We'll be doing an interview-based activity using this Inside the Actor's Studio interview of Brad Pitt. Keep an eye/ear out for which questions (that Lipton asks) elicit the best/deepest responses.
After reviewing the draft of your interview questions, I think that, collective, you did an excellent job. If this assignment/project is still tripping anybody up, here are some foundation questions that can guide your interviews:
Brad Pitt on Inside the Actor's Studio with James Lipton
- What writing-based role(s) does this person play within the organization? To whom do they communicate with? (Who is their audience -- and, always, for which genres?) Why?
- What genres does this person typically create? (If they respond, "Well, I write emails," try to get them to dig deeper. Emails about what? To whom?
- What's "good writing" in their field/position and/or at this specific organization? Why?
- What does writing do in this organization? What does it accomplish? How does it accomplish that?
- What are some of the major buzzwords used amongst the participants in the organization? What words/phrases might an "outsider" not be familiar with? How are these explained to an external/outside audience?
- What does this person's writing process like? Do they ever share their in-progress (ie, not completely finished) work with others? If so, who, and why? What kind of feedback do they get?
- Do they have any writing-related pet peeves?
- Do they have any writing-/communication-related tips for someone who is considering entering the field?
- What kind of attitude/mindset does or thinking aptitude is required to succeed in this job?
Extra tips:
