Update on Interviews - Ryhen Ann Roqu

Last Tuesday we interviewed three people. One interview was with Eric (number 2). Off camera, Eric was very energetic and excited to be on camera. However, when the actual interview started, it was difficult to get the same energy back. Even though he was more serious and more focused, the answers that came out of him seemed very rehearsed. Eric (from the last interview session) was more open and willing to answer questions. It was more compelling to hear his story this time around. It did not sound like he was nervous. He was able to tell us how he found out Interfaith through a relative and how he was able to find a place to stay right before Christmas. He told us how the programs and services offered at Interfaith has truly been helpful to his life. The last interview was from Kevin. His story was really compelling. He got emotional during his interview but he told us that we should be thankful for what we have now and not take them for granted. He was able to voice out he feelings for Interfaith without us coaching him or telling him what to say. Although the interview ran longer than expected I am glad that we stayed. It was a really great interview.

It expanded my understanding of the challenges that the veterans face. The stories they had to tell open my eyes to see that anyone has the possibility to become homeless. They felt like their whole world was shattered. Some of them had to hide the fact that they were homeless from their loved ones, some felt embarrassed to be homeless and many other sad factors. It was heartwarming to hear that having a home in Interfaith has lifted up their spirits. Waking up with a roof over your head and getting breakfast in the morning is things that we often take for granted. Hearing their side of the story has shown me how the life I am living is not definite. There can be chance Even getting accepted to a job gave them a boost in their self-esteem.

These interviews will help our project fill in the spaces that we had b-roll the previous weeks. It would interesting how to weave in these interviews to the storyboard we had laid out in the beginning. These interviews will be able to provide the direction we needed for the video we are creating. It will help us create a video that is created for the veterans, spoken for the veterans and told by the veterans. The story they told us is really compelling. The interviews gave us the substance that we needed from the veteran's interviews. It is going to be difficult to get the best of the best sound bites for this video, but I know with this team we will create something very creative and will capture our audience well.