The Biographer’s Tale

I had written many biographies before I began writing the life story of the famous documentary filmmaker who made movies about the lives of writers. At our first interview he asked me what it was like to live vicariously through other people, to not have my own voice. I told him I was going to ask him the exact same question. This irritated him and he refused to say a word. I asked him if he was through making talkies. This made him laugh, but no sound came out. I turned off the recorder. Can’t we be friends? I said.