I've learned a lot about the nuances that make for compelling and authentic interviews. One common mistake I've noticed is when interviewers ask their subjects to repeat the question within their answers.
Let’s understand why interviewers do this.
The purpose is to ensure that once the video concludes and the interviewer's questions are removed in editing, the audience will still have the context to understand the contributor's story.
Sounds reasonable, right? No, it’s actually hugely detrimental and will have a negative impact on your video.
Why?
It Wastes Valuable Screen Time: Asking interviewees to repeat the question uses up precious time, especially when videos are typically under 2 minutes long. Do you really want half of your video’s content to be people repeating questions?
It Feels Contrived: Repeating the question can make the interview feel scripted, even if it's not. It creates a barrier between the interviewer and the interviewee, preventing genuine connection and rapport from developing.
It’s an Unnecessary Burden on the Contributor: (credit for this point goes to Euan Preston, a filmmaker up in Northumbria, https://www.euanpreston.com. Interviewees are often already nervous about being on camera. Asking them to repeat the question can add to their anxiety and make it harder for them to deliver their answers confidently.
Missed Opportunity for Depth: Instead of rehashing the question, encourage interviewees to delve deeper into their responses. This allows for richer, more meaningful content that resonates with your audience on a deeper level.
So, what's the alternative?
Ideally, employ an experienced interviewer/director who won’t make this mistake and is curious, intelligent and adept at eliciting compelling content from a contributor.
But, if you have been asked to do it:
Encourage Natural Responses: Prompt interviewees to answer in complete sentences that naturally incorporate elements of the question. This maintains the flow of conversation while ensuring authenticity and engagement.
Active Listening and Follow-up Questions: Actively listen to your interviewee's responses and ask thoughtful follow-up questions to further explore their insights. This fosters a genuine dialogue and can lead to unexpected but valuable revelations.
It also helps to have a second person attend the interview who can listen out for content that might require further explanation or context.
So, focus on authenticity, depth and a genuine connection. Your audience will thank you for it.
#VideoProduction #InterviewTips #Authenticity #Engagement #ContentCreation
