The Feeling on Set Carries Through the Work
I've been working on a documentary-leaning piece, and I just finished two interviews with women who had to tell incredibly vulnerable stories to camera. Afterward, both gave me almost the same feedback: they'd told these stories on camera before, and this was by far the most comfortable they'd ever felt.
That's the biggest compliment I could hear, and I don't take it lightly. It's one of my favorite parts of this job: I get to make people feel safe and heard and seen.
There's always vulnerability on the other side of the camera. Whether it's a paid actor, hired talent, or a real person telling a real story, it's an exposed place to be. So I pay close attention to how my subjects are feeling and what their body language is telling me while we work.
A few things I do every time. The first is showing them with my own body language that I'm a safe person: I'm calm, I'm present, I'm clearly listening. People mirror that back before they even realize they're doing it.
The second is that I'm an open person, so I share. A story that connects us. Something embarrassing or vulnerable about myself. A joke, if the moment can hold one. There are a hundred ways to do it, but they all say the same thing: I'm not just here to do a job, I'm here to share an experience with you.
The feeling on set carries through the work. You can see it in the footage. I love this job, and feedback like that makes me feel very grateful to be in this position.