Brad Pitt Archives - Media Guy Struggles https://mediaguystruggles.com/category/brad-pitt/ The Media Guy. Screenwriter. Photographer. Emmy Award-winning Dreamer. Magazine editor. Ad Exec. A new breed of Mad Men. Thu, 20 Jul 2023 05:40:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://mediaguystruggles.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MEDIA-GUY-1-100x100.png Brad Pitt Archives - Media Guy Struggles https://mediaguystruggles.com/category/brad-pitt/ 32 32 221660568 Backstage at the Oscars: 2020 https://mediaguystruggles.com/backstage-at-the-oscars-2020/ https://mediaguystruggles.com/backstage-at-the-oscars-2020/#respond Mon, 10 Feb 2020 07:58:00 +0000 Oscar weathers the storm. Okay, so where am I?  I’ve said it for nine straight year including eight in this space—there’s little more electrifying that when hit that plush Oscars burgundy carpet. Dreams are created here. Some are realized. Others are energized. It’s a throwback to old Hollywood. There’s nothing that can stop it. Not […]

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Oscar weathers the storm.

Okay, so where am I? 

I’ve said it for nine straight year including eight in this space—there’s little more electrifying that when hit that plush Oscars burgundy carpet. Dreams are created here. Some are realized. Others are energized. It’s a throwback to old Hollywood. There’s nothing that can stop it. Not even the rain, and there was a lot prior to the red carpet arrivals. Everyone is there, year after year, in their quest to win (or see who wins) the thirteen-and-a-half-inch tall, eight-and-a-half pound golden statuette.

According to Adweek and Nielsen’s fast national ratings, the 92nd Oscars drew 23.6 million total viewers and a 5.3 rating in the adults 18-49 demo. That’s a 20% decrease in total viewers and a 31% demo drop from last year’s ceremony, which had veeb watched by 29.6 million people and a 7.7 demo rating. Maybe they do need a host. Who knows.

I am happy to report that I’ve let my verbal contract with my agent expire. He’s been missing for over a year and wasn’t around for my KHL/Penguin book deal and my four movie scripts are gathering dust on his swank Avenue of the Stars corner office. I will make things happen on my own thank you. Onto more satisfying things…

So for the ninths straight year, here’s my first-hand view of the happenings backstage at the 92nd Academy Awards:

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH:
Renée Zellweger, Judy
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Q: I loved you in Judy. I have to say that it’s, I mean, absolutely amazing performance and amazing film. So, basically, you became an extension of Judy in the film. It’s almost like she transcended with you in the film.  And what I want to know is, how did you connect? What was it about Judy that connected you so closely by so in heart that you basically became her? I know you’ve done a lot of research, but was there anything else that you felt very close to with her that you were able to deliver such an incredible performance and become her, essentially?

credit: Nick Agro / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Renée Zellweger: That’s really kind.  Thank you very much. I appreciate that. You know, I can’t think about it. I can’t extract myself from the collaboration. The only things that I would do by myself are sing in the car on the 405 in traffic, you know, for a year. So that was a lot of practice for anybody who’s tried to drive down the 405.  But—and, you know, the reading and things, that was by myself. But what you’re talking  about, that connectivity, that was a consequence of everybody’s work on that set. Everybody was motivated by the same thing. We    just appreciate the importance of her legacy and who she was as a person and we all wanted to celebrate her. And everyday we came to work and we just tried things, we just kept trying things. And the director, Rupert Goold, called it “mining for treasure.” We were all digging around in sort of the materials of her legacy, her music, her books, interviews, her television show. You know, just everything that we could find that seemed essential in conjuring her essence to tell the story.  And that was everybody’s work, you know. And it was, you know, the partnership with every single department throughout. And it really was a celebration. We just came to work every day. You could feel the love, the love for Ms. Garland, and that was what we had hoped, so, and I thank you for your question.

Q: So have you called anyone? Who are you going to call first and how are you going to celebrate tonight?

RZ: Well, my phone is in somebody else’s bag right now. So I haven’t called anybody. But I know that my mom is with my dad and they’re hanging out with their friends and they were watching TV and I told her, “Please just keep your phone on the coffee table so you can” — so she’s waiting. So I’m going to — yeah.

Q: All right. They say that we learn a great deal in the hard times of life, but I think we learn a great deal also from success. From almost before this picture opened, people realized and began talking about how amazing your performance is, how amazing the movie is. So you’ve gone through this whole award after award, you know, expressions of success. How has that changed you? What has that done for you to know that you set out to do this and you did it?

RZ: Thank you.  That’s a really great question. It’s not something that I’ve actually thought about, you know. I wish I could answer you in a couple of days because I would sit with that for a second and I would really think on it, you know. Off the top of my head, if I could look back on this year of experiences, it’s really nice when something that really matters to you resonates with someone else. That’s — you know, it’s always a huge, wonderful kind of unexpected reaction to — I don’t know, for anyone who creates art. You write an article and somebody calls you and says, that touched me or — you know? So it’s a really nice thing and it makes me happy for everybody that, you know, that I worked with, because I watched how hard everyone worked. It always goes back to that. It always goes back to the collaboration and what you intended and what you hoped for it. And like you said, when it becomes meaningful to someone else, and it’s kind of a confirmation that, “Yeah, okay, that’s what we meant,” you know. And this definitely was not what was on my mind when we started this experience, you know. But in my mind, when I go back to those couple of years that we shared celebrating her and telling the story and building toward it, boy, that’s the blessing, isn’t it? Yeah.

Q: How is this award different from the first one you won in 2004, and how have you changed as a person, as an actress?

RZ: Oh, my goodness, how much time do you have? Well, at that time, I think I was so busy that I wasn’t actually in the moment. I think I had just flown home from something for Bridget Jones two or something. It’s different, different perspective. I’m a little more present now.  I think that the time away and the time in between has helped me to appreciate it in a different way. I just look at it in a different way, what it represents is a little bit different.  And, obviously, this isn’t ultimately — you know, this is about this wanting to tell that story and to celebrate Judy Garland and to shine a light on, perhaps, the nuances of the circumstances of her life, which people dismiss as tragic. And, you know, the opportunity to tell a story that challenges that narrative and says, “Oh, no, no, no, no, you can’t know how extraordinary a person is until you know what they struggle with and what they overcome.” And, to me, that, you know, that’s what this is.

