Werner Herzog gives advice on documentary filmmaking: 'Try to look deep into the hearts of people'

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Werner Herzog speaking at the opening night of "The Other Worlds of Werner Herzog" at WUHO Gallery in Hollywood.

Joseph Bornilla

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Left to right: Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter, associate dean, Woodbury University School of Architecture, Werner Herzog and Roland Wahlroos-Ritter

Gerard Smulevich

"I do not come like a journalist with a catalog of questions," Herzog says. "You have to feel out the other person, give the other person space."

Thanks to the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles, Woodbury University's WUHO Gallery recently had an exhibition that looked at the work of director Werner Herzog through still photographs. Off-Ramp contributor Robert Garrova went to opening night of "The Other Worlds of Werner Herzog" and got some words of wisdom from Mr. Herzog.

Herzog on talking with documentary subjects:

"I do not come like a journalist with a catalog of questions... You have to come and you have to have some background knowledge, but don't start with a catalog of questions... You have to feel out the other person, give the other person space. Try to look deep inside the hearts of people. You have to know the heart of men but you do not learn it anywhere, neither in cinema nor in school, nor, probably, in life itself."

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