The Pivot Questionnaire

One of my favorite TV shows is Inside the Actor’s Studio, hosted by James Lipton. In each episode Lipton interviews a famous actor, and to finish their rendez-vous he uses the 10 questions of the Pivot Test of Personality. Such questionnaire was first used by the French journalist Bernard Pivot, in his own show of interviews. A couple of days ago I bumped into this super entertaining video which shows some of the most original responses that have been given to the questionnaire in Lipton’s show. Since I had a good laugh while watching it, I wanted to share it with you, so you can enjoy it too.  Then I answered it myself, just for the fun of it; you will find my answers down below.   : ) What is your favorite word? Dios. (God) What is your least favorite word? Mierda. Furúnculo. Both their meaning and their sound are disgusting.  (furúnculo is a Spanish word that refers to an irritated pimple) What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Passion. I love people that are passionate about things they do and like, and their beliefs. The wind or the sun touching my skin… a soft breeze touching my cheeck. Flowers. Eye contact. And faith, and colors. What turns you off? Selfishness. Meanness. What is your favorite curse word? In general it would be fuck. Cause its simple and spontaneous. Fuck. And I love how I have to bite my lower lip to pronounce it with passion. And I also wrinkle my nose. It’s like a whole natural gesture. Very expressive. Very honest. For me, the equivalent in Spanish is coño. I say it all the time. And then I have other special curse words that are from this region in Venezuela, called Zulia, which are the following: a la verga,  Coño de la verga! And  vergación I just find them hilarious and with a lot of personality. What sound or noise do you love? When the grass is a bit high and it slowly moves with the wind, from one side to another. It tranquilizes me. Also the sound of the ocean. What sound or noise do you hate? Los cacerolazos. I think I am traumatized by that noise. That’s the noise the people make with the kitchen casseroles and a wooden spoon o something of the sort to protest, usually in political manifestations. I grew up with that sound, it is almost deafening… when it starts it’s like an alert: “something’s wrong. Something happening. There might be danger.” I instantly think. It awakens the biggest fears inside of me. I don’t remember how many times I have woken up in the middle of the night in my house in Caracas because of that sound, and every time it meant something terrible was happening: political turmoil, the police attacking the students protesting in the streets, or that we had lost yet another national election… it’s the constant fear that I’m going to have to flee from my country, leave my home, leave everything behind in a second, in one of those critical moments. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Writer. Painter. Just plain artist. Maybe professor. I’m not sure. I think I may be good at it, and I do enjoy sharing the things that I know, that I am passionate about. I like the idea of transmitting inspiration, motivating, and giving information, because all those things are truly empowering. What profession would you not like to do? Something very technical like working in an oil platform or something of the sort… or being part of the militia. Or a politician. I just have my own convictions and principles and I respect them too much, I would never be able to put then aside to just follow orders. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?     “I’m so happy to see you” with his arms wide open and a peaceful smile. So I can go and hug him forever.