The beauty of candid interviewing
Keeping it simple in a world that commercializes celebrity interviews.
I am a pop culture fanatic.
While first and foremost, I am a journalist and a consumer of news, my biggest guilty pleasure is indulging in celebrity’s lives through magazine interviews and reality television.
A few months ago, I found an excellent V Magazine IGTV interview with Hunter Schafer, who is a rising star on HBO’s critically acclaimed television show, Euphoria. Schafer was hardly in the limelight before she landed the role as Jules in the hit show, which escalated her to fame.
Many people were, and still are, intrigued by Schafer. She is a transgender woman who plays a teenager in the show, navigating her identity and love interests without overselling the concept of being a trans teen.
People raved over the first season, and are eagerly anticipating the next.
This IGTV segment was entertaining and inviting for several reasons.
As I mentioned, no one really knows much about her. This interview was a great medium for fans to get to know her better as a person and get excited about her character on Euphoria.
Oftentimes, I find interviews with major celebrities like the Kardashians to feel repetitive, even if they are well done on behalf of the interviewer. Giving Schafer the spotlight to talk candidly was a good decision by V Magazine, as people are eager to learn more about her life.
Schafer as the subject matter is also amazing content for V Magazine, as she is becoming a promising figure in the world of entertainment. Aside from her acting career, she is one of the most photographed transgender models and holds a prized contract with the fabled Elite Model Management in New York City.
One of my favorite parts of this interview was the simplicity of the audio, lighting and set. We get to see Schafer in her most relaxed state. The slightly muffled audio makes it feel less commercial than other interviews. Schafer positions herself sitting backward on a chair, wearing a sweatshirt and answering questions in a dimly lit room.
It feels like a conversation. A true authentic way of getting to know someone.
As I begin working on my own short documentary-style videos, I want to emulate the simplicity of this interview. I want my own content to feel like you’re having a live, heart-to-heart discussion with the subject on the other side of the camera.
In my opinion, sometimes you really don’t need flashy sets and ring lights for an interview to be considered good.
Some of the simplest moments are the most inviting, especially if the subject matter is relevant and resonates with the viewers.
