A Guide to Producing On Camera Interview Content

Interviews can give you the chills. It is not a very comforting situation for many people.


When you think of it, you feel like being studied under a microscope. You want to give your best because you want the interviewer to like you. That is the reason why many people who go on an interview feel so tense.

It is also during an interview that you get to know more about the interviewee. For this reason, this kind of setup is a great way to create content. A camera interview is so appealing in many ways. It educates, it motivates, and it can even make you relate to the person on screen. If you think of a new video concept for your marketing page, you should consider doing an interview video production.

How to interview someone for a blog

When doing information giving interviews, there are specific steps that you need to take from the preparation, to the execution and up until distribution. These are not very exhaustive, and you may even think of more to add to it, but they will help you get started. Read on to learn how to conduct a good interview.

A man is sitting in front of a yellow background that says video marketing is our passion

Conceptualize

The first step in all content creation is to look for a concept. How do you like the interview to flow? What is the topic that you will discuss? Who are the people you are hoping to impact using this material? These are just some of the questions that can help you in planning out your content. From here, you will be able to decide who your interviewee, or interviewees, will be. It will also determine where to conduct an interview and all other matters relating to it. 

Research

Not because you are doing the interview means that you will not do your part in researching. For you to be able to come up with the right questions, you need to have sufficient knowledge about the subject matter. It will help you draw out pertinent data from the interviewee. It will lead you to the right resource person too. It does not matter if the topic is simple or complex; you have to be on top of things to know if you are getting the right material. 

Setup

When you already have the materials and you have chosen who you will interview, it is then time to setup. You need to look for the appropriate location for the video. If you are doing a formal interview, you may need to have an office setup. If it is a casual one, a coffee table approach will do. You also need to ensure that the lighting is good and supply what is lacking. Be mindful of possible background noise during the shoot to avoid distractions. Get everything prepared so that when you roll, it will be smooth.

Shoot

Once everything is right, you may then begin filming. You must know about getting proper angels and knowing when to zoom in or zoom out for emphasis. Do not keep switching frames or trying to be too dynamic. Keep it still, for the most part. The focus here is more on what is said by the subject. That doesn’t mean that you will neglect visual presentation. Just do not make it so much about the visuals that it distracts the message. 

It is where the rubber meets the road, and it often takes several tries until you get the shots you are aiming for in this material. Here are some on-camera interview tips that you can follow to make a better outcome for your shoot:

Building rapport

Due to the common notion about interviews, people tend to become uncomfortable when doing one. If your interviewee is not a professional actor, it could take some time to warm up to the setup. You must take time to develop a rapport between the interviewer and the interviewee. It will help put them at ease so that when you start filming, you will not feel that uneasiness that often comes with interviews, especially for those who barely know each other. 

Warm them up with pep talk and a getting-to-know-you chit chat even before the camera starts rolling. It will help loosen any possible uneasiness that will be apparent to the audience. Once your actors are at ease, you will get better shots for your video. 

Give careful reminders

It would help if you reminded the interviewee to answer questions in the most concise but informative way possible. He or she must always stick to the context. Do not keep straying out and including things that are no longer pertinent. If possible, you may give the questions in advance to have an idea of what is coming their way. If this is not possible, at least inform them that they need to stick to the topic. 

Eye contact

It is your responsibility to pan on the faces of the video subjects, so remind them not to be conscious about it and advise them to make eye contact with each other. If needed, you may signal them to look a the camera. The important thing is that their eyes focus on the direction you want them to be, not looking elsewhere. 

Redoing crucial parts

The start of the interview is not always the best one. But as the camera keeps rolling, the subjects begin to become more at ease that they appear more natural in what they do. If you think that you need to, you may require redoing the initial part of the interview when done shooting to the end. This time, it will look more smooth since everyone has warmed up. You only do this if necessary, and you got all the frames and angles that you need for the video content. 

Edit 

When done filming, editing comes next. You may need a professional to do this for you if you are not very savvy at it. You must be present during this stage to determine which part the editors can splice and which should remain. It may look more genuine to keep it as raw as possible, but sometimes, there are some contents that you need to edit out. Do not sacrifice context for visual appeal.

Sharing

The last step in this interview video content is sharing it online. You can use several social media platforms to distribute your output; YouTube and Facebook feeds are among them. If you have your website, you may also embed a copy. Keep sharing to engage more viewers and attract more customers to your page. 

Your on-camera interview content

There you go. Now you know how to conduct an interview on-camera for your website content. It is very straightforward. It is one of the most uncomplicated contents that you can use for your page. All you need to do is follow the above steps, and you are on your way to making fresh, meaningful, and exciting content. 

A close up of a green background with a white border.

Get total clarity on your video marketing and paid media with our $500 dollar fully refundable comprehensive data audit.

Schedule A Discovery Call

 CINESALON NEWS

Call of Dragons video advertisements being made by cinesalon advertising agency

Video Production Agency CineSalon Partners With China's Leading Mobile Game Company Lilith Games

By Shane Yeager • August 18, 2023
CineSalon, a DC video agency, partners with China's Lilith Games to grow player base for 'Call of Dragons', a mobile game with 60M+ players and $2B revenue.

POPULAR POSTS

CineSalon's Blackmagic URSA 12k Camera with Cooke S4 Mini Lens displayed at their HQ in DC

Step-by-Step Guide for Enabling and Using 10GbE File Transfers on the Blackmagic URSA Cine in Windows

By Shane Yeager • February 8, 2025
Dumping media via Ethernet with the Blackmagic URSA Cine Camera can be a challenge on windows. This complete guide walks you through how to configure it correctly.
Editing software you can use for AI video script generators.

8 of the best AI Video Script Generators in 2024

By Shane Yeager • September 7, 2024
AI video script generators are revolutionizing production by boosting creativity, saving time, and cutting costs—essential tools for staying ahead in digital media.
CineSalon's Blackmagic URSA 12k Camera with Cooke S4 Mini Lens displayed at their HQ in DC

Step-by-Step Guide for Enabling and Using 10GbE File Transfers on the Blackmagic URSA Cine in Windows

By Shane Yeager • February 8, 2025
Dumping media via Ethernet with the Blackmagic URSA Cine Camera can be a challenge on windows. This complete guide walks you through how to configure it correctly.
Editing software you can use for AI video script generators.

8 of the best AI Video Script Generators in 2024

By Shane Yeager • September 7, 2024
AI video script generators are revolutionizing production by boosting creativity, saving time, and cutting costs—essential tools for staying ahead in digital media.
Everything you need to know about video SEO services. Understand the basics and how to target your i

Are Video SEO Services Worth It?

By Lorena Rocchi • September 7, 2024
Boost your online presence with our expert video SEO services, tailored to meet your business needs and reach your target audience. Connect with us today to create a content strategy that drives results!
Everything you need to know about audio-video marketing. How to use it efficiently to target your id

Everything You Need to Know About Audio-Video Marketing in 2024

By Shane Yeager • September 7, 2024
Explainer videos and DIY content offer unique ways to engage and tell stories, helping companies create impactful, results-driven content.
Everything about how to Add a voiceover to a video. Seven of the best editing software for adding a

7 Top Software To Use To Add a Voice-Over To Video

By Lorena Rocchi • August 27, 2024
Elevate your videos with the power of voice-over, enhancing both clarity and engagement. Let your content resonate deeper by using professional voiceovers to bring your vision to life.

Like what you read?

The best thing you can do today is to get started.


If you need a quick quote, fill out the self driven estimator or give us a shout on the form here.

202.810.1949

workwith@cine.salon

Share by: