The Art and Science of Conducting Documentary Interviews

There is a distinct skill in being a good interviewer - and being able to tease the best out of your subject. It’s both an art and a science and it involves several key elements worth exploring, appreciating and putting into practice.

Basic Rules of interviewing for documentary films

First, it's important to have a clear understanding of the purpose and focus of the interview, as well as the intended audience. This will help to guide the selection of interviewees, as well as the questions that will be asked.

Second, it's important to develop a rapport with the interviewee, in order to create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. This can be done by asking open-ended questions, actively listening to the interviewee, and providing positive feedback.

Third, it's important to have a good understanding of the subject matter, in order to ask informed and insightful questions.

Fourth, it's important to be prepared for the interview, including researching the interviewee and the subject matter, preparing a list of questions, and having all necessary equipment set up.

Fifth, it's important to be flexible during the interview and be willing to adjust the line of questioning as needed.

Sixth, it's important to ensure that the interview is recorded properly so that it can be used for the final product.

Finally, it is important to get permission from the interviewee before using the interview in a documentary or other public format.

The 5 interview styles used in filmmaking

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to interviewing, in fact, there are 5 unique styles of interviewing. 

The One-on-One Interview: This is the most traditional and commonly used interview technique in filmmaking. It involves a filmmaker conducting a face-to-face interview with a subject or interviewee. The interviewer will typically ask a series of questions and the interviewee will respond with their answers. This technique is used to gain insights and perspectives from a specific person or group of people.

The Voiceover Interview: This technique involves the filmmaker recording an interviewee's voice while they speak, and then using that audio in the film with or without visuals of the interviewee. This technique is often used to provide a voiceover for a narrator or a character in the film.

The Documentary Interview: This technique is used in documentary filmmaking and involves the filmmaker conducting interviews with a variety of subjects, who can be experts, witnesses, or people with personal experiences related to the topic of the film. These interviews are often conducted in a conversational style and are used to provide a variety of perspectives on the topic.

The Character Interview: This technique is used in fiction filmmaking and involves the interviewer asking questions to a fictional character in order to get a better understanding of their motivations, thoughts, and actions. This technique is used to create a more well-rounded and believable character in the film.

The Group Interview: This technique is used when the filmmaker wants to gain insights and perspectives from a group of people. The interviewer will typically ask questions to the group as a whole and individuals will respond with their answers. This technique is often used in focus groups or in films that explore the perspectives of a specific community or demographic.

At the end of the day, a single good interview in a documentary film can amplify the overall effectiveness of the film. It can provide the audience with valuable insights and perspectives on the subject matter, and help to create a deeper emotional connection to the story being told. The interviewer's ability to ask the right questions, and to create a comfortable and open atmosphere for the interviewee, can greatly enhance the interviewee's willingness to be honest and open about their experiences and thoughts. This can ultimately lead to a more engaging and informative film for the audience.

On the other hand, a poorly executed interview can detract from the overall impact of the film. A lack of preparation, poor questioning techniques, or an uncomfortable interview environment can result in a dull and unenlightening interview. This can lead to a loss of interest from the audience, and ultimately weaken the overall effectiveness of the film. It's important to conduct a good interview that is well-prepared and well-executed to get the most valuable and insightful information from the interviewee. This can be a deciding factor in the success of the documentary film.