Ideal Interviews

I’ve been thinking a lot about my ideal interview. Between crazed schedules and parasitic tabloids, getting serious time with actors and directors can be a challenge. And when they do sit down with you, they are, understandably, cautious.

I may be one of the few people on the planet who would rather not hear about an actor’s personal life. We’re paying them to create an illusion. Why ruin that? Who they’re dating tells me absolutely nothing about what they had to go through to create a character. In fact, it usually distracts me from an otherwise enthralling journey – both as a moviegoer and as a writer.

This strange appetite for personal information has made creating a rapport with an actor a significant part of my job. If either of us comes to the table bitchy or tired or unwilling, it’s game over. And film festivals tend to increase the odds of being in a less-than-friendly state.

It’s amazing, when I look back, that two of my all-time favorite interviews - Joseph Fiennes and Kevin Bacon - were at film festivals. Before you accuse me of selecting crazy-handsome guys as my favs, let me tell you I’ve interviewed my fair share of good-looking assholes.

These two win the prize because they exuded passion and personality. Neither was cautious. Both expressed clear and brave opinions. Fiennes was excited to talk about how the part had shaped him as well as how he shaped the part. Bacon brought humor and perspective to the insanity of the film business. His eyes sparkling with amusement when anyone seemed to take it all too seriously.

Both actors were willing to reveal what I think is far more interesting than tidbits about their personal lives: a genuine opinion on the state of humanity. Actors spend their careers embodying the human journey. They plunge into places most of us won’t even broach in our real lives. Imagine what our industry could offer the world if we focused on celebrating those talents.