warming up non-camera friendly people?

Blade Borge

Blade Borge

Well-known member
I keep doing camera interview stuff, there's always a tension from the people. What techniques do you use to loosen things up?
 
Booze.

Seriously, though ... I've found it helpful if you can get to know them a little before turning the camera on. Just chat with them while you set up if they're already there. A lot of times they don't feel comfortable looking at someone they don't really know. Ask them about their family, where they've lived, etc. Try and find some humor to throw in. Also, tell them to ignore the camera and the lights and to just talk to you. Now, if you're using a prompter, good luck. I've found that some people are just terrible on those.
 
Tell them not to worry about sounding smart or saying everything at once. Let them know that you are a whiz at editing and they will come out looking and sounding great. Sometimes, after the 1st question (if it's an interview), I'll compliment their response by saying, "Perfect," or "Great answer." Sometimes I'll tell them about the worst guy I interviewed and how even he ended up sounding good. I think the key is to get them to believe that you've done this a thousand times and the thing you love the most is making them look like a rock star.
 
I use no lights, I don't scare them with a mic and I hold the camera off to the side with one hand, having them make eye contact with me, not the camera. I then call them dude at least 3 times (even if it's a chick) to disarm them.
I shoot a lot of reality/doc so very few people I interview at events are use to the camera. I have found just walking up to them with this practice, rolling right away and hopping into my questions without asking them if they are up for it gets me sound bites before they even ask me who I am or who I am with. I am not TV. I'm just a dude with a camcorder. Come off that way and you'll be fine.
 
I find the best thing to do is tell them its a practice run and record it anyway. The best, most natural and relaxed reads are always from interviewees who don't think they are being filmed.

It really takes the pressure off them, as you get a good take that they think is a practice then you go Oook thats fine, we were recording that all along, we're finished now you can go home.


Works for me.
 
hoarp001 said:
I find the best thing to do is tell them its a practice run and record it anyway. The best, most natural and relaxed reads are always from interviewees who don't think they are being filmed.
Click to expand...

Don't forget to turn off your tally light :)
 
I just shoot the breeze with them, do a few dry runs, and try to put them at ease. I actually had a girl that had never been on camera before, and had her laughing her butt off by the time I turned the camera on. She did fine. Normally that would be the Director's job, but it is also easier if they look at the camera guy as an ally.
 
I'd recommend having a local actor do the hosting/interviewing of people. Bring them onto the project as a producer. It's great exposure for them to host and produce something. There are a lot of actors that would love being apart of a documentary that's for a worthy cause.
 
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