RZ: Thank you, guys. Thanks so much. And good luck. My goodness, what a busy night for you all. I know you have deadlines, so good luck with those.

Onstage Speech:
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Note that Joaquin Phoenix did not come backstage for a Q&A with the media. No one held it against him; that’s how he rolls. Instead I put in his acceptance speech, in which I mentally screamed “you tell them, brother…!” when he talked about second chances. Respect Mr. Phoenix.

Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.

God, I’m full of so much gratitude right now. And I do not feel elevated above any of my fellow nominees or anyone in this room because we share the same love, the love of film, and this form of expression has given me the most extraordinary life. I don’t know what I’d be without it. But I think the greatest gift that it’s given me, and many of us in this room, is the opportunity to use our voice for the voiceless. I’ve been thinking a lot about some of the distressing issues that we are facing collectively. And I think at times we feel, or were made to feel, that we champion difference causes, but for me, I see commonality. I think, whether we’re talking about gender inequality, or racism, or queer rights, or indigenous rights, or animal rights, we’re talking about the fight against injustice. We’re talking about the fight against the belief that one nation, one people, one race, one gender, or one species has the right to dominate, control and use and exploit another with impunity. I think that we’ve become very disconnected from the natural world, and many of us, what we’re guilty of is an egocentric worldview, the belief that we’re the center of the universe. We go into the natural world and we plunder it for its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and when she gives birth, we steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. And then we take her milk that’s intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal. And I think we fear the idea of personal change because we think that we have to sacrifice something to give something up, but human beings at our best are so inventive and creative and ingenious. And I think that when we use love and compassion as our guiding principles, we can create, develop and implement systems of change that are beneficial to all sentient beings and to the environment. Now I have been, I have been a scoundrel in my life. I’ve been selfish, I’ve been cruel at times, hard to work with, and I’m grateful that so many of you in this room have given me a second chance. And I think that’s when we’re at our best, when we support each other, not when we cancel each other out for past mistakes, but when we help each other to grow, when we educate each other, when we guide each other toward redemption. That is the best of humanity. When he was 17, my brother wrote this lyric, he said: run to the rescue with love and peace will follow. Thank you.

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH:
Brad Pitt, Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Q: What’s your Tinder profile going to say now?

Brad Pitt: (Laughs) You’ll just have to look it up.

Q: Some unkind souls have suggested you had a writer throughout the speeches this award season. Say it ain’t so.

BP: What, no, actually, historically, I’ve always been really tentative about speeches, like, they make me nervous. So this—this round, I figured if we’re going to do this—like, put some, like, some real work into it and try to get comfortable, and this is the result of that. No, I definitely write them. I have some funny friends. I have some very, very funny friends that helped me with some laughs, but, no, it’s, you know, it’s got to come from the heart.

Nick Agro / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Q: It’s been a pleasure for all of us watching you go up awards show after awards show this season and it will certainly be something that we all remember looking back. When you look back on 2020 and this awards season, what do you want to remember?


BP: On 2020 awards season?

Q: Yes, this season, this year.


BP: What do I want to — hell, if I know, man. I can’t even catch up with—you know, what do I—again, it was—for me, it was just about getting cozy, you know, up in front of a mass of people. I know that sounds antithetical given the profession I’ve chosen, but it’s not necessarily my thing. So that’s probably what I’ll remember.

Q: Brad, as referenced earlier, you had a lot of humor in your previous speeches this season, but tonight you did have your — a political reference. What kind of prompted you to go that way?

BP: I was really disappointed with this week. And I think when gamesmanship trumps doing the right thing, it’s a sad day and I don’t think we should let it slide. And I’m very serious about that.

Q: You mentioned your kids in your acceptance speech and Quentin Tarantino said that your son Maddox delivered one of the best film reviews he’s ever heard. So what’s his review of Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood?

BP: I’m going to keep that…I just keep that to the…I keep that…that’s like…I just keep that indoors.

Q: How are you going to celebrate with your kids?

BP:Don’t know yet. We’ll see.

Q: In your speech you mentioned Robert Garcia. Could you talk about who Robert Garcia is and why did you decide to mention him in your speech?

BP: Robert Garcia is a dear, dear old friend of mine. He’s a Teamster and I rely on him heavily and he’s a lovely guy.

Q: You say this was dedicated to your kids. What would you say to them if they want to become actors? Would you let them do it and what would be the advice that you would give them — to them.

BP: We can have that conversation if—once they are 18. And then I — listen, I want them to follow their bliss. You know, follow their passions, whatever—whatever they are most interested in. And then it’s—then I think it’s about, you know, guiding as you can. But they get to try everything on and find what—where their passion lies. So, sure, why not?

Q: Are you having the time of your life? You know, you’ve walked up and won every single award. Is this the time of your life?

BP: Well, no. I hope not. I hope I got other shit going on. But it has been a really special—really special run. And, again, it’s a community I love and friends that I’ve made over, you know, 30 years and they mean a lot to me, truly. And I feel a responsibility to that more than anything, more than, like, a victory lap. And so I think, like, right now I’m just looking—I think it’s—I think it’s time to go disappear for a little while now and, you know, get back to making things.

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH:
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Q: Happy birthday.

Laura Dern: Thank you. Thank you. Will you help me for a moment? I just want to say I was in complete shock. And I forgot to say thank you to my guides in my life: Peter Levine, Jason Weinberg, Annett Wolf, Kevin Evein, and my life-long acting teacher Sandra Seacat, who I’ve been with since I was 18 years old. And now I can have a great night because it’s a little bit of heartbreak when you haven’t thanked all the people who bring you here, you know. So thank you.

Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Q: Congratulations in promoting your close friends down in Australia. I have to say, so your mom’s been nominated for an Oscar, your dad’s been nominated for Oscars, you’ve been nominated for Oscars before. You are such an incredible acting family. What does it mean to be finally holding that statute tonight?

