Hello everyone, I have a question just out of curiousity... When doing interviews at events, what is your style? Do you approach the guests and ask them if they would like to say anything that the guest(s) of honor would see/hear on the video? Do you setup a tripod and have the dj make annoucements that you are doing interviews over there in the corner? I'm just curious on how everyone else does it.

I normally go from table to table just after dinner when the party starts and interview that way. I find that interviews are hard to get though because everyone seems to be camera shy. I even read one post here that sounded kind of interested where the videographer setup an "automated booth" where guests could go and record their comments anytime during the event.

I'm interested in your comments.

Thanks,
Eric Holloway

during the last dancing set, we set up a tripod somewhere nice outside the reception area and the dj announces that we are doing interviews. we also talk to the bridal party beforehand so that one of them takes the initiative to make sure that the people that matter most to the b&g come see us. we used to run around from table to table, but it took forever and we were catching people off-guard.

I have yet to try out the "interview station" strategy, so I can't comment on that.

I just go around from table to table to get what I call "personal messages to the bride and groom". I found that the word "interview" was confusing a lot of people because they thought I was going to ask them questions (like an interview, whaddayaknow?). I also use to give people the option from the start, and I was really wish-washy with it. I would give in if people asked me to come back a little later. I could lose a whole table if I gave in when the first person didn't want to do it.

Now I have a different approach. I walk up to a table and it basically goes something like this . . .

"May I interrupt you guys for a minute?"

"Cool. Thanks. I'm going around from table to table getting personal messages for the bride and groom. You can say whatever you want. It can be short or long, funny or heartfelt. Whatever you want. We'll just start with you and work our way around to this side."


#1
Asking if you can interrupt is polite, and you'll gain some respect for that.


#2
Giving a short explanation of what they can say helps people relax because it doesn't feel overly important. You'll also notice that I don't ask who wants to start or ask if anyone wants to do it. This is death to anyone trying to get personal messages. Once you put it in the perspective that it's going to happen and it's going to progress "like this", then people respond to that authority and organization and usually deliver nicely. It will also save you a bunch of time.


#3
Always start filming several seconds before you are ready, to avoid issues with those people who "jump start" their message. And I would suggest that you always look through your eyepiece while filming and avoid the LCD screen. When you look through the eyepiece, people will look at the camera, which is what you really want.


#4
If someone is struggling, you can help them out by suggesting that they just say congratulations or wish them well in the future or whatever, but don't stop filming or you might lose what they end up saying. Also, when people have that blank look on their face, don't panic and stop filming. Keep rolling, because often those people (the same one's that would refuse if you gave them the choice) will rely on what is in their heart for their words, and they can give you some of the best messages.


Hope all that helps . . .

I totally go along with Travis' 4 points; here are a few more from my experiences to add to the list.

#5
Use a wireless mike, or, at a minimum, a shotgun mike. Depending on how far back you're standing from the person talking, if you're using the on-camera mike, background noise can drown out all or parts of what the person is saying.

#6
Turn off the Record light. Most everyone knows what the red light means, and to me it seems to inhibit the camera-shy folks.

#7
Use available light even if it means grainy video. That headlight is more effective than the Record light in turning people into mutes.

#8
Don't get tunnel vision when harvesting these messages. Also keep an eye on the head table and the rest of the room. Probably 99.8% of the time there's nothing special going on, but you have to be constantly on watch for the unexpected.

i usually shiit the tables first then i play spotter while i do that.. this way u can tell youd respond and whod shy away..
those that are open to it are usually easy to pick up so their the first people i apprach. I just ask them if theyd like to leave a message.

Nothifng fancy

BUT

I also do Video Guestbooks, where i setup a camera with a mic and let them have at it..

Tom:
Great additions (especially #6 and #7; I use an onboard shotgun, so I can't comment on #5, although it sounds like a great idea).


Peter:
You're a much more trusting man than I. I can't bear to leave one of my cameras out of sight. The very first wedding I shot I had two cameras on tripods up on a stage that was not in use. They were up there to be out of sight and out of the way of guests, and to assist in recording all the dancing.

Partway through the ceremony a guest pointed out to me that a bunch of kids had found a way onto the stage and were running around in the curtains and crawling under my tripods and running around them. I still get sick remembering the sight.

So for those of you who set up a 'message camera', how does it work overall? Do you get good results, or a lot of blank tape when people forget to stop recording (even my assistant does that to me; gotta love 10 minutes of grass and concrete shots)?

I just ask the tables or "cliques" (you know, they're smaller groups who stand outside of the reception) to say "CONGRATULATIONS (bride's name) AND (groom's name)!" at the count of three and put all of those at the end of their movie. It makes for a nice blooper as not all will say it together, or say the names in the wrong order and they laugh at each other and try again!

These replies so far have been great!

I just wanted to share my best experience for interviews. When I meet with the bride and groom to go over the details of their wedding, I ask if they would "lend me" their best man or maid of honor to bring me the most important people they want to give congratulations messages to the camera. This works flawlessly because it's so easy for them to get the people to come to the camera because they know the guests in most cases and I get TONS of interviews this way. Plus being able to setup the camera on a tripod in a location with a nice background makes it even better.

Has anyone tried this approach?

As for the audio setup, I just a wireless Sennheiser G2 microphone and it blocks most if not all of the background noise. It sounds incredible.

Eric

during the last dancing set, we set up a tripod somewhere nice outside the reception area and the dj announces that we are doing interviews. we also talk to the bridal party beforehand so that one of them takes the initiative to make sure that the people that matter most to the b&g come see us. we used to run around from table to table, but it took forever and we were catching people off-guard.


