We are a full service video production company located in St Louis Missouri.  We create, produce and deliver St Louis video production communication for St Louis businesses. We craft images, sounds, and words to tell stories and sell products and services.

St Louis Commercial Video Production is a women business enterprise (WBE) located in St. Louis, Missouri.

Success does not arrive from above on the wings of an angel. It takes hard work, and it’s a role we take very seriously. A woman-owned business enterprise, St Louis Commercial Video Production is comprised of a team of experts in the fields of full service video production, video post production and editing, studio video production, location film scout, video talent resource and web video production.

With decades of experience, our award-winning St Louis video production crews will take on any project, no matter what the size or scope. We provide turnkey video production services ranging from multiple camera shoots, animation and motion graphics, to live webcast video streaming, post production, and complete video editing. From the Arch to the Zoo, if your dream video project starts and ends in the Gateway City then you’ve found the right video production crews to make it happen.

We’ve done the all the homework and made the connections to create competent video production crews. We’ve handpicked the best professional crews around the Midwest to be a part of our team. This eliminates your time needed to find experienced award winners in the video production field. We take care of all the work and phone calls, to create schedules, negotiate rates, and confirming the necessary authorization is in place. It is our top priority to source the right video production crew for your shoot while working within your budget.

St. Louis Video Director and Producer on the set

Still photograph production shots from volume 5 of the Abolition News Network TV production, “Obstacles On The Road To The Abolition Of Slavery.”  ANN Director and Producer, Stephen D. Edison views the scene on the set.  The scene here depicts, U.S. President Millard Fillmore (seated, middle), portrayed by actor Lance Leykam; being interviewed regarding his support of the Fugitive Slave Act, that required the return of runaway slaves.

Live event streaming video for the web in st louis. St Louis Commercial Video Production often streams historical videos featuring local St. Louis talent on the set of the History Network.  

Video Production Interviewing Techniques

Are you struggling to make your interviewee’s stories come alive on film? You need the right interviewing techniques to bring out their best. Learn how to get great video results with these video production interviewing tips!

The introduction phase is a crucial portion of any video production interview.

This is the time for the interviewee to become comfortable with you, the interviewer. Your body language and demeanor will greatly affect the rapport you have with your subject, so remember to conduct yourself professionally, yet be friendly and inviting.

Keep in mind that interviews tend to work best when conducted face-to-face as this allows for greater conversation flow. When conducting video interviews, establishing sound and video quality before beginning can help things run smoothly. To ensure this, organize a technical check and find out if the person being interviewed will need to use any specific equipment before you start filming, such as a microphone or earpiece.

Additionally, asking plenty of questions prior to recording is essential in helping to build a common understanding between the interviewer and interviewee; these initial questions should not only address technical requirements but also explore topics such as what information is required from them for the project or what their expectations are of being interviewed.

Benefits of Video Production Interviewing Techniques

Video production interviewing techniques have some major benefits over other types of interviews. One of the main benefits is that they allow you to capture the whole story, beyond what a written transcript might provide. In addition, video production interviewing techniques are also more efficient than traditional in-person interviews as footage can be edited for clarity and length.

Video production interviewing techniques can help make better use of your time by allowing you to capture and playback transitions between subjects or scenes quickly and easily. This can lead to faster completion of projects, which can save you time and money. As technology advances, video production interviewing is becoming increasingly popular due to its ability to enhance the story with visual elements that cannot be obtained through traditional interviews.

In addition, video production interviewing provides an opportunity for wider audience engagement as well as an avenue for feedback from viewers around the world. It also creates a more genuine experience as viewers have direct access to faces and voices without any outside interference or edits before it reaches them. Finally, it gives viewers more insight into the interviewee’s thought processes by showing off their body language which is frequently overlooked in written transcripts.

Types of Video Production Interviewing Techniques

Ensuring interviews are carried out professionally and effectively is crucial for video production. The type of interviewing techniques used can have a great impact on the quality of the recording and the result of a production. Below are three main types of interviewing techniques:

1. Structured Interviews – This type of interview is generally more formal and follows a strict format with predetermined questions which must be asked in exact order. Each answer is then assessed based on criteria set by the interviewer, making this interview process more restrictive but also more controlled and accurate.

2. Unstructured Interviews – Unstructured interviews provide greater creative freedom as they do not follow any predetermined structures or rules, allowing an open discussion between interviewer and interviewee to take place whereby conversational flow is important as relaxed discussion can often produce some very interesting responses and personal stories.

3. Semi-structured Interviews – This approach combines elements from both structured and unstructured methods to create an effective mix that allows for better control over the conversation without restricting its natural flow too much, enabling meaningful and thought provoking questions to be asked in relation to precise topics without getting lost in irrelevant information or topic divergence from both parties.

Preparing for a Video Production Interview

Whether you’re creating a documentary, a short film, or anything else involving interviews for video production, preparing for a successful shoot starts with understanding your cast and assembling the right equipment. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when preparing for your interview.

