If you read the previous blog about being prepared for an on-camera interview, then you found out some of our tips that should help get you ready for your big moment on camera.
I mentioned that the Contrast Creative producers can usually tell who has been media trained because they understand the importance of the message, image and tone. Whether you’re preparing to be interviewed for a corporate video or for the 6 o’clock news, there are some ways to make the most of it.
Rule number one: Relax. Take a deep breath. Go to your happy place. Being interviewed doesn’t need to be a scary thing. I realize it’s a completely unnatural act for most people to have a camera perched on a tripod just staring you down. Then, there are those lights. Oh, those lights. They’re searing with enough wattage to keep a Whopper nice and toasty through lunch rush. Next comes the microphone with its cord snaked down blouses and threaded inside jackets. (By the way, don’t think the audio folks are getting frisky; they get paid to play hide the mic.) Scared yet? Don’t be. They’re just the tools of the trade, really.
Before sitting down, take a minute. Chat it up with the person interviewing you. There are no rules that say you can’t ask a few questions about the topics they plan to cover. If the reporter or producer gets to know you a little bit better, it tends to put everyone at ease from the start.
Next, make sure your cell phone is off. Nothing wrecks your credibility like getting a call during an interview, revealing your Angry Birds ringtone. And, there’s another important thing you’ll need before taking the hot seat. Make sure you have a bottle of water within reach. Not only will it help with dry mouth, taking a water break buys you a little time should you need it to think of the answer to a question.
You’re almost done with the prep. If you’re a man wearing a suit jacket or sport coat, pull that jacket down in the back and sit on it. This will keep it from bunching up around your neck and making you look like you’re a kid wearing your dad’s clothes. As for women, do one last check to make sure you don’t have lipstick on your teeth.
Let’s Get Started Already!
If you’re going to be reading off a TelePrompTer, ask to do a practice run. Even though you might have read the script aloud in your office, it’s very different come show time. You’ll probably get better each time you read it, so make sure you’ve read it at least two times, even if you nail it the first time.
Unlike a scripted read, when you’re being interviewed by a reporter or producer, you do NOT want to look into the camera (unless that’s the plan from the start). When answering the questions, keep your eyes locked onto the reporter. It’s so tempting to get distracted by the production crew member who is fiddling with something, or to look for a thumbs-up sign from your public relations manager who is just off camera. Fight that urge. What seems like a quick eye movement to you can end up looking shifty through the lens of the camera. Keep your eyes from darting around. Stay focused.
Do You Speak Body Language?
Here’s one of the most frequent questions we’re asked by newbies to the interview process: What do I do with my hands? The answer is do whatever you normally do with your hands when you talk. Most people talk with their hands when they speak. It lets you add emphasis, in addition to making you look more natural, relaxed and sincere. Just be careful not to hit the mic that’s attached to your lapel. Never fold your arms during the interview. Even people who aren’t into body language can catch that message. If you’re not using your hands for emphasis, keep them casually resting on your lap. Be careful not to clinch them, no matter how the questioning goes. Cross your legs at the knee or ankle.
Answer your questions with a complete thought. The audience usually won’t hear the question; they’ll just hear your answer. Here’s the example I frequently give: Pretend that I asked what you had for breakfast. The incorrect answer would be: “Eggs and wheat toast.” The correct way to answer would be: “For breakfast, I had eggs and wheat toast.” That’s the complete thought.
Be sincere and honest. If you don’t know the answer, say you’ll need to check on that and get back to them. At the end of the interview, a good reporter or producer will ask if you have anything else you’d like to add. There’s probably something else that either you forgot to say, or they never asked about during the interview. Never let that opportunity go by. Even if you don’t have anything much to add, use this time to reiterate your main talking points.
If the reporter doesn’t ask if there’s anything else you’d like to say, jump in. When the interview is wrapping up, it’s perfectly fine to say “There’s one more point I’d like to make.” Reporters and producers are always looking for a great, succinct soundbite. If they think you’ll give them one to wrap it up, then you’ve got their attention.
Is This Interview Over Yet?
Once the interview is finished, stay put until you know you’re all unhooked. Even if you’re natural tendency is to run for your life, don’t. Let the crew move the lights and gear out of the way. Once they remove the microphone, you’re usually free to go.
Whether the interview was good, bad or somewhere in between, shake hands and make nice. Say thank you to the reporter even if you don’t mean it. Leaving a good impression means carrying your professionalism through to the end. Tell them they can always contact you if they think of additional questions.
Contrast Creative strives to make each video shoot as relaxed and fun as possible. The fact is, it’s our job to make you look good. If you haven’t done so already, check out the video demos of our work.
See you on set!