ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 6 months ago - John Lubran

Letting the subject know what the interview is about beforehand is quite reasonable but a natural response is usually required, otherwise as Paddy suggests, one is likely to get a flat two dimensional statement. It's more likely to be successful if the director/interviewer has a good notion of how the interviews will proceed by doing enough homework to ask the questions that encourage the required responses. I prefer to take as much time as the subject is willing to give, to get much more than I can use. Usually better to have too much than not enough.

Interviewing is as much a natural art as it is a skill, empathy is more than just helpful though best not obsequiousness, without it an interview is often an uphill struggle.

10 years, 6 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

It's not an ambush interview, it's a supportive piece, so why not?

The thing you want to make clear though is that you don't want them trying to write a scripted answer which they'll invariably fail to remember articulately during the interview - so maybe don't give them the question per se, but tell them subject areas they might like to remember and find old photos of/whatever.

10 years, 6 months ago - Fiammetta Luino

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts - This confirm my intuition.

10 years, 7 months ago - Marlom Tander

I'd say yes. You've already stated that you want their best recollections. And in this case you might get there and find they've pulled some long unseen gem pics out of their archives as well.