Interview Design — Documentary Interview Design Methodology
Specialized knowledge used by the interviewer agent when selecting interview subjects and designing questions.
Why Interview Design Matters
In documentaries, interviews are the core device that breathes life into facts through human voices. Statistics are understood with the mind, but one word from a firsthand witness strikes the heart.
Interviewee Selection: VOICE Matrix
| Role |
Why Needed |
How to Find |
Count |
| Victim/Protagonist |
Direct party to the subject, emotional core |
Communities, support organizations |
1-3 |
| Observer |
Objective perspective, eyewitness |
Neighbors, colleagues, bystanders |
1-2 |
| Institution |
Official position, policy context |
Government, corporations, NGOs |
1-2 |
| Critic |
Opposing/alternative perspective |
Academia, opposing side |
1 |
| Expert |
Intellectual depth, contextual interpretation |
Universities, research institutes, authors |
1-2 |
Diversity Check
Question Sequence Design: Funnel Model
[Broad question] "What led you to work in this field?"
|
[Exploratory question] "What moment stands out most in your memory?"
|
[Core question] "What do you think is the real cause of this problem?"
|
[Challenge question] "What do you think about the opposing view?"
|
[Reflective question] "How do you think things will be different in 10 years?"
Question Type Design
| Type |
Purpose |
Pattern |
When to Use |
| Open-ended |
Elicit stories |
"Tell me about..." |
Opening, transitions |
| Specificity |
Extract details |
"What exactly did they say then?" |
Exploration stage |
| Emotional Access |
Elicit emotional expression |
"How did you feel at that moment?" |
Emotional scenes |
| Contrast |
Identify changes/differences |
"What changed the most before and after?" |
Analysis stage |
| Hypothetical |
Elicit insight |
"What if...?" |
Reflection stage |
| Silence |
Elicit additional remarks |
[Maintain 5-second silence] |
Right after a response |
Interview Type Strategies
Expert Interview
| Attribute |
Strategy |
| Purpose |
Knowledge, context, interpretation |
| Tone |
Intellectual respect + core questions |
| Preparation |
Must study their books/papers beforehand |
| Caution |
Technical jargon -> "Could you put that in simpler terms?" |
| Duration |
30-45 minutes |
Firsthand Party Interview
| Attribute |
Strategy |
| Purpose |
Experience, emotions, personal narrative |
| Tone |
Empathetic, create a safe space |
| Preparation |
Prior consent for sensitive topics, inform of right to stop |
| Caution |
Prevent re-traumatization — judge when not to probe too deeply |
| Duration |
45-60 minutes (with plenty of time) |
Institutional/Official Interview
| Attribute |
Strategy |
| Purpose |
Official position, policy, response |
| Tone |
Polite but with sharp follow-up questions |
| Preparation |
Review official statements/press releases |
| Caution |
They will try to give prepared answers only — "Could you be more specific?" |
| Duration |
20-30 minutes (often time-limited) |
Interview Guide Document Format
## Interview Guide: [Subject Name/Type]
### Interview Information
- Subject: [Name, Title]
- Role: [VOICE matrix classification]
- Related Scene: [Scene number from treatment]
- Estimated Time: XX minutes
- Interview Format: In-person / Video / Phone
### Background Research
- [Summary of information gathered about the subject]
- [Connection to documentary topic]
### Question Sequence
#### Warm-Up (5 min)
1. [Comfortable introductory question]
2. [Background question]
#### Core (15-20 min)
3. [Core question 1 — Experience/Facts]
4. [Core question 2 — Cause/Analysis]
5. [Core question 3 — Emotion/Reaction]
-> Follow-up: [Additional questions based on anticipated response]
#### Challenge (5-10 min)
6. [Present opposing view and observe reaction]
7. [The most difficult question]
#### Closing (5 min)
8. [Reflection/Future question]
9. "Is there anything you'd really like to say that I haven't asked about?"
