Interviewing Techniques

Charlie Oliver

Interviewing techniques and styles Interviews are the backbone of most non-fiction video presentations.

Interviews are powerful message carriers that you can easily intercut with other production elements in a documentary, such as actuality sequences, re-enactments, graphics, animation and scripted narration.

First, before we do any interviewing, we have to do some basic research on the interviewees. This sees Will and i having to go on the internet and find out a bit more about the interviewee personally and what in particularly about their occupation ties in closely to the subject and theme of the documentary we are making. We also might ask the interviewee some key questions before we roll the camera so that there's no we can ask the best questions possible and don't ask the wrong questions.

We will try to include ‘sit-down’ methods and ‘streeters’ methods. An in-depth personal interview with a main character can carry an entire documentary, as the interviewer peels back layers of the subject's life and times. A good way to approach this kind of interview is to ask questions chronologically. We want to take one of the interviews to the street where we can include the interviewee with the graffiti so the audience can see a direct link and make the interview more visually appealing. We can make a good interview outside in an interesting and appropriate location by using a wireless microphone if the option is available.

Draft/Example questions When did you first realise your love for art/graffiti? When did you first start painting/tagging professionally? Do you respect both conventional art and street art? Do you think graffiti tagging should be illegal? What does graffiti bring to the streets? What are your thoughts on graffiti being taken more seriously with

the likes of Banksy being more successful and globally recognised? What do you think are the positives and negatives of graffiti? Is graffiti vandalism? What crosses the line? Do you think police should take more action against graffiti tagging? Do you think graffiti can ever be widely respected as its still linked

heavily with violent, disorderly street gangs? Do you think graffiti promotes gang activity? Do you think graffiti on canvases should be sold and respected in the

same way as conventional (painted art)/

Visual Styles