LD: Well, I went backstage, and people were telling me my mother was very moved, and that just makes me so happy to stand up and sing their praises. They literally got me here and artistically got me here as well. So it means the world. Thank you.

Q: My question is in such a divisive time culturally and politically, you mentioned about the gift of being able to talk about love through a story. What did you realize through Marriage Story that, perhaps, we should think about this year as a nation and just internationally as well?


LD: I think if a couple through heartbreak and divisiveness can come together to raise a child, then this country better get our act together. I think there is much to learn from the  story so beautifully told by Noah. And on a global level, as I mentioned, you know, we have a planet to save. So I pray we can all come together to focus on something that is not at all about politics. It’s all about our home. Thank you.

Q: And I was wondering what advice you have for women who are looking to break into the film industry.

LD: Oh, said so beautifully by the filmmakers of How To Skateboard, you have to use your voice in this life. You have to stay true to yourself whoever you are. As my fourth grade teacher advised me, the best advice I got, “Keep your eyes on your own paper.” And in a social media heyday, to stay true to your own inner voice and not be too focused on the noise and to feel blessed when we get to do what we love in this life. Thank you.

Q:Addressing the elephant in the room, if you had a chance to nominate any female directors, who would you nominate?

LD: If I could give this Oscar to Greta Gerwig, I would do it right now, and Lulu. I mean, there are so many beautiful films. I met the director of Honey Boy yesterday at the Independent Spirit Awards. There are great films. I think that our lens should focus, perhaps, less on the lack of accolades and more on the less — the less opportunity that there is, and even more so the lack of second chances given to female voices. And as the business and the people with the money give more and more opportunity to extraordinary and diverse voices and representing who we want to see reflected in film, which is ourselves, we are going to be in a lot different shape. And I share this with Noah and Greta as well, who I spent my year with in art and friendship and now doing press for both films. So I would love to also see her continually awarded for all her beautiful work.

Q: I’m wondering on the note that you were just speaking about and considering Joaquin Phoenix’s speech that he just gave at the BAFTAs encouraging everyone to actually look at what is happening systemically at these awards shows and in Hollywood in general, I’m wondering if you have any further thoughts about how the Oscars, how Hollywood as a whole, can be more intentionally inclusive when it comes to bringing about not just women but people of color as well?

LD: When we say, use our voice, we are talking about us, each other, in whatever industry we are in. We have power to say something. And when we don’t see our culture reflected around us, we get to say something. And I think that’s the biggest shift we’ve seen in the last couple of years is voices matter, and a community of voices rallying around the truth really matter in journalism, in this industry, and in many others. So make sure that your crew and the storytelling reflects our global community. And if you’re an actor on a movie or you’re the filmmaker, you’re the producer, you get to say something. If you’re the DP, you get to say something about your camera crew. And that matters.

Q: In Marriage Story and in Big Little Lies, you play these characters who, you know, take no crap, won’t be silenced, and are very confident in who they are. And I’m just wondering who are the women in your life that inspired you in these roles? And if you had a message to little girls out there who want to be in the position that you are right now, what would it be?


LD: Well, I start with my mother, who she and my godmother, Shelley Winters, were massive influences on my life as an actor and activist, and be loud, be proud, stand by incredible sisters. You know, I have been blessed in this year to have extraordinary roles, and they said, “Wow, this year you’re playing powerful women versus, you know, complicated, indigent addicts or some other reference a journalist said.” And I said, “Because there are women in positions of power to play now. But five years ago, I probably wouldn’t have gotten to play a leading divorce lawyer or a CEO of a major tech company because they weren’t in those positions.” So there are many more exciting roles to play, and the future generations are going to be the ones that lift us up and show us because they know it’s their role, not because they are going to ask for permission. They’re just going to do what they love, and bless them for showing us the way. Thank you all. I’m so excited to be here. Thank you.

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH:
Bong Joon-Ho, Parasite
Best Picture, Directing, International Feature Film, Writing (Original Screenplay)
 The Full Oscars 2020 Backstage Interview

NOTES ON THE SCORECARD:

Past Media Guy Oscars Backstage Columns: 2019 – 2018 – 2017 – 2016 – 2015 – 2014 – 2013 – 2012

“If the Academy allows, I would like to get a Texas chainsaw, split the Oscar trophy into five and share it with all of you. Thank you, I will drink until next morning.” —Bong Joon Ho

credit: Nick Agro / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Spike Lee with the moving tribute to Kobe Bryant:

Oscar-worthy bomb of Margot Robbie from Timothée Chalamet.
2019 Oscar-winner Regina King celebrates with 2020 Oscar-winner Brad Pitt.

Scarlett Johansson proved to be the “wow” of the arrivals.
Adapted Screenplay winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) mugs backstage with Natalie Portman.
The fun of Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s critical insights into the role of the cinematographer continue off-screen.
The clean-up from the rain almost encroached into the celebrity arrivals.

THE envelopes…

Cats wasn’t a hit, but Rebel Wilson and James Corden as cats was…

Oscar in hand, Brad Pitt takes a moment.

In a surprise move, Eminem performed his Oscar-winning “Lose Yourself” seventeen years after he won. Here, he shares a moment with Salma Hayek Pinault.

Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves in their own world.

It’s all fun and games when Maya Rudolph and Kirsten Wiig are around.

Penelope Cruz and Bong Joon-Ho after one of his Oscar wins.

And the Media Guy on the Red Carpet prior to the show:

Note: Some photos courtesy of A.M.P.A.S.

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Oscars Week 2020: My Picks https://mediaguystruggles.com/oscars-week-2020-my-picks/ https://mediaguystruggles.com/oscars-week-2020-my-picks/#respond Sun, 09 Feb 2020 05:31:00 +0000 http://mediaguystruggles.com/2020/02/09/oscars-week-2020-my-picks/ 2019 Oscar winner Mahershala Ali during Saturday rehearsals. I wasn’t able to get the Las Vegas this year to double down on my incredible streak of picking Oscar winners. In sports gambling, they say if you pick sixty per cent winners, you’ll be rich. My success rate of picking winners? How about 57 out of […]

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2019 Oscar winner Mahershala Ali during Saturday rehearsals.

