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The aim behind such interviews
is to get the right quote. Hence, the efforts
should be made towards thisend. Ideally, the quote should
be complete in itself without the need of the interviewer's
questions. If the focus of the story is clear a Reporter
would know what quote is expected out of an interviewee. The
question needs to be pointed to get the required result.
A vague question would give only a vague answer.
Example:
Wrong:
Q.: Would your party align with any
other party to fight this election? Answer: We may align
if need be.
Right:
Q: Would your party have an electoral alliance with
Congress? If yes why?
Answer: We would align with
the Congress because.....
An Open ended question discussed
in the last chapter is very effective to get the right quote.
Camera framing for Quotes:
If you are working with a good
Cameraman you should give him the opportunity to choose the
background and shot framing. This I believe involves
him and visuals being his sole concerns can many times get
a better product. But you should on and off peep
into the Viewfinder to know the framing. This has to
be done very gently as Cameramen don't like it.
Looking Space:
While interviewing for stories,
the interviewee should look at the interviewer and talk.
If the person is turning right to look at the interviewer,
he should be kept at the left side and vice-versa. Ideally
the subject should cover 2/3rd of the picture (horizontally)
and the one third picture left is called the looking space.
If the interviewer is looking left the looking space
should be given on the left side..
Background:
Choose a background that goes with
the topic. If you are interviewing a person who has
something to tell about computers, use that as the background.
If it is an official who is being interviewed, it helps to
do the interview in his office. An actor in the sets
of a film or theatre. Even the green room is an ideal
place in such a case. But if you want to put a person on the
defensive take him to a background which he is not used to.
Shot framing:
While interviewing for stories
the close up shot as shown in the picture above is the most
used one. This frame helps to show the facial features
& emotions of the persons and at the same time gives enough
space to super the persons name. If however, the interviewee
shows lot of emotions (say crying) there is nothing wrong
in going for a very close up shot (just the face).
Cutaways:
Shots of the interviewee doing
other things than being interviewed, are required to introduce
the person or an organisation. Such shots are
called Cutaways. The commonly used
cutaway shots include talking on the telephone, reading a
book, walking on the garden, coming in to sit on the interview
chair etc. Instead of using the traditional ones
new ideas can be utilised. Cutaways also include close
up shots of the hands etc. These can be used to
put together two different sound bites together. But
I have found using the close up of hands to put two different
sound bite together very jerky. Instead the second part
of the quote can be hidden behind relevent pictures.
OSS Shots:
OSS or Over the Shoulder Shots
are needed in special situations when the interviewer wants
to show that he was there interviewing the subject. When using
both normal framing and OSS - the OSS shot should look like
a zoom out from the original frame.
Noddies:
These shots again are taken to
show that the interviewer was there (doing the interview).
These shots are taken after the interview with the interviewer
nodding, even as the interviewee talks. This could be
inserted (while editing) inbetween a quote .
Noddies could also be shot as an OSS, this time over
the shoulder of the interviewee.
Lighting:
In an ENG (Electronic News Gathering)
situation, the Reporter does not have access to the best of
lights. The portable lights used may not give the best
results. However, efforts should be made to atleast
have a key light and a backlight during the interview.
The Key light will be the main one to light the subject whereas
the backlight will light the background and give depth.
Interviewing in Sunlight, utilising the window light etc.
are some of the methods used by good Cameramen to get the
best in a ENG situation.
Next> Face
to Face Interviews
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