LIft, Louis Theroux, and Catfished analysis (Interview Techniques)

What I have learned
Throughout the three documentary films I have learned a range of interviewing types such as pushing the interviewee to try and get a response or answer from them by




Structure of the three films
Louis Theroux:
In Louis Theroux the structure is well put together and uses different shots to tell some of the story such as where he is and what he is doing there, where as the rest of the structure such as interviews introduces us to new characters and what they're thoughts and behaviour is through the use of location and questions Louis is asking about them.


The Lift:
In the documentary 'the lift' the structure is well put together in certain spots such as the women who had a dream about a dog drowning and the dog that nearly entered the lift, however in my own thoughts I don't think the lift was structure to what it could've been


Catfished: Is a documentary based on the idea of catfishing people on the internet (pretending to be someone you're not to lure people into a false sense of security). Catfish is a fly on the wall documentary as the film everything as it happens, it also gave them time to reflect on what was happening and coming up with answers on what they think they should do about this person they believe is a catfish.






Interviewing types


Louis Theroux is a subjective documentary because of the way he focuses on what he is trying to prove. The use of close ups to mids shot aslo focuses on the subjectsd action and movements through the documentary. Louis uses a range of suggestive questions that might questions one opinion or belief, for example questioning the founder Fred Phelps beliefs during his broadcast, which helps Louis manipulate his target subject into giving him what he's wanting for the camera without realising.


The documentary as a whole has a investigative interview style as he walks round tailing his subject and interviewing them about what they're doing and if they think it's right or not, this also make the interview more intriguing to the audience as it becomes more entertaining through the actions, opinions and responses from the other subjects around him. During interviewing America's most hated family Louis' communication skills become a whole lot better as he actively listens to what they are saying then questions the pieces that stick out to him and tries to wind them up to get a bigger scale reaction to see how far they will go for their cause.


The purpose of the interviews are to enhance the audiences understanding of the way they behave and what they believe and then to justify it in a negative or positive light (most commonly a negative light). The documentary is a emotional film because of the way the family's actions make you feel, such as picketing the funeral of dead soldiers.


The Lift is a documentary that uses a lot of open questions to suit the subjects mind-set and leaves open the use for questioning them further about it, however some of the questions he asks are directed to the specific person in the lift. For example the guy who had been out drinking. The documentary has a light-hearted style to it as it's main focus is the everyday life of the tenants in the apartment building, however the communication skills of the interviewer/filmmaker are not as good as Louis Theroux but builds his confidence to talk to the tenants in the building and questions the in a gentle manner that won't offend but will still get answers from the interviewees.


The documentary doesn't have an emotional feel in my opinion but aims to research how they feel about living in the building and using the lift in their everyday lives.


Catfish is a documentary that focuses on multiple and direct questioning to both the interviewee and the interviewer as Nev tries to track down the woman he believes is a catfish. It has a investigative and hard news styling that can be shown to the audience with the way they try to constantly film everything such as their own investigation planning, the investigation and the interviews with the woman who was cat fishing Nev and her family. The documentary has a wind-up and key questions structure as it follows Nev trying to get to the bottom of what is truly happening. The communication skills in the film are well put together as he keeps composed when interviewing the woman at in the late stages of his investigation. During his planning Nev uses phone interview techniques as he gathers information and obtains comments through text and call from the cat fish.


During the documentary he attempts to get answers and justify her reasons for why she cat fished him as she begins crying because she knows what she did was wrong. The interviews with the woman are really emotional as she begins crying as Nev tries to comfort her and make her see that what she did was wrong but also allows to see insight into the situation as it helps the audience realise that catfishing can effect people on both sides and those around them.