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Preparing Interview Shoots
Well, you left it kind of open-ended, so I'll just suggest a few generic things we talk to everybody about before scheduling interview shoots.
Clothing
Anticipate a warm room once lighting is on, skip the wool long-johns.
Wear solids, not patterns, earth tones found in nature, and pastels work great. We suggest staying away from lots of red or anything close to red. Likewise, we don't want to see lots of starched, bright white, especially if your skin is dark...too much contrast. Instead of white shirts, we suggest light blue or other pastel colors. Blue is common because psychologically it connotes honesty and trustworthiness, so anchors wear it a lot. No pinstripes, no polka dots, no fine herringbone tweeds. These patterns all can lead to Moiré' effects, an unpleasant visual buzzing in the image. Silk scarves and ties don't get along with mics, but bring it and let us decide. If in doubt, bring a couple choices to the shoot, we'll help you pick. If you're going to wear a clip-on mic, wear something we can clip it TO: shirts, blouses, jackets, sweaters with a LAPEL are ideal, or something that buttons in front would be nice.
Minimal jewelry, nothing that sparkles overly much or clanks and clatters. Do they wear eyeglasses? Must they? Have to figure extra time to light so they don't glare.
Mannerisms, posture, etc.
Center yourself in the chair and sit up straight. Keep your feet on the floor with your knees together and don't tuck your hands in between your legs! If you lean in your chair, lean into the other person, not away from them. If you're holding a microphone, leave it close to your mouth and speak up--in other words, don't wave the hand holding the microphone around. Try not to bring your hands up around your face to scratch your nose, etc. These nervous mannerisms can be very distracting! Be sure to address the hosts or each other. This creates a more interesting dialogue between everyone and looks more professionsal than if you talk to the cameras. And be sure to relax, breathe, and smile. And last but not least, act as natural as you can and have fun!
Makeup
Women wear normal daytime street makeup, nothing heavy or overly dramatic. Men should shave closely about an hour before the shoot. Gives the skin time to cool down from any irritation, and keeps the shadows off without the need for pancake makeup.
Food & Drink
Stay away from sugary foods or drinks before the interview: sweet drinks will make your throat tighten up. Milk can make you get phlegmy. Room temp water is the safest choice. It also doesn't stain if you have an accident between takes.
Content
I tell guests they are here because they know about the subject, and that when people talk about something they know or feel passionate about, they naturally come across with authority and believability. I stress that we fix all mistakes in editing, and we don't get paid to make people look bad. To loosen them up, I joke that the mic will deliver a small corrective voltage if they make a mistake on-camera... Then I explain the importance of incorporating the question back into their answer, so when we cut out the interviewer, their answers flow together naturally, without any non-sequetors. I demo this by asking them to ask ME a question: "what's your favorite ice cream?" I answer:..."see, I don't just say 'Rocky Road'...I say 'Rocky Road is MY favorite ice cream, because the different textures of the marshmallow, nuts, chocolate, etc etc...." Then they seem to get it.
A practice question unrelated to the topic often helps teach this.
Always ask short questions that require an essay answer. Why is it that way? What was the process of...? Describe the thinking behind... what are the differences between a and b? What does x lead to in the future? How close did the result match what you initially dreamed, and why? If all else fails, ask them to "tell the story of..."
Try to ask the questions twice, but change the order, and change the camera angles, so you have more to work with in the edit. Stress that the answer need not be word for word, but should have the same sense as it did before. I usually change my shot while asking the question, so I'm locked into the new framing before they answer.
That's the initial basics....
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