05 — Owner Interview — Merve
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Merve
Owner — 17 Mackenzie St, Homebush
This is a Netflix-style documentary interview — not a testimonial, not an ad. The goal is to make Merve forget she's on camera.
She walks in, sits down, glances between the two cameras and asks "you want me to look here — or this camera?" That moment is already rolling. That's the tone. Keep it.
Don't slate. Don't count down. Just talk to her like a person, let the cameras do their work. The best material will come in the pauses, the half-laughs, the moments she's remembering something real.
She walks in, sits down, glances between the two cameras and asks "you want me to look here — or this camera?" That moment is already rolling. That's the tone. Keep it.
Don't slate. Don't count down. Just talk to her like a person, let the cameras do their work. The best material will come in the pauses, the half-laughs, the moments she's remembering something real.
On the Day
Seat her in the best naturally lit room at 11:30. Two cameras if possible — one wide, one close. Lapel mic primary, boom secondary. B-roll camera rolling throughout on the space. Don't over-direct. If she goes somewhere off-script, follow it — that's where the doco lives.
Daniel — Ask As You Shoot
While moving through the house, Daniel should naturally ask Merve questions room by room — "what do you love about this space?", "where do you spend your mornings?" — so her answers can be matched directly to the shots in the edit. Keep it casual, like conversation. These on-location answers are often more alive than the sit-down interview.
Prepared Interview Questions
Q1 — Introduction
Can you tell us your name and address?
Simple opener — gets her on camera, establishes identity and property. Sets the tone before the more personal questions.
Q2 — 4.5 Years On
You've been living in this home for 4.5 years now — how has that experience been? Does it still feel the same as when you first moved in?
Central question. 4.5 years is real time — her answer reflects genuine long-term lived experience. Let it breathe.
Q3 — Favourite Place
After 4.5 years, is there a favourite spot in the home — somewhere you keep coming back to, day after day?
Grounds the interview in specific spaces. Her answer shapes the emotional centre of the edit and guides B-roll priorities.
Q4 — Standing the Test of Time
Design can look great on day one — but how has the home held up? Are there details or finishes that have only gotten better with time?
Key longevity question. Speaks to quality of DECEMA's work. Good for material close-ups — marble, timber, fixtures that age well.
Q5 — What Surprised You
After nearly five years, what has surprised you most about living here — something you didn't expect?
Almost always the most authentic answer. Don't rush past the pause — the best moments often come after a beat of thought.
Q6 — Working with DECEMA
Looking back now, what was it like working with DECEMA? Would you do it again?
Brand testimonial — asked after she's warmed up and relaxed. Far more powerful than asking it cold at the start.
Q7 — For Anyone Considering DECEMA
For someone thinking about working with DECEMA — what would you tell them, from someone who has lived in one of their homes for 4.5 years?
Strong brand close with real credibility behind it. Genuine long-term endorsement — far more persuasive than a new owner's take.
Q8 — Three Words
Three words to describe this home to someone who has never seen it?
Punchy close — great for social captions, title cards, and end-frame text.