What’s the most interesting thing about you?
Think about it. It’s a hard question… Because there isn’t just one answer.
It kind of depends on who you are talking to, doesn’t it? You won’t give the same answer to a stranger as you would to your parents. You wouldn’t tell the same story to a job interviewer as you would to a romantic partner. The tale you tell your doctor isn’t the same one you tell an acquaintance you run into at the gas station. You tailor your answer to the person that asked.
And then there’s the actual thing YOU think is the most interesting thing about you.
Why should you share?
Because you are really freaking interesting.
(And you are really freaking interested in other people.*)
*This is a collaborative art project. See more in FAQs below.
What are we asking?
What would you tell a stranger is the most interesting thing about you?
What would you tell a friend the most interesting thing about you is?
What do you think the most interesting thing about you REALLY is?
That’s it.
“It’s like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.”
“If you want to be interesting, be interested.”
Where did this idea come from?
A Netflix documentary triggered a childhood memory. And when It did, I thought “WOW. I think that’s the most interesting thing about me.” And it’s not something I think I’ve ever mentioned to anyone.
Pre-pandemic I was a casting director, which is one of the best jobs in the world for meeting new people. You meet with 15-50 people a day and they all come in and offer up something interesting about themselves, just to live in your memory. (So if they don’t get the current job they’re auditioning for, you’ll remember them for next time.) People shared stories about new babies, exotic travels, high school high-jinx, excellent restaurants, near death experiences, basically anything and everything. (Actors will tell you all their interesting things - without prompting - because it’s a safe space. Kind of like a doctors office - you don’t share information outside the room.)
Who was I to them? Casting is kind of like HR for content. They were telling me stories as either a stranger, an acquaintance, a friend, or a former coworker. They were telling me what they thought would be the most interesting thing to me.
With the pandemic, it’s all still online now. Much harder to connect over zoom. While I really miss interacting in person, it’s the random stories I miss the most. Those stories always gave me IDEAS. Ideas on how to generate a better life for myself - was I missing out on anything? Should I also try the thing they were raving about? And most importantly, could I learn from their mistakes? (So I can make different ones?)
The world is a terrifying place these days, and more than ever we need human connection. And everyone has a unique story. Everyone is interesting.
FAQs
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Maybe…nothing? The only plan is to share the responses that come in on this site and on instagram (with permission.) We think this is a subject people will be fascinated by, because we are. No plans other than that. We aren’t collecting info for any kind of database and your responses can remain confidential. You only give us as much info as you want us to have.
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Anything. Literally anything. Figuratively anything. Just a huge cereal bowl full of anything.
Your life. Your family. Your families life. Your former family. Your hobbies. Your job. Something you did. Someone you met. An award you won. A club you belong to. A huge mistake. A huge success. A small success. Your first job. Your first car. Your first kiss. Your kids. Your grandmother. Your cooking. Your hair. Your fandom. Your collection. The highest number of jumping jacks you ever did. How many times you’ve streamed “The Office.” The thing you are best at. The thing you wish you were best at. How you got ghosted. How you saw a ghost. Trying out for the NBA. Whatever makes you YOU.
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Dude.
Get it together.
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You can do whatever you want.
Think of something new? Tried something new? Completely changed your life? Let us know!
Our answers change on a daily basis because there is a multitude of interesting things about every one of us.
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If the pandemic has taught us anything it’s that we’ll go insane without other people. (Or too much of just some people.) So if you were anything like us, at some point in the pandemic you ended up on a zoom with people you haven’t seen or spoke to in years - where you would sum up your life in a minute or so. What we choose to tell each other is what we think is interesting. Even if it’s just for that one moment in time.
For example, What did I tell my first love to sum up my life over the last 20 years? I confidently blurted out “I hand fed a rhinoceros.” Which has nothing to do with my daily life at all, but it’s the first thing that popped into my head. And damn, did it make me sound interesting.
What did I tell my high school friends who all have children (while I don’t)? Stuff about my career. What did I tell a new crush? That I once flew in a fighter jet and went weightless.
We are all interesting and have done interesting things, and it’s a shame we don’t communicate the same way to strangers. I think it might bring us closer together.
And we’re just really curious.
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All the people in our lives have amazing stories, but it takes a while to build relationships strong enough to get to hear them.
We want to expand our horizons and learn from other people’s joys, struggles, heartaches, adventures, and victories. Every person on this earth wants to be safe, happy, and content. And you are probably doing this whole life thing better than we are.
We want to learn from you - not for profit, but to make our own lives better and more fulfilled. You have probably accomplished something we want to do too. Or persevered through an unspeakable trauma. Or traveled somewhere amazing that changed your life. We want to hear your story, and we’re guessing so do a lot of other people.
Life is short, share your story.
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Our questionnaire takes three minutes, longer if you have a lot to say. Shorter if you type fast.
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Absolutely. You can give us as much or as little information as you want. We aren’t even collecting email addresses (though you can share yours if you want to keep in touch.)
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Lisa & Nicholas.
Lisa’s most interesting things:
To a stranger: I went skydiving. It was thrilling, terrifying, and empowering, but once was definitely enough.
To a friend: I am a great person to call during an emergency because I’ve been in a few: a shootout in Los Angeles, fallen halfway onto the subway tracks in NYC (twice), earthquakes/hurricanes (multiple), Amtrack train derailment (once), traveling on a sinking boat taking on water in Greece (twice), etc. Which makes me very lucky, or unlucky, depending on your level of optimism.
My own most interesting thing: When I was a kid my dad took me to a street fair so we could meet pop artist Keith Haring. He was nice. I was bored. I made him sign a postcard of his on the back because I told him I didn’t want to mess up the nice drawing. (His drawing.) I regret this as an adult.
Nicholas’ most interesting things:
To a stranger: I’ve written a published graphic novel, a children’s book, three independent films, and three musicals.
To a friend: Not lip service, I am blessed with an amazing assortment of talented, funny, kind friends. Just as I have literally given the shirt off of my back (multiple times), my friends would also step up in the same way.
My own most interesting thing: I was in a car struck by lightning. Despite my desire for that moment to yield super powers, it did not.
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What we do when we aren’t asking strangers personal questions: reasonablyepicproductions.com
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Lol, no. It takes forever to write a script and then years to find financing for a movie. We prefer to make things up. This is just for fun. If you want your life made into a movie, you should write that movie! And please invite us to the premiere!
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We’re not. It’s an art project for fun. (Shout out to Lisa’s sister for sending her a birthday gift of cash to buy fancy shoes. She bought this website instead.)
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Email us at mostinterestingthingaboutme@gmail.com. We’ll answer.
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No problem! But you’re thinking about how interesting your life has been now, aren’t you? And maybe you’ll start making plans.
The ultimate goal of this project is to have you start thinking about your life. What are your most interesting stories? Share them with the people you love and ask for theirs. Share them with strangers. Share them and ask for other peoples. Connection is the goal. Because if we don’t share them, when we’re gone, they’re gone.
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42.
At least that’s what Douglas Adams said. We bet the reason why is probably very interesting.
There’s a rumor he told his friend Stephen Fry, but he claims he'll take the secret to his grave.
Our favorite theory is that Douglas Adams was a programmer (of ASCII 42.) In programming, an asterisk is commonly used as a sort of “whatever you want it to be” symbol, also known as a wildcard.
