Television producer, comedian, presenter and radio host Andrew Denton has been my career idol since I was allowed to watch Enough Rope Tuesday nights 9:30 on ABC. I had a ‘behind the scenes’ chat with him about the art of interviewing. It was a conversation rather than an interview, but I needed to mark it nonetheless. Here are some key takeaways:
- On knowing which questions to ask:
“To make someone interesting in an interview, you need to make them interested.” An interview is a narrative about who the person is or what they do. Get as full a sense of a life and career as possible, but then balance ‘What are some things that the audience want to know and that I want to know?’ with ‘What is going to engage him and make him lean forward?’ Rather than a chronological exploration of their life, what are the themes, key moments where they changed or their life changed, any insights or connections that you can put to the guest and say ‘I’ve seen this in you, what do you have to say?” Ask open questions, often the best ones are the shortest and most direct.
- On knowing when to push or challenge a guest:
We have a duty of care to our interviewees, not just what we should ask, but the wording, then we need to read body language. Using your judgement, experience and being present are important. You want the guest to know you are there to look after them.
- On knowing when to go off-script:
The best interviews are where it just becomes a conversation, the script is just there as a plan if things get bent out of shape, and if there is a particular point you want to raise. We always need some questions to which we don’t know the answer. Rule one of improvisation is don’t block – leave yourself open to a question you didn’t expect and a question you hadn’t planned.
- On balancing multiple elements whilst interviewing:
The script is always in the background of what seems like a multi-screen brain. There is the script, the interviewee, the audience, reflexive training of comedy and a clock all running simultaneously.
- On structure:
The beginning and end of an interview are the two strongest parts.
- On preparation:
The minute you go on cruise control is when you fall on your face. People at the top of their tree work harder than the person next to them, they won’t cut a corner. Often people don’t put a name to your effort, but they do recognise it. Where possible, watch recordings of people and listen to their voice. You can then decide if you want to shake them up, or make them more comfortable, and how to do that.
- On play:
“Play is a word you don’t hear much in adult company but playfulness is a hugely important quality in a conversation. Play can take you places serious questioning won’t.”
- On silence:
Silence is one of the most powerful questions you can ask and one of the most powerful answers you can get. It’s an invisible challenge, a mark of respect, and an invisible invitation, a tangible example of listening. Silence should be your friend. It says to the guest that the interviewer is comfortable and in control.