### Required Quote Targets
- Essential statement to obtain from this interview: [Core topic]
- Comment to use in treatment [Scene X]
### Ethics Check
- [ ] Filming/recording consent form prepared
- [ ] Sensitive topics communicated in advance
- [ ] Right to stop the interview communicated
Documentary Interview Ethics Principles
- Informed Consent: Clearly explain the interview's purpose, scope of use, and disclosure method in advance
- Vulnerable Group Protection: Exercise special care with minors, victims, and subjects with mental health issues
- Editing Fairness: Do not distort statements by separating them from their context
- Post-Review Rights: For sensitive topics, it is recommended to give the interviewee an opportunity to review before broadcast
- Anonymity Respect: Provide protective measures such as face blurring and voice alteration when requested
1---2name: interview-design3description: A specialized skill for the interviewer agent covering documentary interview design. Provides interviewee selection, question sequence design, emotional elicitation techniques, and ethical interview principles. Use for 'interview questions,' 'interview subjects,' 'testimony collection,' 'interview design,' and similar topics.4---56# Interview Design — Documentary Interview Design Methodology78Specialized knowledge used by the interviewer agent when selecting interview subjects and designing questions.910## Why Interview Design Matters1112In documentaries, interviews are the **core device that breathes life into facts through human voices**. Statistics are understood with the mind, but one word from a firsthand witness strikes the heart.1314## Interviewee Selection: VOICE Matrix1516| Role | Why Needed | How to Find | Count |17|------|-----------|-------------|-------|18| **V**ictim/Protagonist | Direct party to the subject, emotional core | Communities, support organizations | 1-3 |19| **O**bserver | Objective perspective, eyewitness | Neighbors, colleagues, bystanders | 1-2 |20| **I**nstitution | Official position, policy context | Government, corporations, NGOs | 1-2 |21| **C**ritic | Opposing/alternative perspective | Academia, opposing side | 1 |22| **E**xpert | Intellectual depth, contextual interpretation | Universities, research institutes, authors | 1-2 |2324### Diversity Check2526- [ ] Is there no bias in gender, age, or region?27- [ ] Are diverse socioeconomic backgrounds included?28- [ ] Are both supporting and opposing opinions fairly represented?29- [ ] Is at least one directly affected person (firsthand party) included?3031## Question Sequence Design: Funnel Model3233```34[Broad question] "What led you to work in this field?"35 |36[Exploratory question] "What moment stands out most in your memory?"37 |38[Core question] "What do you think is the real cause of this problem?"39 |40[Challenge question] "What do you think about the opposing view?"41 |42[Reflective question] "How do you think things will be different in 10 years?"43```4445### Question Type Design4647| Type | Purpose | Pattern | When to Use |48|------|---------|---------|-------------|49| **Open-ended** | Elicit stories | "Tell me about..." | Opening, transitions |50| **Specificity** | Extract details | "What exactly did they say then?" | Exploration stage |51| **Emotional Access** | Elicit emotional expression | "How did you feel at that moment?" | Emotional scenes |52| **Contrast** | Identify changes/differences | "What changed the most before and after?" | Analysis stage |53| **Hypothetical** | Elicit insight | "What if...?" | Reflection stage |54| **Silence** | Elicit additional remarks | [Maintain 5-second silence] | Right after a response |5556## Interview Type Strategies5758### Expert Interview5960| Attribute | Strategy |61|-----------|----------|62| Purpose | Knowledge, context, interpretation |63| Tone | Intellectual respect + core questions |64| Preparation | Must study their books/papers beforehand |65| Caution | Technical jargon -> "Could you put that in simpler terms?" |66| Duration | 30-45 minutes |6768### Firsthand Party Interview6970| Attribute | Strategy |71|-----------|----------|72| Purpose | Experience, emotions, personal narrative |73| Tone | Empathetic, create a safe space |74| Preparation | Prior consent for sensitive topics, inform of right to stop |75| Caution | Prevent re-traumatization — judge when not to probe too deeply |76| Duration | 45-60 minutes (with plenty of time) |7778### Institutional/Official Interview7980| Attribute | Strategy |81|-----------|----------|82| Purpose | Official position, policy, response |83| Tone | Polite but with sharp follow-up questions |84| Preparation | Review official statements/press releases |85| Caution | They will try to give prepared answers only — "Could you be more specific?" |86| Duration | 20-30 minutes (often time-limited) |8788## Interview Guide Document Format8990```91## Interview Guide: [Subject Name/Type]9293### Interview Information94- Subject: [Name, Title]95- Role: [VOICE matrix classification]96- Related Scene: [Scene number from treatment]97- Estimated Time: XX minutes98- Interview Format: In-person / Video / Phone99100### Background Research101- [Summary of information gathered about the subject]102- [Connection to documentary topic]103104### Question Sequence105106#### Warm-Up (5 min)1071. [Comfortable introductory question]1082. [Background question]109110#### Core (15-20 min)1113. [Core question 1 — Experience/Facts]1124. [Core question 2 — Cause/Analysis]1135. [Core question 3 — Emotion/Reaction]114 -> Follow-up: [Additional questions based on anticipated response]115116#### Challenge (5-10 min)1176. [Present opposing view and observe reaction]1187. [The most difficult question]119120#### Closing (5 min)1218. [Reflection/Future question]1229. "Is there anything you'd really like to say that I haven't asked about?"123124### Required Quote Targets125- Essential statement to obtain from this interview: [Core topic]126- Comment to use in treatment [Scene X]127128### Ethics Check129- [ ] Filming/recording consent form prepared130- [ ] Sensitive topics communicated in advance131- [ ] Right to stop the interview communicated132```133134## Documentary Interview Ethics Principles1351361. **Informed Consent**: Clearly explain the interview's purpose, scope of use, and disclosure method in advance1372. **Vulnerable Group Protection**: Exercise special care with minors, victims, and subjects with mental health issues1383. **Editing Fairness**: Do not distort statements by separating them from their context1394. **Post-Review Rights**: For sensitive topics, it is recommended to give the interviewee an opportunity to review before broadcast1405. **Anonymity Respect**: Provide protective measures such as face blurring and voice alteration when requested
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