IamA VICE on HBO Correspondent Vikram Gandhi AMA!

What is the most dangerous situation you've found yourself in?

I'd say, most recently, in Honduras, San Pedro Sula, I was in secluded barrio meeting the leaders of MS13. Our security team was shitting themselves, but it didn't seem so crazy to me. Other than that, a Taliban camp in North West Frontier Province. That being both experiences didn't seem dangerous at the time.

How do you feel about comparisons between Kumaré and Borat, given their wildly different tones and goals?

i think there are such few films in this sort of hybrid genre that the comparison makes sense. I also really like Borat - he was a foreigner that put a mirror on America and SBC is terribly funny. I do think the goals were different - and I think we were trying to something new that we had never seen before.

Whats the story with the Ukrainian/Russian kidnapping of a VICE reporter?

Simon tells it best: https://news.vice.com/video/russian-roulette-the-invasion-of-ukraine-dispatch-thirty-one

Hi, Vikram. Thank you for doing this AMA. 4 years after Kumare, how do you feel about the project? Do you still keep in touch with some of the people you met while you were in character? Do you have any regrets?

I try to keep in touch with people, a lot of it is social media, or get on the phone whenever I can. This past season on HBO has made me a bit off the radar but I plan to continue being friends with everyone in the film that I can. Beyond that, no regrets really - i can't imagine what would have happened had anything been different.

Vice has exploded in popularity very quickly. Where do you see it heading in the future ? Also I know you may be asked this a lot but any advice for a young journalist ?

I think Vice is company that's been bold enough to see the future and not be afraid of it. it's only going to grow.

That's great to hear, I love Vice and hope to see it grow even more ! A cliche question but any advice for a young journalist like myself ? Any tips ?

Journalism is changing. People get news from all sorts of places - not just the nightly news. So if you have access to a world and want to share it with the world, you can do it with a phone. I'd say everyone has something that someone else somewhere wants to understand - so start small and learn how to tell a story that way.

Hello Mr. Gandhi, I think Vice is the best channel on YouTube, you and among other journalist/producers that works for Vice have the biggest set of balls for going to places normal people don't go to - thanks for the showing us the real deal. First question, what's your own opinion in the current situation in Ukraine and second, how of a badass is Simon Ostrovsky?

To quote my friend Alex Kliment, "this mad adventure of Putin's will be looked back upon as a turning point in his long, slow downfall." As far as Simon, it's hard to measure his level of badass but i can say he is terribly persistent.

Vikram, since it's an AMA I'll phrase in the form of a question, did you know that I wanted to thank you for Kumaré? Amazing film, went in with expectations, got concerned near indignant partway through, amazed & blown away by conclusion & messages, did u know? :D

Thank you.

I don't know until i read this. Thank you.

No deep question to ask, just wanted to say thanks for what you guys do.

"Journalism" kind of seems like a joke now, but you guys give me hope.

I agree. I had always been turned off by the news format - by its nature its fraudulent. 2-3 minute news packages that give a shape to a story, but leave no real information. Vice documentaries give me hope also.

Love the show, wondering if VICE plans to do more stories on the crappy things going on in America?

definitely, tonight is about the drought in Texas. And I have a segment about American's most dangerous city and the future of policing. There will be a lot more domestic stuff coming.

From your experiences in reporting-- what is the thing that scares you the most, or needs the most attention..

Basically what struck you the hardest?

What is the most terrifying is how little we see what really matters to us, and who misguided the news is. We know what celebrities are wearing but not who's dying to so we can wear our sneakers. So when I see that disparity, you find out how complicit we all are with the shit we would normally object to. But since its depressing, the news doesn't show it. To me that's exactly what i need to see. Our normal news is mostly gossip.

Salutations! Cheers in advance for doing this AMA. I discovered VICE a couple years ago and have been hooked on phonics on it ever since.

If there is one, which story/event do you think needs to be heard by the world the most?

Since the world is always changing, that answer is for me as well. I think we need to hear more about dictatorships that been cloaked in anonymity, and also learn how complicit we are with evil regimes. I also think that there is no end to the climate change stories, we have to make sure the world knows about this as fact - and not feel like there is a change it doesn't matter. i think its about stories that make us all more accountable for the world we've created.

What made you go into being a correspondent (let alone for VICE)?

I had been making documentaries and doing short form journalism, but Kumaré was the first time i was ever on camera, by my own volition. it worked out pretty well and I found myself comfortable doing press. I worked as a producer on two segments on Vice on HBO Season 1 during which time i met Shane and the rest of the team while filming in Kashmir. Around this time last year, he asked me if I wanted to host - it was an easy decision.

OH. One more thing. Can you tell us how Thomas Morton became Baby Balls, because I really have to know.

it's pretty straightforward:He's tiny and fearless.

I thought it was literal. :(

no, he actually has adult size testicles.

What was the most scared you've been on assignment?

I've only been scared when I thought we might not come back with the story.

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Getting to a location, finding the situation that no one has been to, and then going there. no matter what.

Not to echo the big gay baby, but how would someone get a job with VICE? What is the typical (if there is a typical) background of the writers/reporters? Thanks dude.

I think I got a gig here because i did something on my own that people at Vice liked - so i'd say do something you fucking love, that tells a story no one else is telling, without flinching, and the chances are VICE will be into it.

Do you still chill with acoustic theologians?

whenever possible. and as much as possible.

What is your drink of choice?

tequila

Just wanted to tell you how much I loved Kumaré — it was a beautiful and heartfelt film.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

I've always wanted to become a phot journalist. How does one get into the business for working for such a great news source?

buy a camera, be thrifty, keep shooting every day and find your voice.

You've been a nice addition to the show. At first I was like, wait where are my dudes: thomas & ryan...then I finished the episode and thought, yeah okay this guy's cool. Keep up the good work! Any chance Ryan Duffy will be coming out this season?

Thanks. yes, I think you may see more of Ryan.

GIVE ME A JOB

alternately

TELL SHANE TO GIVE ME A JOB

Will do.

Mr. Ghandi.. did you do any illicit things on your travels? any little boy stuff? what about the camera crew or prodcuers?

nope.

do you know where to get good weed in austin ?

not really.