Aren't about 1/2 the guests gone at that point in the night?

Has anyone tried this approach?
Eric
yes. it's what i currently do, as stated above.

Aren't about 1/2 the guests gone at that point in the night?
for the most part, everyone is still there. it's been the case for most of the weddings we shot in 2005. having one of the bridal party members there to help us round up people has been essential with this strategy.

shooting outside allows us to use my frezzi mini fill and get a better composed shot, with better lighting, and the people that do end up talking love the attention. we usually have a long line of people waiting to get on camera, and since we do it later in the evening, people are sauced up and are more likely to say something hilarious, which makes for good bonus material.

Hello everyone, I have a question just out of curiousity... When doing interviews at events, what is your style? Do you approach the guests and ask them if they would like to say anything that the guest(s) of honor would see/hear on the video? Do you setup a tripod and have the dj make annoucements that you are doing interviews over there in the corner? I'm just curious on how everyone else does it.

I normally go from table to table just after dinner when the party starts and interview that way. I find that interviews are hard to get though because everyone seems to be camera shy. I even read one post here that sounded kind of interested where the videographer setup an "automated booth" where guests could go and record their comments anytime during the event.

I'm interested in your comments.

Thanks,
Eric Holloway




Eric....try confirming with your client when you have your 1st meeting if this is something they want instead of just "doing" it. We ask every client and I have to say.....95% of our clients do not want us shooting interviews. The type of interviews at the tables give a "cheese" factor to the final edit.....if youre going to do them, try setting up somewhere.....if youre near a nisy environement...USE a hanhled mic ie SURE SM 58 or close to it.....I guarentee your audio will sound sweet with the background down to a minimum. I have seen a lot of these video demos with table interview where the guests are "looking" into the cam....looks amateur. if youre along...set your camera frame...and ask some q&a about the bride....have the guest look at you off camera...NOT into the camera. Much more "professional" I work in TV a lot and conducted many interviews.....this set up is WAY nicer and more professional than the look into the camera and say something to the B&G....that is cheese!!! Good luck to you.

no i nevr do interviews coz they put everyone on teh spot and ppl become uneasy enough with video, let alone having to perform for it..

messages and greetings are far safer.

as for the Video Guestbook, i print up instructions and tape it to the desk. with an IR remote control which is BlueTaced so its difficult to move.

ive never had a problem with it..

theres afew other guest and bridal party interactions i do with my clients, but i cant publicise it coz im the only one in Aus actually offering this (not interviews or greetings, but something a little more interactive)

But theres lots u can do either way

Joe:

Are you my archnemesis? We seem to be butting heads a lot on here lately (just kidding).

I have to disagree with you about doing interviews versus looking into the camera. I'm not going to say the interview style is bad. It does have a more corporate and professional look. However, I view a wedding as a very personal event, not a corporate event.

As such, having them give a personal message while not looking into the camera (which is how I used to do it years ago), ends up looking much less personal. I want the B&G to feel like their friends and family are talking TO THEM, not to an interviewer. Once again, this is a point of opinion, not right or wrong, but if you're going for that personal feel, there's nothing like watching your friends and family talking TO YOU, versus talking off camera.

If the setup for the two styles weren't so different, it might make sense to ask the B&G what style they prefer. Maybe it makes sense anyways.

[QUOTE=Peter Jefferson]i usually shiit the tables first then i play spotter while i do that.. QUOTE]

Peter, I think that happened on "The Office" last week.. I don't know if you'll get many compliments doing that..;)

lol
yeah mate, shittin on tables is a good way to blow the potential for future jobs... lol
although its a good way for a lot of people to clear their throats... roflmao

Well I did a Filipino Debut event this weekend and went for the "give me a resource and bring me some *interviewees*" approach. I actually setup my camera on a tripod, a mic stand and attached my handheld sennheiser to it so I could set focus and lighting correctly before the line started. And I did have a line! It worked out perfect. I will never do a table to table interview again.

The only thing I think I'll never do again is use my collapsable green screen... LOL... It's hard to pull a good key when you don't have good lighting on the green screen itself but I'll manage.

Eric

I hope you don't mind me bringing back this ancient thread but a lot of great points were made.

I plan to start filming bar mitzvahs soon and I was wondering how interviews are usually conducted. In most of the videos I have seen, the table interview style was used.

The last bar mitzvah I was at has at least 30 tables, and people finished eating within a half hour - I figured this wouldn't leave me a long time to shoot. So how are table interviews conducted? Do you simply film the most important people, in this case the boy's family and close friends, or do you try to get around to every table?

I start with the most important people and go until I run out of time (ie, something more important comes along).

We usually don't do them.. Does that help? Just kidding..well sorta..

A great way to do it and if the B&G clear it. Setup right outside the reception location to a quite area or less noisy. Then have the DJ make announcements during the reception that the B&G would like to hear from you in a video message and the videographers will be setup at XX Locations. DJ's are pretty good about it.

I had one Bride who wanted them so bad, that all the table cards included instructions and a HOW-TO on what to say to the Bride and Groom. We had 80 interviews done at that wedding. It was well worth it in that case, since I knew how important it was to the bride.

But typically I don't offer to do them, because most of them are "Hey #$#K HEAD you finally did it, BEER IS GOOD!!!!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

LOL - too true. My worst one was when the mother of the bride just kept putting me off all night. 4 hours into the reception I finally got her to give her personal message, but she was drunk, and it's was a real pain figuring out whether or not to even include it in the final video.