Guggenheim waited until filming was nearly completed before approaching that terrain [Gore's personal life, which for all kinds of reasons was potentially off-limits. But including some of Gore's personal life] ... would be critical to the film.
Finally, in a Los Angeles hotel room, the director did something "that most filmmakers would think was crazy": He spoke with Gore without any cameras. Just a microphone. Alone. When they started to talk, the sun was pouring into the room. Three hours later, they were sitting in darkness.
I personally see the following factors as the items that contributed to an intimate interview:
- A dim area helps release inhibitions. Two people could be in a room talking about anything without necessarily seeing one another. It becomes almost like a dream. The concept is similar to looking above the audience when doing a performance or "imagining your audience to be naked" to release tension.
- No filming was done for the interview. Guggenheim must have kept the mic hidden somewhere, or if it were dark, the mic wouldn't have really mattered.
- The drama of time passing with the setting of the sun helps create the mood that "hey, we've been here long, and we're still at it" helped Gore open up.
Of course, I could be wrong about this. This is after all .. Al Gore himself!
You can read the full entry on the interview process with Al Gore here.
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