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Conduct a sit-down interview to gather the student’s life story before, during, and after their Teen Challenge program.
Follow the “Student Interview Questions” found on the SMC training website.
Each interview should last 5 to 20 minutes of sit-down, on-camera time.
Camera Setup
- Framing and Positioning:
Choose a quiet, well-lit room with minimal distractions. - Attach the camera to the baseplate.
- Adjust the tripod height accordingly, should be at students eye level, loosen the tripod knobs as you tilt or pan the tripod.
Turn the camera on by switching the top dial from OFF passed ON to the camera video icon.
- If the pull-out screen is black, press the camera button on the front to activate Live View.
- Press the INFO button until you see shutter, aperture, and ISO information at the bottom.
- Video Settings:
- Set shutter speed to 1/50 by using the dial on the top of the camera.
- Set aperture to the lowest number by pressing the Av button and turning the dial at the same time.
- Adjust ISO if needed (press the button located on top of the camera):
- If the student’s face is too dark, increase the ISO.
- If it’s too bright, decrease the ISO.
Place the camera 4 to 6 feet away from the student. Sit to one side of the camera tripod.
Autofocus (AF):
- Set lens switch to AF for automatic focus.
- If camera struggles or keeps refocusing, switch to MF.
Manual Focus (MF):
Use lens focus ring to manually focus on subject’s eyes until clear.
Instruct the student to look at you, not at the camera.
Divide the screen into thirds, framing the student’s eye level at the top horizontal position and to the right if they are looking right.
Shotgun Microphone Setup
- Mount the directional mic on the stand.
- Place it 3 to 5 feet away pointed at the student.
- Point the microphone at the student.
TAZCam Audio Recorder Setup
Turn on the TAZCam by pressing and holding the power button until the screen lights up.
Check the battery in the top right of the screen:
If only one bar remains, replace the AA batteries before the next interview.
Press the RECORD button twice:
You’ll see a timecode on display.
The red RECORD light should be solid (not blinking).
- Run a quick audio test:
- Have the student speak.
- Monitor the L and R level meters on the display.
- Use the volume buttons on the left side of the unit to adjust input so the levels peak around the down arrow marker on the display.
- It’s okay for levels to go up and down — just ensure they average near that point.
- To start recording, press the camera button on the front of the camera. It will beep, and the timecode on display will start counting up.
During the Interview
- Follow the “Student Interview Questions” guide.
- Be aware: the camera will stop recording automatically after about 10 minutes. This is a safety feature to prevent overheating.
- If it stops, press record again and continue the interview—no need to restart the questions.
- If the student mentions sensitive topics (e.g., abuse, trauma), ask if they are comfortable with this information being made public.
- We will not include the interviewee’s voice in the final edit, so for each question, have the student rephrase the question in their answer. For example:
Question: “Where did you grow up?”
Answer: “I grew up in Ada, Oklahoma,” instead of just “Ada, Oklahoma” without context. - Do not start and stop the camera between questions.
After the Interview
- Stop and turn off both the Canon camera and the TAZCam.
- Remove the SD cards from both devices.
- Upload all footage and audio files to your designated SMC Google Drive folder.
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