I wasn’t able to get the Las Vegas this year to double down on my incredible streak of picking Oscar winners. In sports gambling, they say if you pick sixty per cent winners, you’ll be rich. My success rate of picking winners? How about 57 out of 68 in the major categories over the last nine years since I started covering the Oscars. Yep, that’s money in the bank.

So now that I have established my Oscars dominance, let’s look at the Media Guy’s choices for this year’s big prizes on Sunday:

Best Picture
1917
Media Guy Thoughts: It’s hard to pick against the Sam Mendes-directed war movie. It’s nabbed the top accolades from Golden Globes as well as the Directors and Producers guilds. No other film can boast anything similar. It’s also peaking at the right time with more than $125 million at the domestic box office after a year in release and soared to number two just a weekend ago. Don’t underestimate Parasite, but most likely that film will take the International Film award.

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Renée Zellweger, Judy
Media Guy Thoughts: Zellweger is poised to become the 21st woman to win more than one acting Oscar (she won 16 years earlier for best supporting actress in Cold Mountain). There’s no denying that she was seemingly born to play the down-and-out Judy Garland in the last year of her life. She’s been the favorite all awards season in this spot. As sure of a bet as there is.

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Media Guy Thoughts: At all of the Oscars events where actual voters are present, I spoke 32 who said they voted for Phoenix because they like an actor’s transformation into a role. I think you will agree that there was no more brazen act of transformation than Phoenix’s tugging, passionately carnal performance as the Joker. He’s widely voted by many critics to be the best actor of his generation. Those same critics can back up their ranking with awarding Phoenix his first Oscar. It’s happening.

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood
Media Guy Thoughts: Toughest category on the board with a hall of fame cast vying for supporting actor prize: Tom Hanks in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Anthony Hopkins in The Two Popes, along with Al Pacino and Joe Pesci from The Irishman. None of these screen heroes quite delivered the complete, wide-ranging, performance as Pitt did. It’s his time and wins at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards let’s us know that many others agree.

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Media Guy Thoughts: Everyone loves Marriage Story. Everyone loves Laura Dern. She’s been nominated but fell short twice. Oscar voters love to reward a career resurgence which bodes well for a win for Dern here.

Directing
Sam Mendes, 1917
Media Guy Thoughts: In the last seven years, the top two categories (Directing and Best Picture) was split between two movies five times. So for Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) fans, it’s entirely possible that if 1917 takes best picture honors, he could still take home the directing prize. When this type of split happens, the winner for directing usually comes from the larger, technically audacious film, which is why Mendes takes this no matter what.

Original Screenplay
Bong Joon Ho, Han Jin Won, Parasite
Media Guy Thoughts: I was leaning towards two-time original screenplay Oscar-winner Quentin Tarantino, but Bong Joon Ho brings too much momentum and heat and to be denied. 

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Need a break? Here are some wild news stories… https://mediaguystruggles.com/need-a-break-here-are-some-wild-news-stories/ https://mediaguystruggles.com/need-a-break-here-are-some-wild-news-stories/#respond Sat, 25 May 2013 23:27:00 +0000 http://mediaguystruggles.com/2013/05/25/need-a-break-here-are-some-wild-news-stories/ Ok. Ok. I know. Fox Entertainment was supposed to run the full story. Perhaps I was a bit too full of myself. Regardless, here is the unabashed, unabridged version of wild news stories. First up, gorgeous Amanda Seyfried is letting the world know she was much hotter during her younger years. The actress told Ellen […]

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Ok. Ok. I know. Fox Entertainment was supposed to run the full story. Perhaps I was a bit too full of myself. Regardless, here is the unabashed, unabridged version of wild news stories.

First up, gorgeous Amanda Seyfried is letting the world know she was much hotter during her younger years. The actress told Ellen DeGeneres that she used to have “huge breasts” but that changed when she lost 10 pounds after moving to Los Angeles. We can give her some pointers on how to put the weight back on.

Amanda Seyfried with Jessica Chastain at the 2013 Oscars.



A new twist on the old line “I was really drunk last night…Brad Pitt on Jennifer Aniston marriage


Next, have you heard of cat bearding? It’s a viral trend where people take their cats and, well, wear them as beards. Need a visual? Check it out to see some insane examples


Indianapolis Prostitution Ring busted. $200,000 found in the Sheraton safe! 


(c) REUTERS

In Indy, they make $700 an hour. In Cannes, prostitutes can make $40,000 … a night


It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a … UFO? California UFOs? We want to believe!


Still the “IT” girl…Marilyn Monroe photos stolen


Finally, if you don’t feel like working out, we have all the reasons why you should avoid hitting the gym. Click the video to find out more.  

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The Media Guy Grabs His Sack https://mediaguystruggles.com/the-media-guy-grabs-his-sack/ https://mediaguystruggles.com/the-media-guy-grabs-his-sack/#respond Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:02:00 +0000 http://mediaguystruggles.com/2013/02/01/the-media-guy-grabs-his-sack/ The Media Guy grabs his sack of mail…Well, I resisted and resisted; but no longer. The mailbox is full and alas, people need answers. So, without fanfare, here are genuine emails from my irreverent readers. Q: My wife and I spent the last three weeks trying to figure out which airline you flew that would […]

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The Media Guy grabs his sack of mail…Well, I resisted and resisted; but no longer. The mailbox is full and
alas, people need answers. So, without fanfare, here are genuine emails from my
irreverent readers.

