Journal #3 NPR Radio Interview Analysis

I listened to the Fresh Air interview with Josh Brolin, playing the president, on Oct. 13, 2008. Before the interview, the interviewer knew that Josh Brolin was starring as George Bush in the new movie “W” by Oliver Stone. He is an Oscar winner for the movie, “No Country for Old Men.” He has also been in the movie “American Gangster” and “In the Valley of Elah.” He has been acting for 20 years, but it wasn’t until last year when “American Gangster” came out and he started getting noticed. Brolin’s father was also an actor. He was asked to be George Bush because they both did something their father did and grew up on a ranch. The interviewer asked not so much basic information but personal information about the movie. He asked if the role seemed risky and asked him what he has noticed about Bush that he hadn’t noticed before. He also asked about the demands of playing this role and exactly what his opinion is about Bush. I noticed the interviewer would follow up the questions by repeating some of the answers to clarify and while sounding conversational and then he would ask another question. I think the interviewer’s strategy is that he was conversational. He laughed and would give compliments so that Brolin felt more comfortable answering the questions. I noticed Brolin would laugh when inadequate questions were asked. I learned that the best interviews or not just a list of questions, but more of a conversation in question form. You have to make the person you interview feel comfortable and the only way to do that is to talk normally. Don’t be so serious.