Why I Didn't Ask To Speak To Kristen Stewart Yesterday
I actually think Ms Stewart is a sincere, honest person in a publicity universe of madness. (She’s also a young, shy woman and behaves accordingly.) But when the invitation to attend a junket for The Yellow Handkerchief came into the inbox, I thought to myself, “Why would I want to be in that weird position where all the pressure is there to talk about things other than the movie she is choosing to promote?” She’s game. But even after having done that to her a little on some level in a DP/30 for Adventureland, I decided that it was a bit disrespectful. She was making time to use her celebrity to promote a small film she cares about and she was sure to spend a significant percentage of her time being prodded about vampires and celebrity.
But it is the game we are in.
So, no surprise this morning when Cinematical ran, “William Hurt Discusses Hulk Futures” and HitFix rushed out, “Kristen Stewart thinks ‘Breaking Dawn’ would be a ‘trip’ in 3-D.” (She didn’t seem to mean it in a good way, btw.)
I don’t blame the authors of these pieces, both of whom I quite like. And I understand that pressure. When I shot Penelope Cruz for Broken Embraces, we ended up discussing Nine a bit. And when I found out that The Weinstein Company was playing reindeer games with the junket screenings the next day, I ran that clip on its own, beating the junketeers to the punch. it was petty. And indeed, it upset the publicists on the Almodovar film, who had expended time, effort, and money for me to be able to spent time in a hotel room with Ms. Cruz taking about that work.
So, I just decided to not ask for any time with Stewart… and even had I asked, I surely would not have gotten my DP/30 time frame. I hope to spend some time on Runaways, when that time comes. But that film speaks so closely to her personal experience – and that of Ms Fanning – that it feels like a more natural fit… an appropriate conversation.
I did, however, ask for William Hurt and that DP/30 will land soon. And indeed, we didn’t talk much about this movie… because that is where the talent took the conversation. The same was true when I sat with Hurt in an untaped conversation about A History of Violence a few years ago. His conversational focus is just wider than any movie. But I forgot to ask him about working with Matt LeBlanc, Heather Graham, or The Hulk. Oops.
I know that some of you believe that I write pieces like this as some assertion of moral superiority. I don’t. I know how lucky I am that I don’t serve that media master the same ways others must to put food on the table, though I have other unfortunate masters at times too. But I do think that people who consume a lot of media and are interested – as any person reading me must be…. it would bore anyone else to tears – need to remember to have the conversation about what we are all consuming and how and why. We may indulge ourselves… that is human nature. But we must try to be conscious that we are doing it… that it is a choice and it has meaning, however frivolous on the surface… that is being an adult.
Just say you didn’t talk to her purely to frustrate LexG. Even if untrue, it’s funny.
huh? i don’t get it. couldn’t you just email lex luthor to explain yourself if you feel the need? it’s not like anybody else gives a shit if you interview stewart or not
Someone at Wells’ site offered to introduce Lex to KStew – on the condition that Lex never post one of his misogynist diatribes ever again. I don’t think Lex ever even responded.
Harrumph. I actually WANT to see The Incredible Hulk 2 with Hurt as General Ross. I preferred the Norton Hulk to Iron Man. Different strokes for different folks i guess.
Samuel Goldwyn and Stewart both know how this game is played. The reason she was at this junket for a low-profile film is because she has a following, based on other films. Goldwyn is using that connection just as much as any journalists who (understandably) want to talk about those other films. And Goldwyn is a lot likelier to get free publicity with any “Yellow” stories if they also talk about a movie that has built-in-interest: the next “Twilight.”
More pointedly, Chris, I would guess that the only reason the film is getting it’s small theatrical release at this late date is to exploit her popularity in Twilight… hoping that DVD sales will come from the curious fan base.
Lex has passed on the opportunity to meet many of the women he rhetorically ogles in here. In real life, he is a nice, shy guy. Never would he scream about “vag” within a city block on Ms Stewart or anyone else.
Well, the movie does have one thing in common with Twilight: Kristen Stewart falls for a retarded guy.
“Someone at Wells’ site offered to introduce Lex to KStew – on the condition that Lex never post one of his misogynist diatribes ever again. I don’t think Lex ever even responded.”
He’s busy.
If Kristen Stewart wants to talk about ONLY Yellow Handkerchief, or Runaways, or her breakfast that morning, or her favorite laundry soap, or her Chuck Taylor collection, anyone tasked with interviewing her should sit there at RAPT attention and mesmerized and hanging on every word. She is EXQUISITE.
If I had a chance to interview K-STEW I would sit there in shocked awe like a devout Mexican family if Jesus walked into the living room and sat down on the sofa.
While I can’t in a million years relate to DP begging out of this godly opportunity, I’m even more appalled that entertainment reporters (and interviewers in general) can’t take a hint and see that she is VERY SENSITIVE, earnest, shy, and awkward in this situation… She fares best when someone treats her with RESPECT and is very delicate. It shouldn’t be that hard to figure out that when she is sitting there being EARNEST and delightfully nervous and uncomfortable about her craft and her seriousness and intensity, you don’t bother her with Twilight bullshit.
