Interview Analysis

After watching footage from Super Size Me (Spurlock, 2004)


1) What techniques are used to introduce the audience to the interview subject(s)?
2) Is it necessary to hear a question being asked before the interviewee's response on film? Why/why not?
3) Shots - what camera positions and angles tend to be used? Why do you think these choices are made?
4) Movement - what do you notice about the movement of camera during interview filming?
5) What can you say about the positioning of the interview subject within the shot (ie. where are they looking and why?)
6) How long are the subjects' responses to questions? How much information/opinion do they give?
7) What research do you think Spurlock did BEFORE interviewing the subjects here? Be as detailed as possible.


1) Voice-over can be used to introduce a new subject, or audio in general. This can be accompanied by visual footage. Thye audio can be edited to fit with the entry of the new subject


2) No, it's not necessary if the question is absolutely implicit or if the subject answers with full syntax. Although sometimes, the question can be shown, in order to convey different effects (e.g.: when he asks the lawyer about his motivation for being in that trial, the Q is used as "agressive")


3) Level-angle shots are used, in order to give a balanced, non-distractive image to the audience


4) There is no movement involved, as the image is intented not to de disruptive for the viewer, for him/her to concentrate on the content of the interview


5) Subject usually focuses his view outside of the framing, as if watching a third, non-shown subject. This gives the audience the feeling of being in an interactive, conversational situation, in where the artificial camera is not acknowledged. 


6) These are short and concise: editing is carefully done to only show the important and relevant content of them


7) A huge amount of research was done, as he investigated on the backgrounds of the subjects, their important data, their past, and all which was concerning each of the interviewees.