I recently received the book Errol Morris: Interviews as a gift which has proved to be an insightful read. Here is a collection of transcribed interviews from throughout his career conducted as he releases new films. As his own interviewing technique forms such an central part of his style it is fascinating to read his opinions and views of the people in his films. Morris is very much of the opinion that sometimes the best interviews are when people are left alone, let them speak even if it seems uncomfortable for a few seconds/minutes of silence.
This is an interesting concept, as someone who is inexperienced at interviewing, I am constantly trying to listen and think of intelligent questions and maintain my direction. Also I finds the whole "talking heads" set up in films can sometimes be rather boring. Morris' films however do offer something different from the norm, his characters are at times crazy with what seem to be mundane anecdotes but actually captivate the viewer. Films such as Gates of Heaven (1978) and Vernon, Florida (1981) show such seemingly ordinary people left to just talk and talk by Morris with funny, touching and indeed crazy results!
No comments:
Post a Comment