The gift of social interaction? Why not start a conversation with a stranger? How our Sound Recordist recorded the audio for VPRO documentary series Backlight

We live in an individualistic world where more and more young people feel lonely, and mental health is a growing concern. People should be more aware of the value of a spontaneous encounter, how often do you chat with your barista, the person at the supermarket checkout or someone at the bus stop? Does small talk frighten you?

In October this year, DoP Pablo Gargiulo brought us onboard the long running Dutch documentary VPRO Tegenlicht directed by Bas Voorwinde which examined the modern attitude towards strangers.

We helped film conversation expert Georgie Nightingall as she delivered her course, Transformational Conversations. We then followed one of her students, Finn, who put what he had learnt into practice on the streets of London, an environment not always known for its friendliness. To achieve the best outcome our sound recordist discreetly recorded Finn from a distance interacting with the general public.

You can watch the fascinating documentary below, which also features journalist and writer Joe Keohane. In his book ‘The Power of Strangers,’ he places contact with strangers in a historical perspective and compares social science studies that show even the smallest social interactions lead to a greater sense of well-being and belonging.

Sound Recordist Jonny Horne

"When was the last time you spoke with a stranger?" | VPRO Backlight