Cutting an interview...

petelms

petelms

Well-known member
Hi, guys.

I'm editing my first "real" interview at the moment...and was wondering what are the main "tricks" for editing. I mean, I want to cut every question out and just leave the answers.

How do you go from answer to answer in a situation like this? Do you add just some simple cross dissolve between the cuts and find some good cutting point? Just wanted to hear are there some other tricks I could try also...

Thanks. :dankk2:
, Pete.
 
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If the answer is "complete" you will have more options as regards it making sense.

eg. Interviewer " What is your name and what do you do for a living?"

Answer " My name is John and I am a studio cameraman here at Universal Studios"


Cuts, Dissolves and any transition works in this case.

Incomplete answers (un explained) eg."John... I am a cameraman" are dificult to edit anyway and might mean you need a to open with a graphic. eg. 'The Men who work at Universal Studios'

Again... Cuts , dissolves and transitions work. So might split screens.

Answers you have to pick out from the middle of a long rambling answer are also difficult to edit and maybe you can fade in and out as well from Black or white.

You could use some of the more "flashy modern" transitions if the subject matter and content are appropriate to their use. A lot of it will be determined by your audience , subject matter and the pace of the program.
 
Don't forget about B-roll. But this also depends on what type of interview it is... but B-rool is an excellent way to cut audio together and make it all look good. (B-Rool is secondary footage that you shoot to cut away to, but you have the interview audio playing underneath it.)
 
B-roll is what makes or breaks a good interview piece. It's all in the leg work...after your interview and while editing see if there are any parts that could be strengthened with b-roll footage. For example someone is relating a story of first coming to the country, that means head out to the airport and get some footage of some planes landing.
Some talks about working late in the office, head out and get those shots of people heading out of buildings late and hailing cabs etc.

You can always get the b-rolls after the interview itself. Good luck.
 
You may also want to stick with J cuts and L cuts, and forget the transitions. They tend to look amaturish, and can cause issues with video quality.
 
I totally agree with J and L cuts suggestion.

It means overlapping the picture with the audio from the other clip.

eg You watch subject B while hearing subject A. or vice versa. Subject B might be nodding or reacting to subject B . It is an amazing way to contextually change the meaning of something and it also smooths the cut in a very professional manner.(looks like a two camera shoot)/

Us the 'ALT' - Drag (in the timeline to achieve this).

Shoot noddies also. They can be helpfull.
 
Ahaa! Thanks for the explaining. :beer:

And here we go again...what means noddies? :huh:

Aaah...I just checked my dictionary, I understand now. :beer:
 
Creative Interviewing

Creative Interviewing

Pete,

Sure - my pleasure. And while I'm sure you've got a handle on the interviewing itself, if you ever want to read a great book on the art of interview, be sure to get a copy of Ken Metzler's "Creative Interviewing" - terrific insights! I've extracted lots of key points from the book; you could PM me if you would like a copy of my notes.

Good luck, Michael
 
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