I could post stuff from Letters of Note forever. But then I’d never learn the Greek stuff I have to learn by Thursday. Here’s a great letter from a studio executive telling Director Errol Morris that his promotional interviews are terrible.
Some good tips can be extrapolated here for doing any sort of promotional work. I bolded the bit in the transcript that I think is the key for coming across well in interviews, and being effective.
Transcript
MIRAMAX FILMSAugust 23, 1988
Errol Morris
c/o The Mondrian Hotel
8440 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CADear Errol:
Heard your NPR interview and you were boring. You couldn’t have dragged me to see THE THIN BLUE LINE if my life depended on it.
It’s time you start being a performer and understand the media.
Let’s rehearse:
Q: What is this movie about?
A: It’s a mystery that traces an injustice. It’s scarier than NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. It’s like a trip to the Twilight Zone. People have compared it to IN COLD BLOOD with humor.
Speak in short one sentence answers and don’t go on with all the legalese. Talk about the movie as a movie and the effect it will have on the audience from an emotional point of view.
If you continue to be boring, I will hire an actor in New York to pretend that he’s Errol Morris. If you have any casting suggestions, I’d appreciate that.
Keep it short and keep selling it because that’s what’s going to work for you, your career and the film.
Congratulations on all your good reviews. Let’s make sure the movie is as successful.
Best Regards,
(Signed)
Harvey Weinstein