In Mexico, I spent some time with Don Carlos before I interviewed him on camera. We made small talk, and joked about Taco Bell. He was a migrant worker in the US for a little bit and had the best sense of humor.
In Burundi, I spent some time with the group before our interview trying out every Kirundi phrase I knew. Somehow being a bit shameless was something they found endearing and we found a fun way to play.
In Ethiopia, our video subjects were a married couple who opened a bar. I bought a round for the “extras,” their actual customer, and took a shot of their homemade areke myself.
I’ve learned that if you want to tell a good story, you gotta tell a human story. The very best way to do that is to have a really human moment beforehand, whether that’s taking shots or talking (taco) shop.