A pre-interview does not need to be long. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough to confirm key topics, check logistics, and tweak your planned interview questions based on what you learn.
Focus on information you cannot get from public sources. Recent projects, time limits, or topics to avoid are all fair game.
Use the pre-interview to sort out the basics: recording time, format, location or link, and any technical needs. For video, confirm lighting, mic, and whether they will record locally if remote.
Ask about boundaries upfront. Some guests prefer not to discuss certain topics, and knowing that saves awkward moments on camera.
Share a rough outline of your interview questions, not the full list. Ask which topics feel most interesting to them right now, and which ones they have covered too often.
Adjust your order based on their feedback. When a guest is excited about a topic, put it earlier if it fits your story arc.
A short pre-interview builds familiarity. Meeting for a quick call before the shoot makes the actual recording feel like a continuation, not a first meeting.
Walk them through what to expect on camera. Knowing how you will start, pause, and wrap up helps a nervous guest relax.
A planned set of interview questions gives you structure for your video, but holding them loosely lets you follow the best answers as they happen.
Open ended interview questions give guests room to speak, but the way you phrase them will decide if you get a yes or no or a real story on camera.
The order of your interview questions shapes the story arc of a video, and a small shift in sequence can turn a list into a clear narrative.
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