2. Mise-en-scene of the interview area
The environment in which the interview is
being conducted in is always relevant to the
theme The lighting focuses on the
interviewee, with the main source of light
originating from behind the camera. Some
objects/props can be purposely placed
around the interviewee to anchor their role
e.g. a blackboard and textbooks behind a
professor.
3. Positioning of the
interviewee
During interviews, a rule of thirds is
used which results with the interviewee
always taking over two thirds of the
screen. Each person switches
positioning on the screen when
transitioning between different
interviews, helping to keep the
audience focused.
5. The purpose of cutaways
Cutaways/archive footage are used to
make the flow of questions seamless and
retain the audiences’ attention
throughout the interview. This can
include archival footage and animation
as perhaps a visual aid into what the
interviewee is discussing, deepening the
viewer’s understanding of what they’re
hearing and preventing them from
getting bored.
6. Graphics
The graphics that appear on screen during an
interview tend to be the name of the
interviewee and their job title/relation to what
topic is being discussed. This is normally in a
white, clear font to make it easy for the
audience to read.
7. Music
Generally, music is not heard
during interviews as this would
take the audiences’ sole
attention from what the
interviewee is saying.
8. What we don’t
hear
We don’t hear the interviewers
voice asking the questions
because the interviewees
answers are in depth enough
to make the question self
explanatory.
9. Eye line
During an interview, the one asking the
questions is placed to the right of the
camera and is sat level to the
interviewee. This allows the
interviewees eyes to cross over the
camera at an eye line level, which is a
significant feature of interviews.