Q: My wife and I spent the last three weeks trying to figure out which
airline you flew that would only have one passenger in business class and not
upgrade the rest of economy so the meals wouldn’t go to waste. I observed that Daniella,
dressed in that green scarf, looked like a career runway model that could still
bring the heat. After much discussion, we created a game: Most Probable
Professions for Flight Girl Daniella if She Hadn’t Become a Flight Attendant.
After discussing some possibilities (most likely: Heather Locklear’s
advertising executive nemesis in the third reboot of Melrose Place), we decided
on “First Grade Teacher.” Our minds went wild at the thought of FG
Daniella bitching and moaning about not getting paid for parent conferences
before 8:00 A.M. because she doesn’t get paid before the first bell and her
classroom doors are still open, then berating the class about the time it takes
her to pour milk at snack time. But dear God, FG Daniella gets the ultimate
pass because as my wife, the librarian, said “I bet she’s up for kissing me.”
—Jay M., Las Vegas, NV
Adam Ant’s Librarian
MG: Do you have any idea how many sleepless nights that Jay M. from Sin
City caused me? Too many, that’s how many. Why? Because I just spent the last three
days imagining the Adam Ant librarian aka Jay’s wife and Daniella locking lips
in business class. Then, I imagined her and Heather Locklear in a
typical Melrose catfight. However you slice it, I’m bringing this to my agent
next week for script development.
Q: I really can’t explain why J.C. Penney decided to go with Ron Johnson
as their CEO, robbing America of the almighty orgasmic pleasures of the Super
Sunday Sales. It’s almost as if he were a plant from Penney’s competitors
designed to bring down the retail giant. Half the fun of shopping there was
rolling out with 22 coupons and mixing and matching them just to “save” $31
dollars. How did he go this long without being on Retail Magazine’s most hated
list? They need to bring back the coupons and the sales. This must be on your
to-do list in your first month as the Ambassador of Sanity for J.C. Penney’s
corporate headquarters.
—Salma Q., Torrance, CA
MG: Although Penney’s hasn’t bothered to pick up the phone yet, I think
you hit on something because Corporate Ambassador of Sanity sounds like a
fantastic consulting road show. I could cruise from city to city, company to
company listening to their brilliant marketing and media ideas for 2013 and
2014. Have you seen some of the bright ideas that flew past us during the last
twelve months? The London Olympic Games logo? Quiznos’ disfigured, singing
rodents campaign? Sony’s synergy campaign? Sprint featuring CEO Dan Hesse in
their TV ads? All of these companies need an Ambassador of Sanity. Yeah, I’m
getting excited already.
Q: I’m wondering how Chris Brown keeps getting chance after chance with
a suddenly forgiving media who is dying to give him a pass for beating on
Rihanna and women in general with his insane actions. Is it because she’s a
party animal that can’t seem to get out of her own way socially or is there
really something redeeming?
—Samantha J., Kansas City, MO
MG: First and foremost, everyone simply loves a train wreck. Chris
Brown certainly qualifies for that. He also certainly meets rule #2 in the
Media Guy Mandates for a Great Story: HARM. Harm includes violence, damage,
dying, scandals and blood/guts. Perhaps the real reason rests in the Fear
Factor rule whereby the media is afraid a Chris-Brown-type will show up at
their front door to pick up one of their daughters for a nice evening on the
town. This is where you already want to know what a maniac-in-sheep’s-clothing
looks like while he’s promising to get her home well before curfew. Experience
means everything!
Q: There’s no more underestimated story line in 2013 than
hypersensitivity. Coca-Cola is racist. Ikea is has (trans)gender issues. Just a
little while back we were patting ourselves on the back about racial and gender
equality and everyone getting along. Everyone thought political incorrectness
was washed up, but all of the sudden it made a comeback and the media has been
all over it. Are we desperate for stories or should we be worried?
—Jordan Smith, Kansas City
MG: Holy mackerel, I didn’t realize how many groups were in an uproar
about the media game already in 2013. The IKEA ad features a Thai man and his
girlfriend shopping. But when she sees pillows sale and get excited, her
decidedly female voice goes soprano on us sending her shocked boyfriend off
running. The ad has riled a Thai transgender group, who calls the ad
“negative and stereotypical” and sprinkled in “a gross violation
of human rights” for good measure. A Thai transgender group seems pretty
niche in the grand scheme of things but then again, I missed sensitivity
training for this particular segment of the population which mosts likely
totals 0.0000001% of the world’s population.
The new Coca-Cola Super Bowl ad has angered Arab-Americans because it
features an Arab leading a camel caravan through the desert.

Warren David, president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee, says “Why is it that Arabs are always shown as either oil-rich
sheiks, terrorists or belly dancers?” Coke says the ad characters are a
“nod to movies of the past.” 
My take? 
I’ve worked with David in the past and
he is right, because the shepherds leading the caravans look something like this:
True story: I took these pictures in Oman a few years back. The shepherd
in the truck was angrier than those lecturing Coca-Cola about their perceived racism. Why? Because I drove in
between his line of camels and messed up their forward progression. Later, we
burned some Frankincense at the Salalah Hilton and all was better. Perhaps Coke should call me to be the shepherd actor next time.
So what’s the lesson to be learned? Better focus test your commercial
to the groups you are showcasing in your ads because you want their stamp of
approval before the fit hits the shan. Then again, perhaps all of the extra
publicity Coke and IKEA are getting from these spots is worth the hassle to
offend underserved ethnic and gender groups. All I know if that this meets rule
#3 in the Media Guy Mandates for a Great Story: CONTROVERSY. Where there’s
controversy, there’s a reporter looking to file a last minute news story. When
you can dream up a controversy, you can virtually guarantee some juicy buzz in
the media.
Twinkies: Yippie-keye-ay!

Q: Not since Reginald VelJohnson rattled off Twinkies’ to John McClane in
Die Hard [sugar-enriched flour, partially hydrogenated vegetable
oil…polysorbate 60… and yellow dye number five] have I longed for a late
night tastes of the golden crème-filled cakes. Will they ever grace the shelves
at Winn-Dixie again?

—Emily-Mae L., Auburn, AL
Q:  Sometimes I wake up in a cold
sweat with Ghostbusters’ Dr. Egon Spengler  explaining the enormity of the threat facing
New York: “Let’s say this Twinkie represents the normal amount of
psycho-kinetic energy in the New York area; according to this morning’s sample,
it would be a Twinkie 35 feet long weighing approximately 600 pounds”…
What would this analogy be without the mighty Twinkie? Sign my petition to
bring them back.
—Robert H., Anaheim, CA

How about that 600 pounder?

