I also hate open ended questions like that because I can never think of what to say.

I would treat those 'big' questions the same way I treat 'how are you?' People, in my experience, don't really want real answers, not when they are just getting to know you. They just want you to tell them something that is enough to start a conversation with.

It's perfectly reasonable to just answer by telling them about the last movie you saw or some kind of project/hobby you have. You can follow up with a question of your own, too.

If someone keeps prying even after that, I would think they were too nosy for my tastes.