your production run more smoothly... Once you have these understood you don't have to follow them precisely - it's possible to conduct an interview without a regimented formula, but it's a good idea to stay within the guidelines. Remember the Chris Stark and Mila Kunis interview that went viral recently? Yes, well... everything about that told us it should have been a terrible terrible interview, yet it actually worked.
The first rule is to make your subject comfortable in your presence, whether they are a celebrity or a business representative, the interview will not run smoothly if the subject can not relate to you. Talk to your subject beforehand and develop a rapport. Be interested in what they have to say and get them motivated about talking to you.
Secondly, If the subject remains nervous, despite all your friendly methods they may continue to fidget, either with their hands, their feet of the jewellery. If this occurs, consider framing a tight shot instead to cut out the offending tic. Do everything you can to avoid this nervousness though, a casual conversation before the interview starts can make all the difference.
Something you should also consider letting your subject sit where they like. You are the professional and you do know the best composition. But you should try as much as possible to mould your shot around the comfort of your subject - in the end, that's the most vital aspect of the interview. Don't force them to sit out in the middle of an open plan office just because it grants you a nice wide frame (unless they're cool with that) otherwise you're putting more pressure on your subject in front of a larger audience.
Once your subject is seated, make good use of lighting and a little makeup to ensure they stand out beautifully. A strong image combined with a strong delivery is the absolute goal of a powerful and persuasive corporate video.
Lastly, stress the nature of video production, especially the editing. Informing your subject that they can have multiple takes and can take their time when delivering a response can do wonders for their stress. A lot of nerves in front of the camera stems from a lack of understanding about the production process - many subjects believing it all has to be in one take and word perfect.
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Take a look at our example videos Masters in Public Policy, and Masters in International Relations for a demonstration on good interview techniques.
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