Obtaining quality lead in from documentary Q&A

[Simon Webb]

Eeek! I hate when that happens.

I would suggest a narrative approach that would lead the audience to know what the interviewee is talking about (either a VO or something more clever that I’m just not clever enough to come up with).

[Final Cutter]

This is a tough question as there is a few ways to go about it.

First, getting people to answer in a question is the easiest. But as you say it breaks flow, or people get confused.
Personally I like to get the questions asked, then the interviewer to repeat the question and help the interviewee along by saying “that was great, can we do it again because that is just what we need! This time can you please start with …”.
Or tell them it was great, but ask them to condense it (very good to save time cutting out umms and ahhs later.
No use getting all the questions twice, just the ones the interviewees are good at.
And get them to repeat them right after just saying it.

Second, you only need one person to start with the prompt question.
After one person says “I think so and so is good because …blah”, then next person can say “yeah it great because blah”.
I love to string people together to reinforce each other.

This is also good to cut out umms, or when people go on a tangent.
Make two or three people answer bits with each other.
like:
Person 1- “I love to eat spinach”
Person 2 – “Yeah it’s nice, but it gets in my teeth”
Person 3 – “which can be annoying”
Person 2 – “But the taste is worth it”
Person 1 – “it’s just so juicy and green”

That is really simplified but you get the idea.

Third, you really need to plan, plan, plan before even starting to shoot.
Who ever interviews people needs to be really clued up.
They need to make sure all points are covered.
They need to make sure that more then one person uses the question in there answer.
They just need to know how it will come together.

But if all else fails have you thought about the old graphic question?
Like a full screen title with and interviewers question under it?
This sounds naff, but done well gives it a “word on the street” kind of feel.

Depends what you are after really.
Watch all your comments, and try to get them logged on paper.
Highlight all the best bites and string ’em in groups in a timeline about each subject.
Then watch the long cut and remove the worst comments.
Whittle till you have the golden bites.

That’s T.V!

My main problem with some editors is they can’t understand that you can cheat shots and comments easily.
One persons voice can start over another person,
You can use a bite from the middle of an answer, as long as someone has created a top for you (like my example above).
Be creative, mix it up, and don’t forget that jump cuts and split comments are totally acceptable these days.
People don’t need the crap reality TV “repeat the main statements 5 times” rubbish.
I say tell it once, and tell it right the first time.

Have some fun!
The best detailed answer might not be the most dynamic.

But that’s just me.

Oh, sometimes I do cut things clean and slow, or make long comments after each other. Depends on my production, or director.

Oh dear, I am bleating on…. sorry!