Breakout session from the 2015 CASE Multimedia Workshop, June 19, 2015 in Washington, D.C. Hands-on tips and case studies of video interviews produced by Ravi Jain including the videoblog DriveTime, web content for PBS' American Experience and original video content for Boston College's Office of Marketing Communications.

1. The Art of theVideo Interview
Ravi Jain | @ravidjain | #CASEMMW

2. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
• Human voice
• Subjective point of view
• Authenticity
• Opportunity for engagement
What is it about The Interview?

3. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
What is it about Interviews in
Higher Ed?
• Representation of school/department
• Peer voice
• Reflection of diversity
• Deeper than the observational
• Access by proxy

4. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
Challenges of Video
Interviews
• Content by Mandate
• Ubiquitous format
• Same old, same old
• Finding the fresh way

5. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
My history with interviews
• After mining the Sitcom genre...
• Have my own talk show
• Only time to produce?
• In my car, during my commute to work
• Honed my listening acumen due to weekly
format

6. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
DriveTime
https://youtu.be/B9BA-47OSl4

7. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
American Experience
Behind the Scenes
• Don’t hide the business of the environment
• Achieving level of comfort with subjects
• Know what you need to get
• Have questions prepared, but don’t follow a
script necessarily
http://pbs.netscape.com/wgbh/amex/weapon/sfeature/
behindthescenes.html

8. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
10 Takeaways,10Videos

9. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
1. Preparation
• Concept
• Scouting location
• Pre-interviewing (in person or phone)
• Building narrative arc
https://youtu.be/oqByKK7ktUQ

10. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
2.Visual Language
• Sit-down interview in office?
• Standing interview “on site”
• Voice-over driven
• Storyboard your framing
• Better to shoot too wide, than too tight
https://youtu.be/4Nxsfv_AcEY

11. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
3. Secondary Footage
• Ah, B-roll! Shoot wide variety
• Augment and reinforce talking points
• But also, show don’t tell
• Can be shot, collected separately from
interview
https://youtu.be/3AuHrp8hPs0

12. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
4. Lighting
• Formal studio lighting
• Bounce and fill
• Full on natural light
http://www.bc.edu/offices/avp/core/pilot-core-courses.html

13. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
5. Camera(s)
• Single Camera vs Multi-camera?
• If multi, match or not match cameras?
• The benefit of HD for the digital zoom
https://youtu.be/iry6Vr4D_FA

14. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
6. Sound
• Bad sound = bad video
• ALWAYS mic’ up your subject
• Wireless lav kit
• Monitor your audio
• Can record audio separately from video
• Get room tone!
https://youtu.be/GCWTOPd3250

15. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
7. Location
• Office, lab or similar authentic space?
• Or just good looking space?
• Sounds around your shooting space
• If natural light, scout at same time of day
https://youtu.be/j_6408ULGwg

16. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
8.The Actual Interview
• Warm up subject
• Go for conversation vs Q&A
• DO NOT give questions beforehand
• Know what you want to get and get it
• Circle back instead of hammering
• Repeat key messaging points in S, M, L
• Have subjets introduce themselves (again)
https://youtu.be/MtDEiAK9xCA

17. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
9. Post-production
• The danger of editing to transcript
• If piece hangs on interview, cut interview first
• Then utilize B-roll to fill in cuts, gaps
• Still imagery can work too (Ken Burns)
• Original animation, motion graphics if possible
• Audio and/or music can round out
• Consistent visual design/branding
https://youtu.be/vZGmxmKio-w

18. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
10. Maybe you don’t need
an Interview
• Full on “show, don’t tell”
• Mood piece
• On-screen text provides specifics
• Supporting site, material can have
institutional voice
https://youtu.be/fATuoSM5KvQ

19. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
• Break into small groups to do video
interviews
• Share raw footage
• Take a pass at editing
• Share results with #CASEMMW and
#artofvideointerview
10 Minute Group Activity
(Depending on time, could be do-at-home activity)

20. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
10 Minute Group Activity
• Need a producer (I’ll be EP)
• Need an interview subject
• Need an interviewer
• Need a videographer/editor (who can post
the footage)
• Need someone to log notes
• Need a PA or grip
• Pre-interview or B-roll a plus
(Depending on time, could be do-at-home activity)

21. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
10 Minute Group Activity
• Need introduction
• Three questions
• Theme? Describe your #CASEMMW
experience
(Depending on time, could be do-at-home activity)

22. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
Questions?
• Tweet me @ravidjain
• Ask me now
• Ask me in the Q&A Session
• Email me

23. The Art of the Video Interview | @ravidjain | #casemmw
Thank you!

24. The Art of theVideo Interview
Ravi Jain | @ravidjain | #CASEMMW