One of the clearest ways you can set your video apart from other participants in the competition is to interview “experts” – people who are particularly knowledgeable about your chosen topic, work in a related field, or even those who may have been personally affected by laws or policies related to the issue you are focusing on in your documentary.
While interviews are not a StudentCam requirement, including footage from interviews you have conducted with topical experts is a great way to meet one of the competition requirements of showing multiple and varying points of view related to your topic. Your interviews can also add interest and an additional layer of credibility to your work, through the interviewees sharing insightful perspectives and other relevant information about your topic.
How can you find “experts” to interview?
- Start with your own personal network – i.e. your family, friends, neighbors, etc. Is there someone among that group who could speak with some authority on your topic?
- Through your research into your topic, you will likely have found the names of several people who could add detailed perspective and a deeper understanding of your issue. Consider Googling their names along with their contact information, You can email or call their office to request a short interview with them for use in your C-SPAN StudentCam documentary. Be respectful of their time and consider sharing a few sample questions that you would like to ask so they can see an example of what you are hoping to discuss on camera.
- Search your topic on C-SPAN.org to see who has appeared on our television network in the past and who has spoken about your topic on-air. Google their contact information and when you reach out to them, consider mentioning that you have seen them on C-SPAN discussing the topic, and that you would like to ask them a few questions for your C-SPAN StudentCam documentary.
- After each successful interview, consider asking if that person knows others who may be willing to speak with you about your topic.
- Make sure to also send a thank you note expressing your appreciation to anyone who willingly spends time answering your questions! Sharing your completed documentary with the people you have interviewed is another great tip.
