The secret sauce
The interview brings life into the story. It’s probably the most important ingredient for me in any story.
For example, I could write about a local organization and how it has had a positive effect on a community. Nice words, no life.
But here’s a quote from an interview of a new member of that organization: “I was asked to help grill steaks during an annual celebration. There was smoke everywhere, but it didn’t matter. I finally felt: This is where I belong.”
See what I mean? You don’t even have to see the video of him saying this. The quote itself can move you, and it started with an interview.
Interview early morning pasture in Denmark. Getting at eye level means I sometimes have to contort my body a bit. Photo by Lars Møller.
How I interview
Great interviews mean putting the subject at ease and guiding the source to tell not only the basic chain of events around a story, but also reflect on the outcome. This lifts the story to another level.
I come with a basic set of questions. This helps guide the subject around the story to tell – making sure we cover all the bases. I want to have more of a conversation during the interview than let the source try to speak from a prepared script. The key is to put them at ease, keep eye contact and follow up on answers.
Interviews are the secret sauce of storytelling.
Rooftop interview setup in Dubai.