A kind of hypnotism

Some interviewers, instead of thinking about what their guest is saying, spend the time thinking up a wisecrack or another question. So their interviews go nowhere. Most people being interviewed feel insecure, children most of all. Take a five-year-old and put him in front of lights and cameras and a big audience of strangers; what are the chances of getting him to say much? Almost nil. But I found that by looking him in the eye unwaveringly, never glancing around, never seeming amused or shocked, never demeaning his replies no matter how ridiculous, always staying on his level – by doing all this I virtually hypnotized him, narrowing his focus of attention to me exclusively so that he talked naturally.