The company I work for is creating a corporate video to advertise at a trade show. It's about this BizTalk-based project that I've been going on about lately. The reason that they are making this video is because it, as anyone who as ever made a workflow product can verify, is not very demonstrable.
They asked me if I would be willing to be taped, as they needed some sound bites (from a propeller head, I guess) to put in this video. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this, but I have always been curious on how they make those documentaries on PBS. You see the archaeologist, practically jumping out of his seat, saying, “and then I flipped over this rock, and there it was, a big pile of dinosaur poop!” I decided to go for it.
I must say, I have always thought they had this small camera, sitting beside the interviewer, and they managed to catch the guy jumping out of his seat. It's not like that. They had me wired up with a wireless mike through my clothes. There are really hot lights beaming at me from various directions. They had lots of food around. There was a camera guy, a sound guy, the producer, the storyboard writer, plus the interviewer. Fortunately, it was a co-worker that was “interviewing” me, which made things go much easier.
I would get things like: “Great! Except you used the project name, and you can't do that. Say exactly what you just said, but use 'orchestration software' instead.” I am thinking, I can't remember what I just said under these conditions. I don't even know what I am saying as I'm saying it! Things proceed this way for about ten minutes.
At the end, they tell me to repeat what I just finished saying but find a way to put this silly tag line in. I attempt that, and suddenly the storyboard writer jumps up, saying “Perfect! You just guaranteed yourself at least a ten second clip. OK, that's great, you can go.” Now, I not sure if he was excited because he got this tech guy talking like the marketing folk, or he finally gave up on me.
I'll let you know how much of my “interview” actually made it.