Interviewing others

  • Start your questions with why, how, or tell me. Avoid questions that can be answered with “yes” or “no”.
  • Ask people to answer in full sentences that include the question. If you ask, "How long has the road been like this?", you want "The road has been like this for six years", so you can cut your question out.
  • Leave three seconds of silence after each answer before you ask the next question. This makes the editing process smoother later.
  • Ask for numbers wherever there are some: How many months? How much did it cost? How many people were involved? Numbers show how big the problem is and that these people are not the only ones impacted by an issue.

Consent

Anyone you interview and anyone whose name or face is in the video agrees to it first, on camera, in their own words. Before recording, they are told:

  • What the video is for and where it will be posted.
  • That anyone in the movement, and anyone outside it, may see it.
  • That they can stop at any time.
  • That once it is online, it cannot be taken back.

Have them explain back what they have agreed to and make sure to record it. You can add a short signed consent form if you want a written record, too. Also, ask them whether they want their identity protected, and if they do, the camera shows only their hands or puts them against the light, or their face is blurred in the edit. If it is not clear that they understand what they are agreeing to, they are not filmed.