Corporate videos are an effective way for businesses to showcase their brand, products, services, and culture to their target audience. Interviews with key personnel, employees, and customers can add credibility and depth to a corporate video.
Conducting a successful interview for a corporate video requires preparation, planning, and execution, all of which we at Inspired Film and Video have mastered over the years, having interviewed thousands of people from celebrities, directors of companies, employees, historians and even survivors of the holocaust.
We have produced videos for the likes of Staffordshire University, Keele University and Benchmark International.
In this blog, we will discuss how to conduct an interview for a corporate video and give you our top tips.
Define the Purpose of the Interview
Before you conduct an interview, you must define the purpose of the interview. What message do you want to convey to your target audience for the end film? Who is the target audience? What do you want the interviewee to say?
Once you have a clear understanding of the purpose of the interview, you can prepare the questions that will help you achieve your goals.
Choose the Interviewees
Depending on the purpose of the interview, you will need to select the interviewees. You may want to interview key personnel such as CEOs, founders, or managers, or you may want to interview employees, customers or users of a service. Ensure that the interviewees are comfortable speaking on camera and can articulate their thoughts clearly.
Prepare the Questions
Once you have selected the interviewees, prepare a list of questions that will help you achieve the purpose of the interview. Ideally, you should know the types of responses that you want to invoke from the interviewees and you can tailor your questions around them.
You should use open-ended questions that will encourage the interviewees to speak freely. Avoid closed-ended questions such as ‘Do you like working here?’, or you may only get short, uninteresting responses.
Set the Stage
Before you start the interview, you need to set the stage. Choose a quiet location with minimal background noise. Avoid rooms or locations that will echo. Although a bright location is ideal, you might want to consider a space where you can control the light so you can create your own atmosphere.
Make sure that the camera, microphone, and lighting are set up correctly as much as possible before the interviewee arrives. You do not want them sitting uncomfortably for lengthy periods of time whilst you set up around them.
Ensure that the interviewee is comfortable and relaxed. Whilst the crew are finishing setting up the shot, your interviewer could have a chat with the interviewee and even ask some of the questions in advance so that you know the type of responses you might get. This is a great opportunity for the interviewer to take some notes that may help further prompt the interviewee during the interview. Sometimes people feel more relaxed when they know the camera is not rolling.
Conduct the Interview
Once you have set the stage, it’s time to conduct the interview. If you have not done so already, you could start by introducing yourself and the purpose of the interview. Ask open-ended questions that will encourage the interviewee to speak freely.
Listen carefully to their responses and ask follow-up questions to clarify their answers, or dive deeper into their responses. You do not always have to follow the questions that you have planned, but make sure you have covered everything and stay on topic.
Stay on Track
During the interview, it’s important to stay on track. Ensure that the interviewee is answering the questions that will help you as the filmmaker achieve the purpose of the interview. If they go off-topic, gently steer them back to the topic.
Don’t be afraid to ask the same question again if the answer does not follow the topic or subject you need them to follow. You can always prompt the interviewee with suggestions but try not to lead them on. Their answers should be genuine and original.
Be Respectful
During the interview, it’s important to be respectful. Avoid interrupting the interviewee or cutting them off. Listen carefully to what they have to say, even if you don’t agree with it. If they do not start their response with the context of the question, let them finish their answer and ask it again but prompt them to answer with context. Give them an example such as ‘If I were to ask what you had for breakfast this morning’ they could say ‘For breakfast this morning I had…’
Wrap Up the Interview
Once you have completed the interview, thank the interviewee for their time and contributions. Let them know that they did a really good job and you got some great answers. If you can, let them know when the video will be published and how they can view it.
In conclusion, conducting an interview for a corporate video requires preparation, planning, and execution. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your interviewees are comfortable and articulate and that the video conveys your message effectively.
A well-executed interview can add depth and credibility to a corporate video and can help your target audience connect with your brand.
If you want to find out more about how a Corporate Video could help to promote your company, get in touch with us today.
You can view more of our work here.
Tel: (+44)01782 845 533