NPR Radio interview analysis

The NPR radio interview that I was listening to was Fresh Air, an interview with the director of Were the Wild Things Are.

The interviewer, Terry Gross, seemed to have known a lot about the book and movie, taking in consideration of details and how they went about filming with techniques and costumes. She was able to point out the contrasts between the movie and the book. She asked questions that asked for reasons behind how and why the main child actor was chosen. Questions were asked that would appeal to the movie’s uniqueness. The questions were short, but they drew out long answers. When the interviewee, Spike Jonze was having difficulty in finding exactly what to say, the Gross asked the same question but re-worded and more specific in order to draw out the kind of response that was fluid and understandable. This made it seem like Gross created a comfortable environment for Jonze. Gross lets Jonze say what he had to say with out interrupting unless he was having difficulty elaborating his answer or to stop him to be more specific in how something came about. It seems like her questions, as the interview progresses, dives deeper into the behind the scenes/ influence for the movie. What I learned about interviewing from this interview was to let the interviewee talk as much as possible, and only interrupt in order for them to explain their answers more in depth. Also to allow them to take their time to answer so that it creates a comfortable environment instead of a rushed one.