 |
 ve had
the opportunity to interview celebrities for just over 13 years and
while it may seem glamorous to many, it is, after all, just a job.
However, there comes a time when I get to meet and talk to people
that I really admire and over the years there have been plenty. |
The Perfect Storm was shot. The movie is based on the non-fiction book by Sebastian Junger about a deadly North Atlantic "Northeaster" in 1991 that left the crew of the fishing boat, Andrea Gail, stranded at sea.
Interviews with the author, director Wolfgang Peterson and much of the cast were taking place in this charming fishing town to promote the movie. It was a beautiful day, where dozens of journalists sat around patiently awaiting their turn to talk to the stars.
I had been looking forward to this for months. (I had already interviewed George twice before, but for some reason I was really excited about this opportunity.) After meeting with him again, I felt the need to set the record straight. He is truly one of the most gracious, down to earth "stars" I have ever met. Clooney is patient and takes the time to talk to fans, take pictures with them, he likes to goof around and, most of all, he just loves what he does.
"Junket" interviews normally take place in hotels, with publicists all over the place trying to "protect" their clients. This was not the case with The Perfect Storm. The interviews were done in a relaxed atmosphere, where the actors walked around with ease.
So when George Clooney popped out of his trailer and walked right by me, I knew I had to seize the moment. He most graciously stopped to chat and was
perfectly happy to pose for a picture. My mission was complete. An hour later when I sat down across from him to conduct our interview, he got up and greeted me as "his photo buddy."
George has a lot to be happy about these days. After The Perfect Storm he produced the film Metal God, starring his pal and co-star Mark Wahlberg (Perfect Storm, Three Kings). He completed a live TV broadcast of Fail Safe, made a
surprise season finale appearance on ER and is just about to start shooting the
remake of the rat-pack classic Ocean's Eleven, which will also star Mark Wahlberg, Bruce Willis and Julia Roberts.
This October we will see Clooney in O Brother, Where Art Thou? directed by the Coen brothers. Clooney went to Cannes this summer for the first time to promote the film. "We were in competition there, and it was a lot of fun. Everyone was great - I hardly got a moment's rest."
The movie, set in the Depression-era deep South, features Clooney as one of three escapees from a Mississippi prison chain gang who embark on the adventure of a lifetime as they set out to pursue their freedom.
The Coens have put their own unique modern-day spin on Homer's classic tale of The Odyssey. It also features John Turturro and John Goodman.
"It was a different movie-making experience - that's for sure," said Clooney. "Working with the Coen brothers is an experience everyone should try once in life."
Clooney went on to say that he is really looking forward to shooting Ocean's Eleven, which begins principal photography in January, 2001. "What an exciting project - recreating the role that Frank Sinatra did so well. I sure have a lot to live up to."
As for reuniting for a third time with Mark Wahlberg (who joined us during this interview), Clooney just laughed. "I know people are starting to talk. We're just like Tracy and Hepburn, or maybe Laurel and Hardy." Then Mark jumped in, "More like Frik and Frak."
I have to confess that this was actually my second "fated" moment with George Clooney. When I interviewed him a few years back for the film One Fine Day, I was just about to ask my first question, when we heard from the other room "Stop tape, we have a problem." Usually those words mean trouble. It's
uncomfortable to sit across from a stranger to try to make small talk. Most of them dart out of their chairs until things are resolved. Not Mr. Nice Guy! He
sat across from me for ten minutes and just chatted until we were ready to roll tape again.
So in my books, George Clooney gets top marks as a pretty decent human
being, who also just happens to be easy on the eyes!
- Bonnie Laufer Krebs