week 5

Interview /ˈɪntəvjuː/

1. noun. A meeting of people face to face, especially for consultation.

Synonyms: meeting, discussion, conference, examination, interrogation

I believe an interview is one of the most basic forms of storytelling. It is the interaction between two parties: the storyteller and the listener, thus there are almost no filters that will thin out the story when it travels from a person’s mouth to another’s ears. Interviews can come in many forms such as job interviews, where employers find someone with a story that proves their credibility for the job. Though, there are other types interviews that have the sole purpose of communicating someone’s individual story to the world. During this week’s reading and lecture on interviews, out of the blue, Tim Burton’s film Big Fish (2003) sprung to mind. Although fictitious, the film revolves around the truth of one’s identity through the stories they tell. Without spoiling too much of the plot, the narrative follows a father’s life story of adventure and monsters and witches that he tells to his son. However, as the son grows up, he begins to question his father’s tales and begins to demand the truth. Thus, throughout the film, there is a push and pull between what is reality and what is make believe fantasy that hides an uglier truth. Of course with many interviews and documentaries created, there is always a raised eyebrow with the reality behind anybody’s story. Hence, for any interviewer and documentary maker, it is our duty to be able to tell anyone’s story without rosy glasses, no matter how ugly the truth is. Often, an individual will feel hesitant to tell their story, in fear that others will react negatively to their ‘ugly side’. But, I find perfection and beauty in someone who is able to open up to their raw inner demons, because it only makes us human to accept those darker times in our lives.