Rural Idaho Town

I think the angle of Holson's piece was to see how the town has been affected by the movie and how the towns people feel about it. I think she was looking for positive or negative responses rather than someone who was neutral or indifferent on the topic. She was seeing how the people of the town participated in the festival and wanted to know more about the events that took place like the look-a-like contest or tater tot eating contest. I must have missed where it says exactly how she conducted her research but i do know that she talked to people because she talks about the woman wearing the GREEN top and says that one interviewee was SMILING as he gave his response so I imagine she spoke to these people in person. She talked to a woman who owned a store so she is a resident she would know how the town has been affected. she also talked to Mr. Critchlow who actually had a role in the movie so he has been affected by becoming a "celebrity." 

The angle she took was that she wanted her essay to place the individual's experiences and/or perspective within a larger historical or social context.  I assume this because she talks to people about how they participate in this social event.