Q: I feel like Woody Harrelson in Zombieland, searching for the last
Twinkie on Earth. I guess they did have an expiration date. Help!

—Brenda J., Istanbul, Turkey
MG: Never fear, Hostess has let the robber barons into their bakery nest.
Hostess has picked a joint offer from two investment firms — Metropoulos &
Co. and Apollo Global Management LLC — as the lead bid to bring back the
Twinkies and its other snack cakes in a $410 million bid. According to MSN
Money, Twinkies pulled in about $76.2 million, Hostess Donuts brought in $384.6
million and CupCakes brought in $138.1 million during Hostess’s final year.
That’s a lot of calories. Speaking of which…
Q: Nice feature on Ray Lewis right before my Ravens made Tom Brady look
like a deer in the headlights a couple of Sundays ago. Are you taking the Ravens
in the Super Bowl?
—Joe J., Las Vegas
Q: I suppose you’ll be in Florida this Sunday covering the Super Bowl,
right braggard?
—Phillip O., Cleveland, OH
Q: No blogs on the 2013 Oscars, eh? Did they ban you for your
debauchery at the after parties?
—Sandra, K.., Toronto
MG: I am betting on Ray, but not the Ravens on Sunday. There’s a Las
Vegas proposition bet where you pick who has more: Ray Lewis tackles or Kobe
Bryant assists on Super Bowl Sunday. I’m going with Lewis tackles, but the
49ers prevailing 34-19. As far as going to the Super Bowl, I am a no show. I
didn’t even apply for credentials. I’ll be at home analyzing the new ads. I am
unsure whether to tweet about them (Media Guy Twitter handle = @marketingvip)
in real time though. One thing I hope to never miss is the Oscars. I’ll be
there on the red carpet for the second year in a row and blog about it then.
Hopefully, I’ll be stealth enough to bypass security and have a talk with
Angelina Jolie about this screenplay I wrote that is perfect for her (hint,
hint Ms. Jolie).
Q: I read somewhere that sex lasts only about five minutes on average
and burns only 20 calories. Why doesn’t that get more press?
—Dianne R., Toluca Lake, CA
MG: Reminds me of being seventeen all over again. Did your survey
mention the age parameters? The regions of the country or world the data was
pulled from? Male vs. Females? These are important factors in the potential
decline of sexuality in the States. I did find a reference to a 1984 survey with similar stats. I’m hoping things have improved for the women of the world. Which
reminds me that we don’t cover sex enough in The Media Guy Struggles. Why? I’m
not sure since SEX meets rule #6 in the Media Guy Mandates for a Great Story.
Note to self: more sex. (And who can argue with that?)
Q: Did the CEO of Taco Bell call you yet? Is that why their strategy is
giving free churros? Maybe you should call him.
—Nala Z., Ft. Myers, FL
MG: Who can argue with the new spots? The ad made its debut on YouTube a
few days ago and has over 200,000 views with the January 18th teaser
being watched 500,000 plus times. CEO Greg Creed seemed to be riding high with Cantina
Bell, the new Taco Bell “Live Mas” tagline and the Spanish version of “We Are
Young”. That being said, I still think Mr. Creed should ring my phone.
Q: Beyoncé lip synced? Good or bad for the brand?
—Simon S., Winston-Salem, NC

MG: Nothing can derail the Mrs. Jay-Z train. She’s unstoppable and
there is no reason this should have been a continuing story because besides
having the kind of generational beauty that most of us can only wish for, there
is one thing she can do without question and that’s sing circles around anyone.
Whitney lip synced at the Super Bowl and her rendition hit #1 on the charts
soon thereafter. Beyoncé is much bigger that Whitney ever was.
Q: What are you going to do with “The Voice” now that Christina
Aguilera has been replaced with Shakira?
—Jon M., Oklahoma City, OK
MG: I deleted my Season Pass on The Dish.
Q: Do you think Christina Aguilera caused Hillary Clinton to pass out?
—Josephine P., Kuala Lampur
MG: Very much a possibility.
Q: Any truth that our favorite diva Miss Aguilera stepped aside to
spend time with the Media Guy?
—Stephanie C., Manchester, England
MG: Uh, no comment.
Q: There were two typos when you initially posted your last column. Who’s
proofing your columns.
—Nadia W., Tucson, AZ
MG: Sorry, Monica is on vacation.

Q: You nailed it in your Valentine’s Day column, it’s ruining the
office. Any more tips to help out here?
—Marc W., Wichita, KS
MG: I reached back to Ernest Quansah who told me that the brain’s
feel-good “love” chemical – oxytocine – usually increases when women are
presented with novel activities, beyond those established and preferred
routines. He says to abandon old traditions and do something to sweep her off
her feet with these five steps:
  1. Before the big day, drive her wild with anticipation by telling her
    that you have the most amazing surprise for her. This promise will keep her
    guessing and make her think about your evening.
  2. Know her favorite flowers. If you don’t, don’t panic. You can find
    out by making a comment, like “I’ve noticed plants blooming early this year …”
    and steer the conversation from there. In a beautiful vase, arrange an exotic
    bouquet and hide it somewhere in your home on the special day. She’ll like that
    you created the presentation.
  3. Go to your local chocolate shop and select her favorite kinds of
    chocolate. Have it boxed and nicely wrapped to prevent her from knowing what it
    is when you present the chocolates to her.
  4. Create a dish and name it after her. For example, if her name is
    Anne, you might call the dish “Tournedos Princess Anne.” This step is the most
    important. I can assure you that after having spent time in some top-notch
    restaurants, food that is named after a person is a special honor. We all know
    how women love it when their men do the cooking. What I do is cut and precook
    the vegetables, and I even make the sauce beforehand to make sure I get it as
    perfect as I can. Leave everything in the fridge. Then, on Valentine’s Day, I
    set the table before I start the cooking part. On both plates, place a fresh
    RED ROSE. The single rose is just part of making her think that that is all the
    flowers she will be getting (but we know differently). When she gets home, make
    sure to get her to promise you that she’ll stay out of the kitchen. Tell her
    not to spoil the surprise!
  5. When everything is ready, plate the food, cover it and take it to
    the dining table, and then ask her to come and sit. Before you uncover the lid,
    have her close her eyes. Retrieve the hidden bouquet, place the flowers on the
    table, and ask her to open her eyes. Pay attention to how she responds. Tell
    her what you’ve named the dish. But that’s not all – after the meal, take her
    by the hand, walk her to the living room and sit her down. Bring out the boxed
    chocolate, go on one knee and tell her, “This is for you,” or, “You make me
    feel whole,” or, “You are the most beautiful woman in the world and I love
    you.”
Remember, you don’t have to know why this works…only that it does
work.
Q: The Bachelor – how do you see Sean navigating the insane women he
has on his hands?
—Kimberly G., Dallas
MG: There are some crazies this season. Poor Sean. I promise a separate
column next week with a recap and my vision to how it all plays out.
Q: I think we all know your love of Angelina Jolie – of course in a
non-stalker, yet borderline stalkerish way – but seriously, do you need help
distracting Brad Pitt while you try to talk her up at the Oscars? My bestie is
a dead ringer for Jennifer Aniston and has a similar crush on Mr. Moneyball.
Any affinity to forming a partnership to get what you both want? You can email
me at any time.
—Brooke Y., West Hollywood, CA
MG: Yes Virginia…these are the reader friends of the Media Guy Struggles.

