SUPER-8 INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

Post by **npcoombs** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:19 pm

For visual continuity I have been considering shooting an interview on super-8.

Im aware that this is probably a lunatic strategy: I will not be doing it crystal synch. There are clear logistic problems related to the short length of each cartridge.

Therefore, the interview would have to be conducted in a quite radically different way to a conventional video technique. I have in mind semi-prepared answers and serious time keeping on answers.

Any suggestions? Does anyone have any experience with this?

I have a suspicion that done well the interview could actually be more effective than a loose, rambling discussion with excerpt cut out.

Post by **steve hyde** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:46 pm

I have not done it. One idea is to avoid a talking head interview all together. Photograph the subject in their spaces and places, doing what they do. I suggest recording the interviews first then listening to them several times. The images will come to you through listening and then all you will have to do is go and photograph them....

Steve

Post by **mattias** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 11:08 am

i haven't done it on super 8 but on 16mm. 2.5 minutes is a pretty long time actually and as long as the subject gets to hear every question and figure out an answer before you roll i don't think it's going to be a problem.

/matt

Post by **npcoombs** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 9:31 pm

mattias wrote:i haven't done it on super 8 but on 16mm. 2.5 minutes is a pretty long time actually and as long as the subject gets to hear every question and figure out an answer before you roll i don't think it's going to be a problem.

/matt

Yes, I suppose if you allocate one tape per question (or two) then it can be organised that way.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:39 pm

Use two cameras.

There are other techniques that can be used to make an interview look succinct, but it involves letting the person ramble than tightening it up later.

Post by BN » Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:03 pm

I have done interviews before, although not for film, and it is important to note that it is partly an "ad-lib" process. Having pre-made questions is important, but as an interviewer it is important to be flexible and go with the flow of the interview, rather than always refering back to the list of questions. That having been said, 3.5 minutes per tape seems like it could be troublesome for a 'traditional' interview.
I've seen interviews that work differently through, especially in some biographical-type films about artists, etc. For example, some interviews are made much more interesting by implementing it as a voice over. I believe this was done in a great film called "My Architect: A son's journey" (http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0373175/) (I'm not sure, but some of this movie might have been filmed on 8mm B&W) I hope this helps, if you haven't already done it all... I just realized this is post might be a bit old...
Anyway, see that movie even if you've already done the project, it's really interesting. Good luck!

-Brady