Create a list of questions: Before you arrive on set, create a list of questions to ask during the interview. This will help keep the focus of your conversation on track and ensure that you get all the information that you need. Make sure these questions are engaging and inviting so that your subject is more likely to open up and be candid with their responses.

Find a comfortable location: The key to getting great footage is finding the right location for your video production interview. Choose an environment that is well lit and quiet, so as not to interfere with your audio quality or distract from the conversation. Make sure that you have enough room to move freely without being cramped or obstructed by other people or objects in the space.

Conduct pre-interview research: It’s important to prepare beforehand by familiarizing yourself with your subject’s background an experience in order to better understand what topics may be relevant during the interview. Additionally, if there are any special requests from the client regarding specific questions they want answered in the shoot, make sure these are all clarified before shooting begins.

Test equipment: Once on set and before you begin recording audio and visuals, make sure all equipment is working properly so as not to capture any faulty recordings or unreliable footage lateron when editing. Testing microphones, cameras, lenses and sound systems ahead of time can help save time down the line when producing final cuts of content.

Setting Up the Interview Environment

Creating a successful interview environment that fosters authentic, honest responses from your subject is an important step in producing effective video content. To ensure the interview process goes smoothly, take the time to create a comfortable space for the interviewee. This can include having snacks and refreshments on hand in case of interruptions or long pauses during the interview session. You should also decide if you will record the audio in a soundproof room or just use a microphone, as this can make a big difference in the final product.

To establish trust and openness with your subject, make sure there are no distractions during filming. Additionally, camera position and angles should be preplanned so that adjustments don’t have to be made during filming and your subject doesn’t feel uncomfortable or exposed. Don’t be afraid to ask questions throughout the process; some people need more guidance than others when giving information on camera. And above all else — stay natural! Even though it’s an official recording, being relaxed and casual creates a much better atmosphere for conversation to flow freely between you and your subject.

Conducting the Video Production Interview

The video production interview is an important part of any production process, as it gathers valuable information that can be used to shape and inform the project. It is also an opportunity to build a rapport with your interviewee and ensure they are comfortable enough to open up on camera.

Here are some tips for conducting successful interviews:

• Allow plenty of time – create a comfortable environment by offering which sets the stage for a positive experience all around.
• Be confident, but friendly – maintain control of the interview while being personable and pleasant.
• Focus your interview topics – have specific questions prepared in advance, keeping in mind that the answers will influence your ultimate objectives and outcomes.
• Listen passionately – it’s not always about what you say; sometimes it’s more important that you take the time to really listen to what your interviewee has to say.
• Don’t be afraid of silence – allowing space for thought can help to encourage deeper insight and reveal nuances that weren’t apparent before.
• Ask follow up questions – pressing further on topics can lead to greater understanding and insights that you might not have expected without going into those areas in further detail.
• Monitor the dynamics between participants– assess how everyone feels throughout the entire process, being conscious of any body language signals or verbal cues that may indicate discomfort or displeasure with certain subjects or lines of discussion.

By following these tips and techniques, you will increase your chances of obtaining valuable content in a positive manner during your video production interview sessions.

Editing and Post-Production of Video Production Interviews

Once the video production interviews have been conducted, the next step for a successful project is to move on to editing and post-production. This is arguably the most important part of producing an effective video, as it’s when all of the footage is cut and refined into an engaging story. In order to achieve this goal, there are a few key points to remember when editing your video from start to finish.

Foremost, make sure that you lead with a compelling story or an interesting beginning. If your footage begins with b-roll or is heavily focused on one particular interviewee, try cutting in a sequence that features multiple people speaking or some unexpected soundbites. Additionally, if possible, use transitional elements such as sound effects or music to help transition between different topics in order generate more interest among viewers.

When it comes time for cutting down longer interviews for time restrictions, always strive for naturalness and authenticity. Avoid removing too much content from any interviewee as it can make them seem disingenuous or fake. Also take into consideration where natural pauses occur within sentences and embrace them so as not to interrupt the flow of conversation which can ruin even the most riveting replies received from your participants – embracing natural pauses will bring out the authenticity of their responses while aiding in keeping viewers attentive and engaged in what they are saying throughout the duration of your project.

At the conclusion of the interview, thank your subject for their time and insights.

Explain to them what will be done with their answers, and provide them with an estimated timeline for when you plan to have the video completed. Ask if they would like to review it before it’s released to the public. Offering this review gives them one more layer of control over how they are portrayed and is a mark of respect that’s greatly appreciated by interview subjects.

Finally, exchange contact details so you can update them on how the project progresses — you never know when a good working relationship might come in handy down the road. Keep your subjects up-to-date as needed, and make sure they are included at every stage of production where appropriate so their voice continues to be heard regarding their portion of the project. With this graceful approach to video production interviewing techniques, you should find no shortage of willing participants in your projects!

Shari Haller

314.913.5626

mikeh@hallerconcepts.com

4501 Mattis Road   St. Louis Missouri   63128