| A
video profile introduces an audience to an important
person. Whether that person be a former president
of the United States, a movie star or a high school
shop teacher, a video profile treats the viewer
to an inside look at the story of the person being
profiled. Profiles like the ones seen on VH1's
Behind the Music, A&E's Biography and E!'s
True Hollywood Story look back through time at
the lives of rock stars, actors and other famous
people. Through a combination of personal interviews,
old clips and photos, the viewer is given a backstage
pass to the interesting and exciting lives of
celebrities. Regardless of who you profile, the
goal is the same: to tell the story of a unique
and influential person's life.
You
don't need a rich or famous subject to make an
intriguing and worthwhile video profile. Anyone
with a story to tell will do. You might profile
a grandparent for an upcoming birthday celebration
or family reunion. You might profile your boss
for the annual company banquet, or your nephew's
championship soccer team for the big awards dinner.
Video profiles can be simple and fun, or they
can be profound and meaningful. They're a great
way to honor important people in your world.
Storytelling
At
the core of an interesting profile is a person
with a story to tell. The trick is to get your
subject to tell his story in an interesting way.
Most people become animated when they have the
opportunity to talk about themselves. That enthusiasm
is contagious. It engages the audience and breathes
life into the profile. The task then is to find
those questions that unleash the subject's passion.
You do that by asking the right questions and
allowing your subject to answer. Should you discover
that it's not quite that easy, try keeping these
tips in mind.
- Stay
out of the way. The person you are interviewing
is the story, and she knows her life better
than you do. Allow her to tell her story in
her own way.
- Maintain
a conversational tone. Try not to grill your
subject like an investigator, have a conversation
with him about his lifeallow your subject to
speak freely and at length in response. You
can always shorten answers that are too long
in post production.
- Listen
to the answers. Don't get so caught up in asking
questions that you forget to listen to answers.
If your subject senses a lack of genuine interest,
he may stop talking.
- Ask
follow-up questions. When you hear what your
subject is saying, you can ask appropriate follow-up
questions that can add detail to the story.
The uniquely personal voice of your subject
may be lost if you make her adhere to a strict
list of pre-fabricated questions. After all,
it's her story.
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Production
Elements
Video
profiles lend themselves to many production styles.
From simple talking-head interviews to copy stand
work, from Super 8 film clips to videotaped reenactments
(if you're really ambitious), creative opportunities
abound. Here are a few elements that you might
include to keep things interesting.
- Old
photos. Even in the age of video, a picture
is worth a thousand words. A few black and white
photos can speak volumes. Pictures of your subject
as a child set the scene for the story of his
or her life. Old family albums are gold mines
for material. Even old pictures of the city
where your subject grew up can add interest.
Place each photo on a copy stand and record
it to tape to gather shots for B roll.
- Film
clips. At its simplest, transferring Super 8
film to video requires no more than your camcorder,
a projector and a white wall. Film footage of
your subject learning to ride a bike or blowing
out birthday candles is good for adding interest
to your profile.
- News
tidbits. A newspaper headline or snippet of
video from a news broadcast can provide the
context for the life of your subject. We can
all relate to certain historical moments. Identify
your subject's place in history by attaching
his life to moments we all remember.
- Interviews
with friends and family members. You may find
it interesting to interview several people who
know your subject well. On Biography, A&E
uses interviews of spouses, children, producers
and co-stars to round out a celebrity's story.
Many times, these other interviews provide the
bulk of the content. An added benefit is that
this takes some of the pressure off of your
subject. Even if he doesn't interview well,
his story can be told by those who know him.
Start
at the Beginning
Generally,
the story of one's life begins at birth and proceeds
in chronological order. When viewers see an individual's
personal history, they gain insight into the way
that person thinks. They have the ability to learn
what makes that someone tick. This background
grabs the attention of the audience and provides
interesting and little-known facts about the subject.
Where was she born? Was he an athlete? Was she
in student government? What was his first job?
What was his worst job? How did she meet her husband?
Questions like these allow the viewer to get to
know the person being profiled. As we learn of
the individual's triumphs, we begin to understand
what makes the person who he or she is.
The
best stories aren't only about the successes,
but about the obstacles the person overcame, as
well. What was the lowest point for him? How did
he overcome hardship to get where he is today?
The answers to these questions usually reap great
rewards, and can reveal something amazing about
your subject that no amount of research ever could.
Lastly,
you'll need a good closing. Barbara Walters closed
her celebrity profiles by asking stars how they
would describe themselves in a word. You might
ask your subject for a personal motto or philosophy
of life. Maybe it's what he says to himself when
times get tough, or an image that comes to her
mind when she faces adversity. A question like
this will produce a unique and powerful answer
that can provide the perfect ending to your profile.
Why
Profile?
Video
profiles enrich our lives by offering personal
insights that help explain the vast and complex
world we live in. For many, a video profile provides
a way to gain insight into worlds they might otherwise
never experience.
Every
person you meet has a story that is waiting to
be told. Each life is like a ready-made video
script waiting to be produced. So find an interesting
person and make a profile. |
