Investigative Interview
Investigative interviews are where the interviewer is trying to find out as much as possible on a certain subject, in this example we see Piers Morgan interviewing the real Jordan Belfort. He is trying to find out as much as he can about how Jordan feels about the film ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ which is based on his life, and how much is true that is included in the film.
The introduction of this interview is Piers Morgan talking briefly about the film and briefly what happens, and then about Jordan Belfort and his life. He introduces Jordan Belford by saying “Jordan Belfort joins me now exclusively.” He then talks about how notorious Jordan is and how so many people have been ringing him from all over the world, because he doesn't give interviews. In terms of the style of the interview I think it’s definitely investigative as he is trying to find out what Jordan’s opinion is, and how he feels about the subject.
He then straight away asks Jordan a suggestive, direct and
open question “How do you feel about this extraordinary mayhem erupting around
you, your story and this movie.” He does this in order to receive Jordan’s
opinion on the subject, and how he feels this is quite an easy question and
definitely isn’t combative or argumentative. However, he then interrupts Jordan
and asks what message Jordan wants to get out. Again this is in order to receive
Jordan’s opinion and view of the topic.
Piers definitely uses active listening throughout this interview
as we can see at 2:20 Piers is leaning in while asking Jordan a question he
then leans back when Jordan is responding. We also see active listening at
5:30, when Jordan says ‘hundreds of hours’ Piers then repeats ‘hundreds of
hours’ which shows he is listening to what Jordan is saying.
The interview was structured by using a variety of
techniques, for example he uses developmental questions at the beginning of the
interview to make the guest feel more comfortable and at ease by asking very
easy and simple questions. At the beginning of the interview he asks his opinions;
however as the interview goes on he asks more hard hitting questions. For
example at 6:23 he asks how he felt about the reality of the film, which delves
more deeply into the emotions of Jordan Belfort.
The interview also includes some soundbites, for example at
3:45 they play a number of clips from the movie. They then also include a
soundbite at 4:09 of Leonardo DiCaprio talking about Jordan Belfort. This is so
the interview then leads to Piers asking Jordan how he feels about having the
hottest movie star in the world paying him such a compliment. This is obviously
pre-planned in order to lead the interview in the direction Piers wants.