When a documentary filmmaker, working in the style that I do, suggests that there has been a shooting ratio of 40 hours to every one hour of finished film, that doesn't mean that the other 39 are bad.
Ken BurnsRead
The way I work, the interview never becomes larger than the person being interviewed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The interview process should focus on the subject rather than the interviewer’s agenda.
Ken Burns emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the individual being interviewed in a conversation, suggesting that the true essence of an interview lies in exploring and highlighting their personality, stories, and experiences. By doing so, the interview becomes a platform for the interviewee to shine rather than a stage for the interviewer’s dominance, fostering a more genuine and meaningful dialogue.
Themes
InterviewPersonDialogueStorytellingConversation
In practice
Example use cases
In a journalism class discussing ethical interview techniques.
More from Ken Burns
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It is the great arrogance of the present to forget the intelligence of the past
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Jazz is a very accurate, curiously accurate accompaniment to 20th century America.
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