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Check out this new content from Midnight Oil Productions.

One of the easiest ways for churches to start creating great video for worship is to begin with the "Person on the Street" interview. Made popular by Jay Leno on NBC's The Tonight Show, the "Person on the Street" is usually fun, entertaining, and educational—all at the same time. It's a great way to get a finger on the pulse of the culture at large. It's also a great way to start worship (or, in some cases, keep it moving). We've compiled a list of some of our best tips that will aid you in creating your own Person on the Street (or POTS) videos. These come from personal experience; we hope you find them helpful.

Find a good interviewer. The best interviewers are ones who have some charisma. Whoever asks the questions needs to feel comfortable both on camera and in approaching and striking up conversation with complete strangers. It's also an asset to use someone who can think quickly on his or her feet. The ability to make funny comments or to ask follow up questions is a crucial addition to the finished video. In fact, the stronger the "personality" in front of the camera, the more the editor will have the option to integrate the interviewer into the cut. We've also found that sticking with the same interviewer over multiple POTS videos is beneficial, because the interviewer develops a style and the congregation will begin to look forward to seeing the same person in that role.

Pick a good question. The easier and more universal the question, the better the answers will be. Always look for questions that will elicit an open-ended answer.

Stay away from issue-centered questions, such as "Is abortion wrong?" or "Should gay marriage be legal?" POTS videos work well when their purpose is to enlighten congregations on the state of the culture, and not to create divisions with hot-button issues.

Avoid questions that can be answered with a yes or no, such as "Is there absolute truth?" or "Do you ever pray?" When people are allowed simple one-word answers, the interviewer is put into a position of having to badger someone to elicit a more detailed response.

Avoid the use of "believer" language, such as "What are you called to in life?" and heavy questions that would alienate seekers, such as "Are people naturally sinful?" or "What is the meaning of life?" If you can't come up with a funny, interesting, or thought-provoking answer right away, chances are people on the street won't be able to either.

In our experience, good examples of POTS questions include: "What is heaven?", "What is grace?", "What does God look like?", and "What do you hope for?" Try to think of questions that might allow a person to answer without pressure, but will cause them to think on the question as they continue through their day.

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