In the documentary, Louis Theroux has a specific questioning style, showing throughout. He is calm and professional while also sounding casual and friendly towards the interviewee at the same time. At points, his interviewing sounds more like a conversation, which may make the interviewee feel more comfortable and feel more able to answer the questions with ease.
He uses some leading questions, making the interviewee answer in a specific way however most of his questions are closed, short and very easily answerable. In some questions, Louis Theroux will say things to his interviewee’s which he may know they will disagree with, however this makes them answer his question as his question sparks something inside the interviewee that makes them want to reply and possibly argue their point.
Louis Theroux creates rapport with his interviewee’s in one main way. He will talk about the interviewee’s personal life with them and engage in a conversation before starting to ask his questions which makes the interviewee’s feel more relaxed around Theroux. This could be about their partner, children, education etc.
Theroux is very calm and friendly when he interviews people, which makes the interviewee’s feel very much at ease. This is one of his key interview styles as it seems successful.
Theroux’s use of body language throughout the documentary stays the same as he asks questions and as the interviewee’s answer them. He seems very calm and tries not to react to their answers by standing still. He doesn’t seem to shocked or surprised at any of the interviewee’s answers, or if he is he tries not to show it, as his body language is not obvious.
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