Making Magic – UNCUT

A first quote needs to be powerful, emotional, and not easily paraphrase-able. A line which opens the story, entices the reader, but still does not lean too heavily into any cliches. A running joke with a journalism teacher of mine is any time we hear the words “passionate” or “young age” in a quote, you put a dollar in a jar. So, to avoid the falling into the pits of banality like every other writer, I need to put some serious thought into what questions will illicit a good, and maybe even great, quote. I’ve spoken with a press representative a few times from the La Brea Tar Pits and Natural History Museum to sort some things out. Things like shoot dates and film request approvals, but also possible interviewees. We’ve agreed to set me up with a paleontologist who will be able to give a good overview of the program as a whole, but also dive into the specifics of their work. La Brea also happens to be rebranding and heavily exploring where they fit in the city and its culture. The timing truly could not be better! I want to follow a line of questioning which will poke and prod at the individuals soft side and their own recollections of childhood stories at the site. Maybe ask things relating to their own family trips, whether from their childhood or as a parent now taking their own kids. Fingers crossed that my research will write the questions on their own!

Signing off,

Violet G.