Need Help to Take Interviews for a Book

[Gemma]

I'm working on a book and frankly I need some help. Maybe some of you can guide me with some ideas. The main idea of the book is to take interviews from special people, most of them artist like painters, but I also know some people that are experts in other domains like gemstones, writers, actress, and I have no idea how to do the interviews, like what kind of questions to put them. I don't want my interviews to sound the same for all the people I met, cause each person is unique. And next month a big actor will come to my city to perform in a play and I have no idea, he will be accompanied by another actress. The name of the actor is Florin Piersic, he's very known in my country, he's quite old (78 years old)... I don't even know if he will not laugh on my idea of writing a book about people. He has been playing in lots of movies, he knows so many actors. Can anyone please help me?

Yours, Gemma

[Stan]

You have asked a tough question. If I were going to do this, I would google interviews of famous people, especially those who work in the art form of the people you intend to interview.

[Larry]

One of the best interviewers of all time was Larry King, and he made the interview all about his guest and stayed away from standard questions about their work and asked personal questions.

An individual of the age you are talking about would be a treasure chest. How about questions such as:

Who is your favorite director. FU. Why?
What was your best day as an actor?
What was your most embarrassing moment on stage?
Who is you favor leading lady?
What type of characters do you like to portray?

etc. Always follow-up with questions that answer the question "Why" and listen closely to the answers you get. If anything sounds interesting, quirky, out of place, or just not what you expected, go there and ask questions.

Practice on a few friends or small time actors to get ready for the big day. It is actually fun and you will be amazed at what you find out.

[Gemma]

Thank you Suzanne. I'll search for magazines like Filmmaker.

[Gemma]

Thank you so much Lawrence. I never thought to do it the interview like that. Some of your examples really helps me.
Unfortunately I can't watch Larry King Show in my country, but you got me very well cause I really want my questions to be personally.

Another very interesting person that I would like to interview is old too, living close to my city, I've met him only a couple of times. He has a gemstone museum in his house and again I have no clues how to start the interview.
How do you think I could approach him?

Lawrence wrote: "One of the best interviewers of all time was Larry King, and he made the interview all about his guest and stayed away from standard questions about their work and asked personal questions.

An ind..."

[Larry]

Be interested in him, not his gemstones (although that is the backbone of your story).

What got you interested in gemstones?
When did you start? Have you ever thought about giving up and doing something else, if so what, if not why not?
Would you say you are obsessed with gemstones?
What does you wife have to say about that? Your bother? Your son? Your mother? etc.

Look for avenues to get them to talk about their relationships with other people and then ask questions about the relationship that reveals their character.

What does your wife say about your gemstones?
She is silent on the issue.
Silent or neutral?
Silent.
What does that tell you about her real position on your gemstones?
She probably wishes I would do something else.
Like what?
I don't know.
Have you ever asked her, or maybe you're afraid to ask her?

etc

[Gemma]

Well frankly speaking if you ever have a way to Romania and pass his house door the energy that the gemstones in his museum might give you could let you without words. Every time I've touched those big stones I felt so good and almost fall into a trance, trance of peace... I can't explain myself in more words.
Your examples give me a good start. Thank you so much.