Interview Techniques

Questioning types:

There are 2 types of questions, open and closed question.

Closed questions are answered with a single word or a short phrase.
e.g. are you happy? where do you live? They can be answered with yes or no. Questions can still be closed questions even if more is said (contributors can talk too much).

They:

• Give you facts,
• Are easy to answer,
• Not complicated or need a deep answer,
• Keep control of the conversation with the questioner.

Usage:

• opening questions, break the ice, warm up, make it easy for the contributor to talk but doesn't give to much about themselves at the start.
• for testing their understanding (yes or no) example: so you want to move into our flat, with your own bedroom and bathroom?
• set up a desire positive or negative frame of mind in them (asking successive questions with obvious answers) e.g. are you happy with your current supplier? do they give you all that you need? would you like to find a better supplier?
• for seeking yes to the big question, try to get a definitive answer

You can turn any opinion into a closed question by adding tag questions, add 'isn't it' or 'don't you' or 'can't they' after the question to make it closed. use words like: do, would, are, will, if.

Open questions are likely to receive a long answer, allows the contributor to elaborate on their answer. Are designed to have longer answers, opposite of closed questions.

They ask the respondent to think and reflect
give opinions and feelings
they hand control of the conversation to the respondent

ACTIVE LISTENING, deviate from question sheet

Usage:

• follow on from closed questions to develop a conversation
• find out more about a person, wants needs, thoughts, feelings,
• get people to realise the extent of their problems or worth, make them think about themselves,

Class Task

In class we were tasked with creating a short documentary that would require an opinion from the 'man on the street' as well as showing the different question types. We chose the topic of university knowing that it was something we could get opinions on within college; we wrote out some questions that could be asked as Vox Pops to random people as per the brief we were given. Before starting to film we researched relevant facts we could give to our contributors as a 'carrot' which is a piece of information presenters give after the answer is given. Within our group we each took on a separate role:

Camera Operator: Matty

Producer/Director: Matthew

Editor: Rhys

Presenter: Chloe

Expert Witness: Myself

Sound Recordist: Ben

However, when filming started we changed the roles so that I was the presenter and Chloe became someone we interviewed more in depth because Chloe was struggling with coming up with what to say on camera. We managed to interview a range of random people from within the college. Once we decided we had enough footage, Rhys started editing the video and uploaded it to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N3RgsMKTi0

We didn't really parody a documentary like the brief asked, at the start we discussed and chose to parody Louis Theroux as his work is something we are all familiar with however it didn't happen when filming. Also we didn't choose a lite news report however I believe the video we created shows Vox Pops and a range of questions and answers to reflect the different interview techniques. If I was to do this task again I would make sure the parody was successful by selecting a news story and copying a documentary filmmaker more.