Since we're doing some cool science stuff here I was asked to do an interview. Normally it would be my prof's job but he's not German and thus has asked me. Now the thing is that I feel extremely uncomfortable in front of a video camera. It's not mainstream TV but rather a small, podcast-like educational thing that no one has ever heard of but still.
I know I'm being somewhat irrational here so maybe the COR can flame some sense into me. What do you say? Decline, which is my very first impulse, or stop being a ?
VAR
my words of advice
Trance Nutter
quote:
Originally posted by Meat187
Since we're doing some cool science stuff here I was asked to do an interview. Normally it would be my prof's job but he's not German and thus has asked me. Now the thing is that I feel extremely uncomfortable in front of a video camera. It's not mainstream TV but rather a small, podcast-like educational thing that no one has ever heard of but still.
I know I'm being somewhat irrational here so maybe the COR can flame some sense into me. What do you say? Decline, which is my very first impulse, or stop being a ?
This is what I do for a living, and I do it exclusively with scientists (from the other side of the camera). Some really basic tips:
Firstly, take a few minutes to chat with the interviewer beforehand, and not about the interview itself. Just chat about whatever, small talk. It'll be easier if you're comfortable with them as an interviewer, so just have a chat with them to help you be relaxed talking with them. (We always chat with the interviewees before we record, and sometimes show them around our building if they seem a little harried (it's a big beautiful historic building), and then when we are doing our final setup with them in the seat we sometimes joke around with them)
You're also well within your rights to just ask for an overview of the interview, just ask what kind of questions you're going to be asked. I've seen some really basic questions get messed up just because all the interviewee could think about was other topics.
The single most important thing is to not look at the camera. You're chatting with the interviewer, not talking to the camera. Evenworse, don't flick your eyes towards the camera, just keep looking and chatting with the interviewer. Looking at the camera makes you look creepy.
Think of some short answers which sound good in a sound bite and have them in your mind before you go in. Trust me, you'll find a way to work them in and when you do you'll think "oh yeah, that sounded good."
I assume this is pre-recorded, you are well within your rights to say "no wait, I don't like that, can we do that again?" Feel free to stop halfway through an answer if you don't like what you're saying and start again. Also, if you don't like a question, you don't have to answer it. If you're not comfortabel answering it, don't.
The interviewer may ask what appears to be the same question a couple of times, that's not because you answered wrongly, but they're probably searching for an edit point. Don't let it throw you, you're not doing it wrong.
The interviewee does have a decent amount of power during an interview. You can always work the interview in a direction you want. Work your answers onto what you want to talk about.
The main thing is just to think about it as a chat between you and the interviewer, relax into it.
LAdazeNYnights
^this guy is the man for taking the time to give you such awesome tips
run with it
and make sure you get a copy of that podcast-esque interview to share with us here.
what is it that you do, by the way? what kind of science?
Meat187
quote:
Originally posted by Trance Nutter
Thanks a lot for the advice. I might add that I have no problem speaking in front of audiences, it's just the TV thing that weirds me out. So I feel like I should decline.
Am I the only one who has this type of camera aversion? Would you guys do such a thing?
quote:
Originally posted by LAdazeNYnights
what is it that you do, by the way? what kind of science?
PhD student in biomedical engineering. Working on some tumor imaging.
Sushipunk
quote:
Originally posted by Trance Nutter
Awesome response here
Trance Nutter
quote:
Originally posted by Meat187
Thanks a lot for the advice. I might add that I have no problem speaking in front of audiences, it's just the TV thing that weirds me out. So I feel like I should decline.
Am I the only one who has this type of camera aversion? Would you guys do such a thing?
It's not uncommon, a lot of people aren't fond of cameras. I was working a couple of weekends ago with a university lecturer who can lecture 500 students no problem, but really didn't like being on camera.
Its worth giving it a bash. As you said it's only a small thing, its not national tv. Plus, the people conducting the interview want something useful out of it so they will work it into something good, so you're not going to look like a prat in the final product.
Theres not much you can do to totally muck it up. Pretty much the only thing you can do which will make it unusable is looking at the camera - we had a professor spend 45 mins looking straight down the barrel, we're probably not going to be able to do anything with that footage.
They're not going to try to stitch you up or make something controversial, it's like anything - they're asking about your work because they are genuinely interested in what you do.
Forget about the camera, this isn't about the camera. It's about having a chat with someone about your work. You can do that, you've done it a million times before.
The only way you will get better is by doing it, and every thing you do will help you improve. A scientist with proper media skills is such an asset and it will actually help your career.
SYSTEM-J
Just don't watch it. There are famous film actors who won't watch any of their own films, because they hate seeing themselves on camera.
Fledz
Scientists ftw! Biomedical in particular :gsmile:
Meat187
All those who're saying I should do it apparently forgot what happened the last time a TA tried to talk in front of a camera about what he does all day:
bananas
lol, dont be a ing
Sushipunk
quote:
Originally posted by Meat187
All those who're saying I should do it apparently forgot what happened the last time a TA tried to talk in front of a camera about what he does all day:
I LOL every time I watch that.
Did anyone notice though... When you finish watching and Youtube sugests other vids... This was the first suggestion :wtf:
