Awkward Bruce Willis Interview: Is It Time to Rethink the Press Junket?

Well, here we go again. Another celebrity, another press junket and more rude behavior. I talked about this topic before regarding the Jesse Eisenberg incident while he was promoting Now You See Me. The press junket is a way to get the media and the celebrities together in one place to help promote a film. However, it's a long day for the celebs who are subjected to questions from journalist after journalist over a weekend. The reporters get a timed four to fifteen minutes with the stars of the film. On any given junket, you will see big media outlets like E! News waiting in line with a local news station from Miami. 

However, is it an outdated format? Within a matter of hours, YouTube is littered with the interviews with the same hotel background and the same questions being asked by reporters from multiple outlets. As you can see, some stars are gracious and others can't fake their disdain like Bruce Willis promoting Red 2. 

I won't let the journalist off the hook either. The media has to walk in there confidently and be ready to steer the interview in another direction if it gets awkward...and this one was certainly awkward. Whether it was a lack of experience or just feeling intimidated by Willis, this interview certainly didn't go his way. 

What do you think needs to be done with press junkets?  Should publicists retool the format or get rid of it?  It doesn't seem to be working for some celebs and a few journalists lately.

Jesse Eisenberg: The Worst Press Junket Interview Ever?

By now, many of you have seen the above interview with Now You See Me star Jesse Eisenberg and Univision reporter Romina Puga. If you haven't seen it, watch the awkward interview before you read some of my thoughts.

I've talked a lot about press junkets in the past. It is seriously speed dating for reporters since we get a timed 4-10 minutes (about 15 minutes if you are a big outlet like E!) to ask every question about the movie while trying to navigate asking a personal question which is often forbidden.  On average, you are in the room with the celebrity for 4-5 minutes.

The stars are often tired and cranky if your interview time is in the afternoon. The junkets can often be two to three days of reporters marching in and out of your room. Some interviews can be fun, but I know they hear the same questions over and over again. It's tedious...however, they are paid very well to act in the film, so part of the job is to promote the film. It comes with the territory of being an actor.

Some celebrities are masters at make each interview seem fresh and interesting. My recent interview with Gwyneth Paltrow is one example. On the other hand,  I struggled through an interview with Reese Witherspoon even with her America's Sweetheart image. (Although that reputation took a hit recently.)

In some ways, I watch this video and think Eisenberg is being a big old jerk in answering some of these questions.  He possibly had a very long day of interviews, but he's an actor. He can fake it even if he doesn't like the questions.

On the other hand, I know I am watching a young, inexperienced reporter just by her questions. She went in with a gimmick and it didn't work. A more experienced journalist might have been able to save the interview and gone back to more basic junket questions just to get the footage they needed. I'm not sure if Puga reviews her questions with an editor or a producer beforehand, but it is always good to have another person review your junket questions before you go in the room. It's just a good reminder for entertainment journalists to always be prepared with a Plan B if your original set of questions is bombing. Remember, you need to make those 4-5 minutes count!

While I think this video is a great learning tool for all of us in the industry--entertainment reporters and actors, I don't think it did either Eisenberg nor Puga any favors. It makes him look obnoxious and it makes her look incompetent at her job.  I don't think I would have released the video, but Puga and her outlet did. She also wrote a blog about it as well....and it makes me sad to hear how awful she felt in that room. No one deserves that--ever.

Watch the video and give me your thoughts in the comments below!

My interview with Gwyneth Paltrow for Iron Man 3...Part 2

If you missed the first part of my interview with Gwyneth Paltrow for the Iron Man 3 press junket for iVillage, click here. She talked about how she explained the Boston bombing to her kids since we were in the midst of the aftermath.

In part 2 below, she talks about donning the Iron Man suit this time around, love in Hollywood, and how to deal with the goop haters. She's pretty honest and refreshing in this interview.  You can also read the article here.

Are you headed to Iron Man 3 this weekend? Let me know! It's kind of awesome. 

Iron Man 3: The Gwyneth Paltrow Interview

Gwyneth Paltrow has been in the news nonstop over the last six weeks for things like her $450,000 spring wardrobe suggestions, selling string bikinis for little girls on her site goop, and talking about her bushy bikini line. Yep, she's a pop culture headliner.

I had the opportunity to interview Paltrow during the Iron Man 3 press junket for iVillage. I actually found her completely the opposite of what those headlines assumed about her. She answered all of my questions openly and honestly as she sat with her shoes off and relaxed in her chair.

You can see the article my iVillage colleague Ali Gray wrote about this interview here.

Watch the interview and let me know what you think!  See Part 2 here.

Red Carpet Closet Archives: Reese Witherspoon Interview

Based on the news of Reese Witherspoon's arrest yesterday, I made a comment about the actress on Twitter that sparked a lot of you to search for our interview together.  This press junket took place in either late January or early February (It was released in mid-February.) for the release of her film This Means War. I interviewed her along with Chris Pine and Tom Hardy for iVillage.

This is the interview:

Oz The Great And Powerful: The Mila Kunis Interview

My feet on the yellow brick road...

If you are planning on seeing Oz The Great And Powerful this weekend, walk, don't run, to the theatre.  It's a fun and colorful journey back to the Emerald City.  While it's not in the same category as the Judy Garland classic, this prequel gives the viewer some great backstory on how the Wizard came to be.

I have already written a couple of posts about the film. You can take a look at some of the fun Oz merchandise and also see my interview with the entire cast talking about the magical power they would like to have and how they would use it.

Below is a more extensive interview with Mila Kunis who plays Theodora in the film. We talked about life, love in Hollywood, and the dreaded paparazzi.  You can also see the companion article my iVillage colleague, Ali Gray, wrote for the piece here.

If you see the movie this weekend, let me know what you think in the comments below!

Oz The Great And Powerful: The Interviews

The week is finally here!  I feel like my interviews with the cast of Oz The Great And Powerful were a million years ago yet, it was only the weekend before the Oscars.  This video has the whole cast explaining the one magical power they would like to have and how they would use it. I received some surprising answers. My iVillage colleague, Ali Gray, also wrote a companion article to this piece, so be sure to give her some love here.



If you missed my breakdown of the Oz The Great and Powerful gift bag, click here. They gave us a few really cool items that I am already using.

Are you going to see the movie this weekend?  Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Safe Haven: Interviews with Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel

If you are headed to see Safe Haven this week, make sure you watch my videos before you go.  This is the second time I've interviewed Julianne Hough and I have to say, she's darn cool.  Julianne is fun and refreshing to interview and I do think it is her best onscreen role to date.

As for Josh Duhamel, well...darn, he's even better looking in person!  He gave some really thoughtful answers to my questions. I also wore my new Fergie boots to see if Josh would notice I was wearing a pair from his wife's shoe line.  Alas, he was too busy being thoughtful about my questions.

I also attended the Safe Haven premiere a week later and I ran into former Dancing with the Stars pro, Derek Hough, who was there to support his sister.  We will miss him for Season 16, but he's off to bigger things in Hollywood. Let me know what you think of the interviews, I would love to hear from you!

Taylor Lautner Talks About His Abs

I doubt this boy needs much of an introduction.....but here's breaking news for you:  I get Taylor Lautner to talk about his hot abs. You're welcome.  Enjoy!




Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?  Let me know in the comments below!

These interviews were shot for iVillage.

Gerard Butler: Chasing Mavericks

I find that people get excited when I interview certain actors and Gerard Butler is one of those actors on the list.  I recently had the opportunity to interview him for Chasing Mavericks for SheKnows.  The film opens this Friday and it has some gorgeous surfing cinematography.  So head on over to SheKnows and see the interview/article here.  You won't be disappointed.  Gerard was very charming.

For those of you that read my Tuesday article about Internet commenters, watch my article in action in the comments for the video.  Welcome to the internet and why you have to develop a thick skin!  :)

Behind The Red Carpet: I Need Your Questions!

I've been writing a lot about what happens behind the scenes in Hollywood from sources to press junkets to reality that isn't reality.  I've decided to take this series to video form and answer your questions.  I'll be doing a short video each and every Wednesday to give you an up-close and exclusive look at Hollywood. I will take a look at urban myths and find out whether they are true or false, but I can't do it without you!

Send me your questions in the comments section below or on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, or if you are shy and want to keep your question private, contact me here.

If your question is used in my first episode, I will send you a fun gift from the prize closet.  So start sending me your questions.........NOW!  I can't wait to see what you have in store for me.

If you want today's inside scoop and entertainment news, I will be on Driving with Gass tonight at 7:35PM PT/10:35PM ET.  You can listen in at 106.7FM in Arizona or online at KWSS.org.

Chelsea Handler Is Pretty Darn Cool

Last Friday, I posted my interview with Reese Witherspoon from the recent press junket for This Means War for iVillage.  I received some interesting reactions to the piece about Reese's behavior on Facebook.  I have to be honest...what you see is what you get and it was a little disappointing to me since I have been a fan for a long time.  I'm going to chalk it up to a bad day at the office and I will go in with an open mind and good attitude the next time I interview her.  We all have off days, right?

That same day, I had the opportunity to interview all around kick ass, cool chick, Chelsea Handler.  This interview was exactly what I needed:  funny, spontaneous, a bit of dry wit, and an unexpected party crasher.  Watch the video and let me know what you think.