Question for documentarists: How do you do that (paper edit) ...

Hi everybody,

I'm actually watching this (a bit lengthy... ) interesting docu about cinematographers.
No need to watch all, nor the endless opening, just this 2.5minutes:

from ~5:00 until 7:30

I did produce a few interviews my self in the last years (hobby, not for living!), and I know it is essential to have your homework done: never ask yes/no questions, imagine your final product so what answers do you need to accomplish it, what questions do you need to PROVOKE the 'right' answers for your film ... etc

but here - that makes me breathless:

felt ~ 200 diff. persons, answering the question (which one of the protagonists speaks out loud himself!) "How did you start?", and within 140secs, I get a flow of answers, telling stories! .. just listen how the answers carry on to Mexico.. where one of the guys come from ...

Awesome!

... my question is:
aside excellence in preparation BEFORE firing up the cam: how do you handle hours and hours of answers to do a 'paper cut', your editor allows to use it as a guideline??

Are those tons of materials are all transcribed before edit? omg ...

Do you use a 1000 sf 'war room' and 54 zillion stickies to plaster the walls with groups of answers etc etc??

as mentioned; my max was 4-5 persons, all got the same 8-10 Q, each interview 10-20min .. and my head threatened to explode .. :woohoo: This movie much more indicates a very free flow of thoughts and answers...

Any insights you like to share..?
You interview pros, people documentarists - are there any 'secret formula' you can recommend? (aside doing the job 30y and you got it ...)

For me, this looks like a mountain of work I would never dare to do the first step upon ...