Documentary interview questions

Answers that cut together without your voice

Your AI prepares an on-camera or podcast interview the way a field producer would: researched questions in four movements, follow-ups for moments and meaning, coaching so answers stand alone, a quiet room setup and consent handled before rolling.

By Vander Labs. A Vander Labs Original, written by the Vander Labs team with AI assistance. Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and Claude Code.

What your AI learns

Sequences warm-up, backstory, the hard question and reflection
Writes open questions with two follow-ups each
Covers room setup, eyeline, room tone and the release form

How it works

Research the subject: Twenty minutes of public sources for verified details and two angles worth exploring.
Define the story need: The two or three statements the film needs, without putting words in anyone's mouth.
Sequence four movements: Warm-up, backstory, core with the hard question after trust, reflection and the catch-all questions.
Write open questions: One idea each, under 15 words, asking for scenes rather than summaries.
Plan follow-ups: For every core question: one for the specific moment, one for meaning, plus the three-second silence.
Coach for the edit: Answers that include the question, eyes beside the lens, a signal to repeat a line.
Set the room: Quiet, 45 degrees off lens, key light on the look side, lavalier plus boom, 30 seconds of room tone.
Handle consent: Signed release before recording, agreed approach to sensitive topics, the subject's right to pause.
Capture the ending: The final reflection, ten seconds of silence, and the story they left out.

Limits and safety

Never records or plans around someone who has not consented; releases come before the first question.
Trauma and sensitive topics are approached only as agreed with the subject in advance.

Topics: documentary, interview, podcast, filmmaking, questions