If you hand an actor a well-written script, they’ll likely turn in a strong performance. But if you ask the same actor to sit down for an interview, you never know what’s going to happen.
If your career goes well, at some point, you’ll find yourself involved in a successful project. That means people will want to interview you. Sounds like fun, right? But after many actors do their first one, they experience what I call an interview hangover: a nagging feeling that they said the wrong thing or came across as a total dumbass.
How to Get an Acting Agent Let’s say you have a juicy role in a project that’s up for a few Film Independent Spirit Awards. The producers will expect you to be available to talk to press, and they’ll expect you to do a good job. So here’s the advice I share with my clients when they’re thrust into the media spotlight for the first time.
If a press outlet or journalist contacts you directly, thank them for their interest; then, ask them to set up the interview through the project’s publicist. That person will handle the details and establish ground rules. They’ll also help prepare you.
When it’s game time, it’s OK to be selfish. You’re there to promote the film, sure, but that doesn’t mean you can’t promote yourself, too. So consider what you want people to know about you. I once had a client mention that his dream was to work with a certain director. As luck would have it, that filmmaker saw the movie and the interview, and the two ended up meeting for lunch. How cool is that?
When you’re talking to a reporter, try to avoid the random noises and nonsense words we all use in normal conversation. Could anything sound worse than: “Well, I really, um, enjoyed working on this, you know, really cool movie”?
Sometimes, the person interviewing you will have an agenda. They could be trying to get you to reveal something that you don’t want to be on the record. For example, let’s say there’s a rumor going around that the lead of your film has been accused of inappropriate behavior on a previous set. It’s best to respond, “I don’t know anything about that.”
It’s also vital to be positive. No one needs to know that the movie was a total nightmare to work on, with long hours and low pay. Your job is to promote the film, so always focus on the bright side.
This last piece of advice is extremely important: Be ready to share an incredibly entertaining story with the interviewer. Don’t have one? You’re an actor. Make one up. The goal here is to make an impression so you don’t come across as another generic actor pitching their project.
Publicizing a film or TV show you’re involved in is an important part of this business; it can also be a lot of fun. And, hey, once you master the art of the interview, you can start working on your awards acceptance speech.
This story originally appeared in the Feb. 6 issue of Backstage Magazine.
