How does the actual interview, the ‘chat’ come about

              How’s it start. Here’s typically how it all happens (to make it easier to describe and understand, we’ll pretend you want The Stories We Are to preserve the life and thoughts of a ‘Grandpa;’ feel free in your mind to think instead about the life and thoughts of a sibling, friend, parent, etc ):   

             Gathering photos. Once we start moving forward, we will coordinate with you to borrow photos (and documents if you have some) from you and from Grandpa. The photos (and documents) we get from Grandpa tell us a bit about what he thinks are important moments; the ones we get from you we will not tell Grandpa about; showing these to Grandpa during the chat will give wonderful and perhaps surprising moments.

              Learning some background. Some background about Grandpa and perhaps just a few events in his life will be discussed between you and John. This is done in advance of the actual interview. During the interview with Grandpa, John will have certain other questions or topics that may be brought up; the chat will be free-flowing and ‘organic’ in the sense of just letting it happen naturally …at least from Grandpa’s perspective

              Getting there, and one-on-one. John then travels to the location where he and Grandpa will chat. Usually this is a home, someplace where Grandpa feels comfortable and at ease. It is important that John and Grandpa be alone in the room when they are talking i.e. that no one else is around. Of course you can be in the home; we have just found that the mere presence of another person in the room or within hearing distance changes or ‘colors’ the candor and depth of the conversation.

              Setup and the chat begins. After all the video, audio and, if needed, lighting equipment is set up (thirty to forty-five minutes), John will simply start talking with Grandpa. It is a relaxed and easy-going chat, like two friendly strangers on a plane.

              The hours fly by. Grandpa will quickly forget the cameras are there. He will spend the next two, three, four hours just chatting with John about his life, his thoughts then and thoughts today, his reflections on moments.  If there are particular points in his life you want John and Grandpa to chat about, just let John know during the pre-interview coordination phase.