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The Ghost of Marty McSorley’s Stick https://mediaguystruggles.com/the-ghost-of-marty-mcsorleys-stick/ https://mediaguystruggles.com/the-ghost-of-marty-mcsorleys-stick/#respond Wed, 30 May 2012 14:52:00 +0000 http://mediaguystruggles.com/2012/05/30/the-ghost-of-marty-mcsorleys-stick/ May 30, 2012 enters uncharted territory for Los Angeles Kings hockey.  Never before has a Kings squad entered the Stanley Cup Final as the favorite – – ESPN’s “experts” picked L.A. to take Lord Stanley’s Cup home by a vote of 10 to 3. Heck, they have only been in the Finals once. (Sheesh once? Why […]

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May 30, 2012 enters uncharted territory for Los Angeles Kings hockey. 


Never before has a Kings squad entered the Stanley Cup Final as the
favorite

 – ESPN’s “experts” picked L.A. to take Lord Stanley’s Cup home by a vote of 10 to 3. Heck, they have only been in the Finals once. (Sheesh once? Why do I waste my
time? I always say…)

Never before has a the lowest seed taken the championship at the end of the playoff. Cinderella’s slipper never fits for long it seems. The Kings are riding the momentum wave like never
before: 12 wins. Two losses. Undefeated on the road. They are making
teams whine all the way to the league office while whimpering away towards their tee times. Surely these aren’t the Kings I grew up watching. Agonizing with every
postseason overtime loss and thoughts of next year. Heartbreak at every turn.
So, today, nothing makes sense. 

Down is up. Left is right, the
moon IS made of cheese, the world IS flat, the Brad Pitt-Angeline Jolie union is universally
embraced as the undisputed reflection of how relationships should be handled in
the New America, and the Los Angeles Kings should win the Stanley Cup. You get it by now, I know. Yet, I digress once again, so I’ll
stop. But not before I face the horrors for a single game that changed my life,
ruining sports and I know them.
It was Thursday, June 3, 1993. A beautiful Montreal summer
day outside with the mighty Montreal Canadiens taking on the Great One’s
(that’s Wayne Gretzky for those of you whose nickname encyclopedias have been
misplaced) Kings at the legendary Montreal Forum.
The magic of this game was that the Kings had already taken
game one and literally cruising in game two up 2-1 in the closing minutes. 



Then
it happened.
The illegal stick.
The curve of Marty McSorley’s stick was just a quarter-inch
outside of the rules. A freaking quarter-inch! Screw it, the NHL tells the
story better: 


The rest was history with the Canadiens winning the next three
games and winning their bajillionth Stanley Cup. I swear the maintenance crew
at the Forum spent years scraping off the bits of my skull and grey matter
glued to ceiling of those hallowed hockey halls. 

“Hey Wayne? Why don’t you have more Cups?” “Uh, because of Marty…”



Why? 


Because my brain exploded
as I screamed “NO” spelled with 7,000 O’s. When Marty was out-thought
(not a hard thing to do with McSorley) by the brain trust of the Bleu Blanc
Rouge (that’s Blue, White and Red in English). 
It was then that every Habs fan in section 116 gloated knowing that the Kings would be losing that game.

It was then that Marty McSorley took his rightful place near
the billy goat, the Bambino, the cover the Madden video game, the Clipper and
every other curse that has broken the hearts of many men. 


I ran in Mr. McSorley a few years ago. My passion for sports
had long died down, but my vitriol for hockey’s nicest enforcer had not. His excuse
to the group set to tee off in front of me went something like this:
Yeah, I was there…

“Geez, there’s been a whole lot of sensationalism, actually
a huge degree of sensationalism, and I know there hasn’t been a whole lot of
honesty. ‘Did I have an illegal stick? Yes! Did I stand up after and say,
‘Listen everyone, I had an illegal stick?’ Yes! The things that have transpired
since then, I don’t think there has been a lot of honesty.”

Just like that, he explained it all away.
I wanted to punch him, but, uhhhhh, I quickly re-thought
that course of action. And I surely wish Mr. McSorley would have re-thought using a
stick he clearly knew was illegal and had to have an inkling that the Canadiens
always have the Hockey Gods on their side.
I don’t remember much really after that game.
Cut me some slack; things were very touch-and-go right about then.
I only remember that sports didn’t mean as much to me
after that. Something I was good with until this band of hockey misfits who
could bare score in the regular season sucked me in again. I dusted off my 1990
Mike Krushelnyski game used jersey and will wear it proudly through the finals.
After all, he left me with a much better memory in the Stanley Cup playoffs:

Nineteen years have passed since that game and I still haven’t fully recovered from the chain of events unleashed by the illegal stick game. I may never recover. Kind of surreal. 

