Ken Burns talks about inspiration, storytelling and his upcoming projects.

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Ken Burns

I interviewed Ken Burns from his home in Walpole, New Hampshire, in June, 1997.

• With "Thomas Jefferson," are you moving away from events that have their roots in the Civil War?
• Who influences you today?
• Do you prefer to do biographies or broader topics and how do you approach them differently?
• How do you sustain your enthusiasm while working on long-term projects that can last five years?
• How does one become a good storyteller?
• What percentage of your time is spent on research?
• How many people work on the projects?
• How have emerging technologies affected storytelling?
• Why do you live in Walpole, New Hampshire?
• How does working with paintings differ from working with photographs?
• Have you considered doing an autobiography?
• Any advice for prospective film makers?
• Are you still trying to answer the question "Who are we?"