Five Questions Interview Example

 

An assignment I enjoy in my television production class is called "Five Questions." Students work in three- member teams as producers-videographers, interview hosts and guests. 

The student behind the camera directs the show and records specific shots needed to piece the completed interview so it looks like there were two cameras in use, not just one. 

The students learn about two shots, reverse questions, and listening or cutaway shots. 

And they are instructed on different techniques and tools when editing their interviews on Adobe Premiere Pro. 

Below you can see the interview that I produced using Carroll Kelley's video. 

Jalen Gasque interviewed Dominic Reaves, a defensive back on SC State's football team. 

Carroll will still produce the piece himself. I wanted to do it for demonstration purposes. 

The interview runs about three minutes. Last class, I showed the students my Premiere Pro process (below) and how to tweak things such as audio levels, color quality, as well as adding supers, titles and music, then exporting the finished project before posting it on my YouTube channel. 

"Five Questions" Interview Project

 

In my Radio Production class here at SC State, the students are working on a project I call "Five Questions." 

The students have the chance to interview a classmate, a professor, a campus leader, a student-athlete, really anyone they choose. 

The idea is to conduct an interview in an interesting and informative way to help the listener get to know the subject and also get a sense of the host's style and personality. 

Listen to the three-minute interview here.

This is one example of such a "Five Questions" feature. Keira McGowan sat down with her classmate Ali Hardwell, who is a guard on SC State's women's basketball team. Ali, who is from Washington state, is in her first semester here after transferring from a two year college in Texas where she led her team to a conference championship last season. 

To learn more about these fine and talented students, check out Ali's blog and Keira's as well. 

"Five Questions" Interview Project

My "Advanced Television Production and Editing" students are shooting and editing a little assignment I call "Five Questions." In teams, the students take turns interviewing, being interviewed and shooting the brief Q&A segments.