Lesson Plan: How to Shoot an Interview on a Smartphone
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Grades: 6–8, 9–12
Video Resource: HIKI NŌ Tutorial Series by PBS Hawaiʻi
Subject Areas: Digital Media, Language Arts, Media Literacy, Visual Arts, Career & Technical Education
Lesson Overview
This lesson introduces students to the foundational skills of filming a professional-looking interview using a smartphone. Drawing on resources from the HIKI NŌ Tutorial Series, students will learn essential visual storytelling principles—framing, lighting, audio, and shot planning—and apply them collaboratively in a hands-on video production project.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Identify essential smartphone videography tools and explain their functions (e.g., microphone, tripod, lighting).
Apply core media production principles including composition, lighting, and sound to film interviews.
Demonstrate how to plan, record, and review a short interview using a smartphone.
Critique media work using relevant criteria, including visual clarity, audio quality, framing, and background selection.
Reflect on challenges encountered in mobile filmmaking and evaluate strategies for overcoming them.
Collaborate in team-based media creation with assigned production roles.
Standards Alignment
ISTE Standards for Students:
1.2.b: Students engage in positive, safe, legal, and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.
National Core Arts Standards (Media Arts):
MA:Cr1.1.I: Use identified generative methods to formulate multiple ideas, develop artistic goals, and problem-solve in media arts creation processes.
MA:Cn10.1.6.a: Access, evaluate, and use resources to inform the creation of media artworks, considering relevance, context, and cultural influence.
MA:Pr6.1.6.a: Convey meaning through the presentation of media artworks using varied tools, methods, and technologies.
MA:Re9.1.6.a: Develop and apply criteria to evaluate a range of media artworks and production processes.
Materials Needed
Smartphones (1 per group, ideally with video capabilities of 1080p or higher)
Tripods, selfie sticks, or flat/stable surfaces
Clip-on microphones or smartphone earbuds with a mic (optional but strongly encouraged)
Portable lights, desk lamps, or access to natural daylight
Notebooks or planning sheets for scripting and shot lists
Headphones for audio checking
Access to HIKI NŌ Tutorial Series videos
Lesson Sequence
- Media Literacy Warm-Up
Begin with a discussion on the role of video storytelling in news, social media, and personal expression.
Ask students: “What makes an interview video compelling?” and “What distracts you from taking a video seriously?”
Show the segment from the HIKI NŌ Tutorial Series: How to Shoot an Interview on a Smartphone.
- Key Concepts Mini-Lesson
Facilitate an in-depth group discussion of core video production concepts:
Composition
Use the Rule of Thirds: divide the frame into a 3×3 grid; position eyes along the upper third.
Allow proper headroom and lookroom.
Lighting
Light your subject from the front or side using daylight or lamps.
Avoid backlighting, harsh shadows, and dark settings.
Audio
Record in a quiet environment; external mics reduce ambient noise.
Use the Voice Memos app or dedicated video apps with audio gain control.
Stability
Tripods, books, or furniture can stabilize the shot. Handheld filming should use both hands and elbows tucked in.
Location Scouting
Look for quiet, visually interesting locations with non-distracting backgrounds.
Encourage students to walk around the school to find potential filming spots.
Optional enrichment: Show a poorly shot interview and invite students to identify what went wrong.
- Collaborative Project: Plan & Shoot a Video Interview
Divide students into small production teams with rotating roles:
Interviewer
Interviewee
Camera Operator
Director/Assistant
Each group will:
Brainstorm and write 3–5 interview questions on a topic of interest (e.g., school events, hobbies, a current issue).
Select a filming location using their knowledge of lighting, sound, and background.
Plan composition using sketches or screenshots.
Record a short test clip (10 seconds) to check for lighting, framing, and audio clarity.
Conduct and film the interview, aiming for 2–3 minutes of usable footage.
Capture 2–3 “B-roll” clips: these could include shots of the interviewee at work, walking, or showcasing relevant objects.
- Playback, Peer Review & Group Feedback
Have each group present their raw footage to the class. Facilitate structured peer feedback using prompts:
Was the audio clear and free of background noise?
Did the lighting flatter the subject and create visual interest?
How effective was the composition (framing, headroom, background)?
Did the B-roll enhance the overall storytelling?
Students record feedback in their notebooks and respond with at least one idea for improvement.
- Wrap-Up and Optional Extension
Summarize the key takeaways from the lesson: smart composition, lighting, sound, and preparation lead to more effective interviews.
Optional Homework/Extension:
Edit the interview using a free mobile app like iMovie, CapCut, or Adobe Premiere Rush.
Add titles, transitions, and B-roll to enhance storytelling.
Reflect in writing: “What did I learn about storytelling through video?” or “How can I improve my interview technique?”
Assessment
Formative:
Observation of group collaboration and use of video techniques during filming.
Participation in peer feedback and group discussion.
Reflection writing or oral debriefs on technical and storytelling challenges.
Summative:
Submission of a complete interview video with:
Effective composition
Adequate lighting and sound
At least one B-roll sequence
Clear narrative focus or interview topic
Use a simple rubric for grading, assessing:
Technical execution (composition, sound, lighting)
Planning & collaboration
Creativity & effort
Reflective analysis
Teacher Notes & Tips
Encourage creative risk-taking: students may find inventive angles or effects that exceed basic expectations.
Use classroom critique as a way to model respectful and constructive feedback.
If devices are limited, assign homework filming or stagger filming blocks across class days.
Reinforce ethical considerations around consent: interview subjects should understand the purpose and agree to be filmed.
Teach file management: remind students to save their videos to a common drive or email them to the teacher.
Sources & Additional Resources
HIKI NŌ Tutorial Series on PBS Hawaiʻi. PBS Hawaiʻi YouTube Channel
Adobe Education Exchange: Video Storytelling Resources
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August 1, 2025 at 10:32AM