Hello, I am new to the forum but I have been getting into the industry for a while now. Currently I am trying to film a documentary but i am having the hardest time finding people to interview. How do I get people to know I am looking for people to interview and how do I accomplish them once I have them? What is the key to getting people's attention when it comes to interviewing?
how do I do it?
- Thread starter maxham
- Start date
money. pay em. or find people who would really like to get THEIR side of the story out and stick up for themselves. you could put up posters or advertise in the paper. but it will probably cost you money to get the word about
It all depends on your subject! We have very little info to go on. If your documentary is about police, you won't want to go to the local church for subjects to interview. Let us know more about the project...
People LOVE to talk about what they are interested in. And
people LOVE the thought of getting some attention for talking
about what they are interested in. The key is: just let them
talk.
Find people who are interested in the subject of your doc and
ask them. Since whatever the subject is is something that
interests you you must know other people, right? If you know
even two people who are also interested in your subject they
will each know at least two. So right away you have 6 people.
Those six will know 12.
As has been said, without knowing the subject it's difficult to give specific advice.
There are many groups and organizations out there that have their own specific interests - the Civil War, show dogs, Shakespeare, fly fishing, family ancestry, politics, ice carving, you name it. Contact several groups and just tell the head honcho what you're doing and why. Make sure that you have your pitch ready and your project outline completed as well as having all the paperwork ready before you ask (release forms, etc.).
As far as pay is concerned most people are willing to do it for free. Treat them with courtesy and respect. And for damn sure make sure that you and your crew are on time and fully prepared in terms of both process (questions, etc.) and technically (everything works and you all know how to use it) so you do not waste the time of your interviewees. It also insures more cooperation and a more comfortable interview if you and your crew come off as thorough professionals.
There are many groups and organizations out there that have their own specific interests - the Civil War, show dogs, Shakespeare, fly fishing, family ancestry, politics, ice carving, you name it. Contact several groups and just tell the head honcho what you're doing and why. Make sure that you have your pitch ready and your project outline completed as well as having all the paperwork ready before you ask (release forms, etc.).
As far as pay is concerned most people are willing to do it for free. Treat them with courtesy and respect. And for damn sure make sure that you and your crew are on time and fully prepared in terms of both process (questions, etc.) and technically (everything works and you all know how to use it) so you do not waste the time of your interviewees. It also insures more cooperation and a more comfortable interview if you and your crew come off as thorough professionals.
hmm thank you all very much. Allow me to be a little more specific. My documentary is about retail and customer service. The interviewees I am trying to gather are ones who work in customer service. I am having trouble gathering interest. It's also hard since I can't actually film at stores so getting co-workers to interview is actually very tricky...I had to interview one person in my car...the only time I see her and her schedule matches mine is at work.
I'm sure there are hundreds of folks in the field who would be willing to be interviewed. Some may request to be interviewed anonymously, but I'm sure there are many. It'll involve some leg work...you might have to hang around a store after it closes by the employee entrance and just ask. Expand your scope beyond your store and your co-workers.
Just say you work for Michael Moore and they'll come running.
Just kidding... Talk with the guys in the stores and they'll jump at the chance. Make sure your image is professional and not grungy and they'll throw themselves at you. People love being in front of the camera.
Just kidding... Talk with the guys in the stores and they'll jump at the chance. Make sure your image is professional and not grungy and they'll throw themselves at you. People love being in front of the camera.
very good point....the michael moore thing hahaha just kidding as well. Curse you michael moore for giving us michaels a bad name in documentary making....actually i refuse to call him a documentary maker considering most of his work is propaganda....but anyway enough of my rant.
I think I will indeed take my scope beyond my work I have to I want more opinions than just those of wal*mart. It's going to take some leg work like you said but I think I will be able to get what i need.
I think I will indeed take my scope beyond my work I have to I want more opinions than just those of wal*mart. It's going to take some leg work like you said but I think I will be able to get what i need.
The cooperation you receive and whether or not people will want to appear on camera will depend upon the viewpoint of your project. If you want your interviewees to rant about stupid or annoying customers, or to rail against management or whatever, you may have a tough time; no one will want to be seen as denigrating their clients or slamming their bosses - they will be jeopardizing their jobs, an especially bad thing to do in the current economy.
You may have to go with backlit shadows and disguised voices...
You may have to go with backlit shadows and disguised voices...
have you tried phone? See if you can find a local call center, they will be customer service for many products.. then find one of the products and call the support number.. start talking about the project and you might get an on the spot PHONE interview.. you have to ask permission to record though.. (as always check with a lawyer if you care.. !)
Blurring I don't think is a problem(though I only know Premiere). People will be more open if they can't be identified. From reading your subject matter, it sounds like it won't lack interest. Just be very careful, and make sure you cover yourself legally from all angles(I'm sure you are 
). If you are going to be identifying certain stores then you have to tread lightly along that line.
). If you are going to be identifying certain stores then you have to tread lightly along that line.Oh yeah definately but I do wonder how Morgan Spurlock found no reprocutions from Super Size Me. According to Eric Schlosser (author of fast food nation) "McDonald's is always very quick to sue with whoever creates bad publicity" Ok thats a paraphrase not a whole quote lol. But still...
There are many regulations and laws (including the
First Amendment) that protect documentaries.
Spurlock faced many repercussions by McDonalds
from his movie. Making a documentary about a specific
company has it's difficulties. But if you are truly serious
and dedicated, you will overcome all of them. As others
have said, you are going to need to branch out from
your coworkers and only shooting interviews if your
schedules match up.
Are you up to the challenge?