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Backstage at the Oscars: 2012 https://mediaguystruggles.com/backstage-at-the-oscars-2012/ https://mediaguystruggles.com/backstage-at-the-oscars-2012/#respond Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:27:00 +0000 http://mediaguystruggles.com/2012/02/27/backstage-at-the-oscars-2012/ They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here’s The Media Guy’s journey and perspective backstage at the 84th Academy Awards with eight pictures and about 700 words including interview excerpts and intimate insights.  Jean Dujardin and Uggie the dog. photo credit: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S. BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW EXCERPT Jean Dujardin, winner of the Oscar […]

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here’s The Media Guy’s journey and perspective backstage at the 84th Academy Awards with eight pictures and about 700 words including interview excerpts and intimate insights. 

Jean Dujardin and Uggie the dog. photo credit: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW EXCERPT
Jean Dujardin, winner of the Oscar for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
The Artist
Q. …with your great success in this silent movie, are you concerned with the effort to make a transition into talkies?

A. In America? I’m not American actor. I’m a French actor, and I continue in France and but it’s possible. 
Tom Cruise congratulates Meryl Streep. Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW EXCERPT 
Meryl Streep, winner of the Oscar for Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
The Iron Lady
Q. In your very moving speech this evening, you mentioned jokingly we might all be sick of you in the future. I hope that doesn’t happen, but it seems like you have the beginning of a second project in life with The Women’s Museum. Would you talk a little bit about that?
A. Thank you for asking about that. There is no national women’s history museum, but there is a lot of history that is not written about the contributions of women in our country and around the world. And I think it would be really, really inspiring for people all around the world to have this fantastic center where you can learn the stuff that hasn’t been written about women, because for many, many centuries, history was not interested in us. And yet, and our history is invisible and I think it would be great for boys and girls to go to a place where they could learn about the contributions of their foremothers as well as their forefathers.

Christopher Plummer just after accepting his award. Photo credit: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW EXCERPT
Christopher Plummer, winner of the Oscar for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Beginners
Q. I’m curious how you look back at awards of any kind, specifically, the two nominations and now the first Oscar win. In terms of a measure of a career, because it’s, obviously, not the reason you do things, but what kind of dessert topping does it put on a distinguished career?
A. That’s absolutely a wonderful phrase. It is a le creme on top, and it’s lovely to be sort of accepted, because you know that beyond the pleasure of working in front of a live audience, particularly, it’s a general acceptance of your work. So it’s thrilling, and I don’t pretend not to poo poo awards, although there’s so many of them, I can’t keep up. I mean, they’re inventing a new one every day.
Christian Bale with Octavia Spencer after presenting her the Oscar for Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. photo credit: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW EXCERPT
Octavia Spencer, winner of the Oscar for Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
The Help
Q. Can you explain how did they help you to do that or you know what your cast really meant to you when you said your family really meant to you?
A. Well, it’s very rare that you have the type of ensemble that we had. You know, you don’t get all the Academy Award nominee winners and Cecily Tyson, Mary Steenburgen, Sissy Spacek, Viola Davis coming together to do a project. And then you have the collaboration of Academy Award nominees behind the scenes. We just left our egos at the door and worked together as one beautiful unit from Emma, Viola, Bryce, Allison Janney. I mean, it was an award winning cast. So to be a part of that and to just sort of dissolve into the world that we were representing is something that we’re supposed to do as actors but it was rare that we did it without judgment with each other.
Oscar-winner for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year, Asghar Farhadi. Darren Decker / ©A.M.P.A.S.
Hollywood‘s Power Couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, walk backstage. Darren Decker / ©A.M.P.A.S.
Morgan Freeman prepares… Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.
Brian Grazer and Penelope Cruz. credit: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.

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The Handler https://mediaguystruggles.com/the-handler/ https://mediaguystruggles.com/the-handler/#respond Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:24:00 +0000 http://mediaguystruggles.com/2012/02/08/the-handler/ You have to be both bouncer and caretaker when the client starts drinking after the event. “Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, step right up and see the pretty ladies in their tight dresses who haven’t eaten in a week. Now direct your attention the handsome men in the penguin black and whites with […]

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You have to be both bouncer and caretaker when the client starts drinking after the event.

“Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, step right up and see the pretty ladies in their tight dresses who haven’t eaten in a week. Now direct your attention the handsome men in the penguin black and whites with extra shirt starch…”

It’s a big top of a different sort: the Red Carpet that would typically make the Ringling Brothers, and even P.T. Barnum himself, jealous and proud. Like any good traveling show, the red carpet features the meandering erotic creature in need of a stiff crack of the public relations whip.

‘Crack’ snaps the Blackberry and iPhones as the sage trainers tenderly nudge the A-listers towards the Access Hollywood crew and the C-listers towards the Channel 5 Des Moines Iowa news team. Only the experienced media maniacs can handle the demands of escorting media darlings such as Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio and Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt.

Inside the agency, the handler is treated with apathy by the higher-ups. Down in the trenches, the negotiations and positioning begins. For many, it will be one of their highest-profile assignments as they transform into ninja-mode ,blending into the sea of press, fans and peers. Staying invisible is the key, because we know that any good publicist would be razzed mercilessly if they became the story.

Never blow off the walk-through or your credentials are toast.
My first red carpet experience was in 1998, babysitting Brooke Burke and Yasmine Bleeth at consecutive events. I was merely a kid back then. It was the most invigorating time of my life as The Media Guy turned publicist. These ladies were the hot ticket and everyone wanted a piece of them. In front of the cameras, they were a dream. Behind the scenes? Well, that’s another story. 

Truth is, that on those burgundy fibers that shine amber under foot, it’s a mosh pit with a wave of stars set to swallow you up as you crowdsurf into the main event. You have to channel your inner gladiator to survive such days, serving simultaneously as dark-attired guide dog and psychiatrist.

Every quality handler, er, publicist, knows three things:
  • 1) know every step of the route,
  • 2) tonight is not amateur hour, and
  • 3) the real work begins at the after party as you urge your clients to avoid making themselves fodder for TMZ.com.
And, point #3 is the subject of another blog. Later. Much later.
The handler (over Meryl Streep’s right shoulder with the yellow badge) is ever present, yet invisible. 
Do you see the handler? Good!

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