Info for guests
How it worked
What being a guest involved, how to prepare, and what to expect.
Written in 2019 for the original tour. The project is paused now, so treat this as a description of how it worked. Details could change if it resumes.
What the project involved
Video documentary segment
20-minute limit (exceptions considered). Shot like an interview, with a few differences (below). Sometimes includes B-roll. Shot where you are, probably at home.
Audio podcast discussion
No time limit. Sometimes recorded on video, too. Recorded where you are, or remotely.
We work from an organized list of talking points that you provide, to make sure we cover everything you want to discuss.
The video segment
It’s shot like an interview: I sit across from you and listen. But rather than being interviewed, you introduce yourself, share your story, and talk about what you learned. You talk to me, not the camera. I’ll be there to prompt for clarification or to cover things from your list of talking points, but I won’t appear in your segment.
The segment has two parts:
- Part 1: Introduction and backstory (5–10 minutes). Who you are, your background, and the experiences and challenges that led to the lessons you’re going to share.
- Part 2: Lessons and advice (5–10 minutes). What you learned, and any advice or encouragement you want to pass on.
It’s good if you can present everything as one seamless segment, but this isn’t a formal presentation and it doesn’t need to be flawless. You get as many takes as you need. I work with you throughout to help convey the message you want, the way you want to convey it. Anything that doesn’t add value gets edited out. We don’t start until you’re ready and comfortable.
The audio discussion
In addition to the video segment, we have an audio conversation about you, your life experiences, and what you’ve learned. There’s no time limit and you’re welcome to go into as much detail as you like. I’ll ask questions, but we’ll also go wherever the conversation leads. One of my goals is an honest, thoughtful look at people’s successes, setbacks, failures and struggles, and the lessons that came from them. Expect it to run one to two hours.
If you can’t meet in person, I’d still like to have the audio discussion with you, recorded over the internet or by phone.
To do: make a list of talking points
Before your segment, make an organized bullet list of things you want to discuss:
- Details you don’t want to forget to mention
- Lessons you want to share
- Organizations, products, resources or causes you want to draw attention to
It’s easy to lose track of important details while recording. The list keeps us on target. And remember: 20 minutes on video, maximum. The audio discussion is where the extra detail goes.
If it helps you narrow things down, think about what you’d say to yourself back then, or to someone going through the same thing now. We often “know” things and ignore them. How would you talk to yourself to make the biggest impact?
Where we’d shoot
Unless we arrange something else, video segments are shot in your home. You don’t need to clean up; I don’t care about the state of your household. What matters:
- A comfortable place for you to sit, and a non-distracting background (it will be blurry in the video).
- Ideally, a major light source such as a window, balcony or open door. Otherwise we’ll use what’s there, like the lamp next to your couch.
- An audio-friendly space: no barking or noisy pets (cat hair is fine), limited appliance hum, and quiet family or roommates while we record.
If shooting at home isn’t workable, we can consider somewhere outdoors nearby, like a park, though weather and noise come into play.
Time commitment
Expect a minimum block of about three hours. That includes 30+ minutes for setup and teardown. Nearly every shoot took close to an hour for the video, and the audio discussion has averaged about an hour. If you have less time, we can still talk, but it will affect what we can do.
Sometimes the podcast comes first and the video second, or the reverse, depending on your comfort. For difficult stories, it’s often better to tell them on camera first, because the raw emotion comes through in a way audio alone doesn’t.
More segments are always possible. For example, I planned a roughly six-month follow-up with one family before any of our first content had been released.
A few common questions
“Do people cry? I feel like I might cry.”
Yes. All I ask is that you’re genuine. Otherwise, express yourself however you like.
“Can I use profanity?”
Again, express yourself however you wish. I just ask that you’re genuine and respectful.
“Can I use the real names of people I know?”
To respect other people’s privacy, and for potential legal reasons, I suggest not using real names, including family and friends, unless you’re absolutely certain they’re fine with it.
“I’m under 18. Can I be part of this?”
Yes, but you need permission from an adult guardian, and they need to be present when we work together.
Long-term goal: a feature-length documentary
Eventually, I’d like to cut together video and supplemental material from the project into a feature-length documentary about resilience, hope, the path less traveled, the lessons people have learned, and the themes that keep coming up.