How Many Interview Subjects for Doc?

G

Giganova

Well-known member
Hi there --

How many interviews do you think a feature-length doc should have without being boring (too few) or too confusing (too many) for the audience? Is a number between 10 and 20 about right? What's your opinion/experience?

Cheers
 
How about one really interesting, long interview?

Or two?

I watched an excellent show on Rwanda last night that had about four major interviews (two survivors of the genocide, two participants), lasted an hour, also followed people around and was very well done.

Some don't have any interviews.

Some are more soundbites than interviews, so eight of those and two long ones might work. Or one long one and twenty sound bites.

Are you seeing my point yet? There's no formula and not even a specific format your documentary has to follow. No one can answer that question.
 
depends on the interviewee too... some people you could listen to forever. Others, well, short is better :)

I agree with the others too... shoot first and then see what you have. More footage is better than not enough and if the speaker is not engaging enough, well, then get another person to interview. The worst thing is to watch someone stumble through an interview to the point where you almost feel sorry for them.

I'm sure you will figure it out and make the right choice(s) too.
 
Thanks for your thoughts.

I have been shooting 15 interviews so far, about 40-min each. As you said, some interviews are only good for a sound bite or two, while others are fascinating over the entire duration.

I was just asking because I thought there might be a maximum number of interviewees viewers can process without getting confused who is who.
 
Imo

Imo

I like having lots of interviews, then when I feel the need I cut to my B rolls and back again. Just adding my two cents here. Good Luck!
 
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