Storymark/Christian/etc: I DID respond to that dude on Wells’ site. You know, the dude who CLAIMED to be a day player in a K-Stew movie, even though several months before the situation suited it, he was some sort of veteran industry accountant. He’s also openly hostile to me, and in conjunction with his dubious career claims, I wasn’t going to bite. And if he IS an actor working with K-Stew for real, I’m enough of a Student of Stewart to recognize that the last thing she’d want is some extra bothering me to meet some Internet dork who claims to be her biggest fan. It would annoy K.S., endanger the guy’s gig, and make me look like a CREEP. I said as much in the thread (a Harrison Ford thread of all things) on HE, to which I will not link out of respect for David.
But I also added, and that speaks to Poland’s generous comment above (and this news will DELIGHT the MCN masses): In the last few months I devoted a lot of time to getting back into acting, via classes and a short film and doing scene studies and rehearsals with actresses. I’m also determined to lose 80 pounds via a diet of three apples a day, a gallon of water, and one small turkey sandwich. I am told this is a very healthy way to lose weight.
Point being, if I ever were to meet any of these GREAT ACTRESSES I “rhetorically ogle,” I think it would be cool not to meet them as some sloppy Internet weirdo, but as a FELLOW ARTIST.
That’s a great idea, LexG. And, as a plus, by that time, should you have the opportunity to offer one of them half of your turkey sandwich, it would be one hell of a well-made sandwich.
BUT WAIT — Hey Poland, I have a GOOD IDEA:
Let me handle that DP/30 as an LG/30 and do the Kristen Stewart/Dakota Fanning interview.
Imagine the awkward silences… the nervous publicists… the probable security right out of frame waiting to pounce… K-Stew crinkling her brow in confusion while Dakota folds her hands and sizes up the exits… me staring on like Richard Dreyfuss looking into the spaceship at the end of CE… not a single question asked after my initial, shivering, cracked-voice “Hi… nice to meet you.”
It would make THE CHRIS FARLEY SHOW look like Charlie Rose.
Since DP sort of makes reference to it above… even when I do have offers to meet famous people, even the women I talk about and think about ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, I am so in awe of showbiz and famous people, not to mention TERRIFIED of most women in general… I totally chicken out and beg out of it every time.
In 15 years in L.A., the two most famous people I’ve ever spoken to are David Poland and Chris Hardwick.
Oh, and that time I said hi to Jordana Brewster LIKE A DOUCHE out and about, and she bristled and ran away like I had just flashed her or something.
I’ll buy advertising on LG/30 to make it happen.
Woah, and really? Chris Hardwick?
“she bristled and ran away like I had just flashed her or something.”
Did you check your fly?
Compare and contrast type questions seem like they’d be fair game. I would wonder if there would be some kind of rules like you must ask 3 questions about ______ to participate. What I really hate is when stars and/or publicists get ‘tudes about most obvious things. Like Billy Bob Thornton saying no acting questions when he’s out promo’ing his band. Or was Zsa Zsa doing some guest appearances on shows right after she slapped a cop and then declared it off limits. Like anyone would have her caked on mug on TV otherwise. I mean i get like Jodie Foster saying no Hinckley questions or if Vanessa Williams nixed anything about her scandal because they have bodies of work and so much other stuff to go on.
K-Stew is young so it might be good practice for her to be able to learn how to stare the direction of interviews or get what she wants to say out. In a perfect world, journos would have some sort of restraint but, hell, the whole nature of post modern media thrives against that.
Of course you do want to set this up to be doing all the work of Summit’s mktg dept but linking a small little movie that could w/a $300M lbs behemoth really doesn’t hurt you in the end. I mean, so long as they remember your name.
re: Lex – Way to take control of your life. Just remember, you don’t have to wait until the finish line to start to love yourself.
Normally I don’t bother writing correcting posts but the 2nd to last line should, (if it’s not obvious) read *Don’t* want to be doing Summit’s work.
I saw For Your Consideration ads for this movie last Oscar season (as in 08/09 not 09/10).
http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2008/12/for-your-consideration-corner_15.html
For what it’s worth Kamikaze, I saw Dragon Hunters (which is mentioned in your link) late last year. It’s actually quite good. The visuals are innovative, the voice acting by Whitaker is solid and low-key, and the film actually gets pretty dark and mournful as it goes along (ie – the heroes genuinely believe they are going to die). Plus, the main creature is actually kinda scary when it finally shows up. No masterpiece, but I’d recommend it to anyone who likes slightly offbeat cartoons.
“I would wonder if there would be some kind of rules like you must ask 3 questions about ______ to participate.”
Most legitimate journalists would never agree to something like that. So, of course, a large percentage of junketeers would.
OH. MY. GOD.
WATCH THIS, PEOPLE, I COMMAND YOU:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2637890585/
Could she BE any more hypnotic and DAZZLING?
HOTTEST. WOMAN. EEEEEEEEEEEEVER.
“Lex has passed on the opportunity to meet many of the women he rhetorically ogles in here. In real life, he is a nice, shy guy. Never would he scream about “vag” within a city block on Ms Stewart or anyone else.”
I’ve been so hard on Lex for some of his BS in the comments here that it might surprise some to hear me say I completely agree with David on this. Lex, in real life, is a nice, normal, kinda shy guy. There’s the person, and then there’s the persona.
Glad to hear you’re focusing on positive things, Lex.