Hanging with a legend...

Sir Bobby.

(as shot on the set of UNSCRIPTED, August 2010)

Interviewed him a couple weeks back, for the second time.

First time, back in 2008, was a bit of a rough go. I'll take responsibility for that to some degree. I'll place the responsibility for the rest of it on all the dumb-ass interviews he must've done to that point in his life; interviews that led him to expect my time with him would be more of the same.

I got him to open us a bit back in 2008, but nowhere near as much as this last time.

Here's (I think) why...

I started the interview IN REVERSE.  See, usually, a celebrity guest allows themselves to be interviewed in a kind of 'exchange'.  They give you their time and *some* access into their lives and in exchange you give them a platform to rant about whatever cause it is that they're most passionate about.  Typically, the bigger the celebrity the more likely it is that the only reason they're doing interviews at all is because they're obligated (either contractually, or because their livelihood is on the line) to do it.

Which means, typically, that most celebrity interviews aren't that great.

A BIG part of it, is because (often) the interviewers suck.  Straight up.  Many interviewers on 'mainstream' pop-television are mostly 'pretty faces' who can chat but who lack any real intellectual or spiritual depth. This means that, much of the time, the interview questions are prepared in advance for them by a writer or producer or even piped right into their earpiece from the control room as the interview is happening.

Sure, there are *great* interviewers but you'd know them by name (and could count them on two hands) because their greatness has given them a deserved place on the pop-culture pedestal.

Sad truth is, there are hundreds of interviewers in the World conducting thousands of interviews per week.

And it's making Bobby (as an example) grumpy.

Imagine it from his perspective...

He's spent his life doing what he loves, he's had success, but he's just a human. People are interested in him but he doesn't really want to talk to people about 'him'.  He feels a responsibility to his audience though, feels like they've given him a lot but how much is enough?  How much of himself does he need to keep putting out there until he can call it a day and just live out his life?

Does a 'public person' have a responsibility to their 'public'?

What if it was you?  Would you want to sit under the hot lights and have some inane barbie doll ask you another inane version of the same question 'ken' asked you last week?  How long 'till you'd get sick of it?

So, my job, is to break through those expectations, set them at ease, help them realize that this (moment with me) is 'for real', that I respect them and their life's work and am possessed of a GENUINE interest in what drives them, motivates them, gives them hope, causes them fear and sees them through.

So, with Mr. Barker I started with his causes.  We started with the animals and the activism that's driven him all his life, and because we started there (with passion) I was able to turn the corner with him (and he graciously turned with me) into some of his life lessons and he didn't begrudge it, or resist it or get mad.

The result? A good interview.

Thanks Mr. Barker.

You lived up to your billing.  This kid who grew up watching you left an hour in-person with you liking you more than before.

And that's a rare gift.

T