Giving an interview. Plan: Advises for an interview Prepare for a Documentary Interview

Be aware of your interview setting. Before the documentary interview begins, you should discuss what the interview footage is going to look like with your director or cinematographer. What kind of background will be used? Will it be filmed in natural light, or use a three-point light set-up? Being aware of the interview setup before having cameras rolling will help you avoid surprises and allow you to focus solely on the interview itself.
Determine your camera placement. Traditionally, documentary subjects in a sit-down interview look at the interviewer and not the camera, so that their eyelines are slightly to the side of the lens. Sometimes there will be two different camera angles—a close up and a medium or wide shot—so that your editor will have options in the editing room. Being aware of your camera placement in advance will help you feel at ease when you arrive on set. 4 Ways to Ask the Best Documentary Interview Questions
Everyone has their own interviewing style and point of view, but these are some helpful rules of thumb to remember when determining what questions to ask:
1. Begin Generally. Documentary filmmakers often start with a fairly general, open-ended questions in an effort to get their subjects to answer questions more thoughtfully. These initial questions might not even be about the interview topic, and may ask about the interviewee’s childhood or upbringing, for example. Beginning with these broad interview questions can often lead to more complex and nuanced answers once you begin talking about interview topic.
2. Remain flexible. As the conversation develops, remember to stay flexible. It’s okay to go off script! As you listen, stay attuned to your subject’s emotions and interests, and pursue lines of questioning that occur to you in the moment. If your subject does not feel comfortable with the subject matter or is unable to answer a question, move on to your next question and circle back later. The goal is not to check off a list of premeditated questions, but to create the right conditions to get a fantastic answer and keep your subject engaged.
3. Avoid yes-or-no questions. Make sure to avoid asking questions that can be answered with a yes or no response. You want your interview subject to be able to speak at length on a subject. For example, instead of asking “did you grow up in New York?” you could ask, “what was it like growing up in New York?”
4. Let go of preconceptions. If a line of questioning is going nowhere, let go of your agenda. Throw out any preconceptions of how you thought the conversation should go, and take a step back. Listen for what your subject improvise.