Recording

My interviewee suggested doing the interview at the store so that she felt more comfortable and it could be easier for her to pick up different items to talk about. There were so many things I didn’t realise until I listened back my recording later. I didn’t notice the little background noise at the store, the ceiling fan and people’s footsteps. I have looked up online for some software to eliminate the background noise when editing. But this is one thing I learnt, if I have recorded it in a quieter background there would have so much more I can add on to construct different feelings and atmosphere.

I guess the most difficult part for me was keep it conversational and natural. I tried not to look at my interview questions too often but then I got lost when asking and I mumbled. I got nervous sometimes when my interviewee talked so much that I didn’t know how to give an instantaneous response and lead her back on track. I learnt a lot from this interview and I am sure I can do better next time, which is when I am going to present at RWAV 🙂

 

 

Individual Interview Challenge

I kept changing my individual interview topics until this week. I settled down on the topic on collecting things. The idea was to explore the relationship people have with things. At first, I wanted to start off with the problem of hoarding but I wasn’t able to look for any source or particular person I can focus on. Then I moved on to an easier approach – antique shops, vintage stores. I was walking down on Chapel Street the other day and I found a bazaar selling different kind of stuff, old and second-hand stuff, from toys, accessories to clothes and furniture. And I saw this cosy store at the corner, Fat Helen’s.

photo

The store owner of this store is very nice. I chatted with her for a while and she told me the story of her started collecting stuff and how she decided to open a store to share with other collectors. I guess it could be a nice place to develop my interview 🙂