Jennifer Lawrence Blog 3

Blog 3: Jennifer Lawrence

            Jennifer Lawrence is Hollywood’s “it girl” for here recent appearances as Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games film series. She always looks fabulous to the public eye, whether she’s making late night appearances in shows like Late Night and the Tonight Show, tackling the runway for one of her blockbuster films, or participating in interviews early in the morning on Good Morning America – like she is in the interview I chose to analyze. It is really hard to stop this girl on fire!

            In this particular interview, she is promoting the second installment of the Hunger Games series – Catching Fire. She sits down with Robin Roberts to discuss her recent life, and obviously the main goal for her is to promote her film. To do that however, Jennifer Lawrence needs to maintain her down-to-earth appearance to continue to appeal her fans. She talks about her decision making process when she was offered the role of Katniss, her recent trips to the emergency room, how it feels to be on set of the Hunger Games, and her view of cyber bullying. Each time when she spoke or answered a question of Robin Robert’s, she seemed very wholesome and unvarying, making her an easy person to relate to. Jennifer wants to be viewed as her ‘regular old self’. She is very relatable for most teenagers across the United States. For example, when asked about her workout/diet regimen on the red carpet Jennifer is quoted as saying, “You know they say that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. I can think of a lot of things that taste better than skinny feels – potatoes, bread, a philly cheesesteak and fries…” So many teenagers today are obsessed with dieting and exercise, and sometimes harsh or extreme ways to loose weight. Jennifer is sending a message that what you eat doesn’t define you. She maintains that relatable image in this interview. My view of her remains the same: quirky, fun –loving, and wholesome.

            Robin asks questions that really help Jennifer open up to her about her experience of set and with her life in general. She tells Jennifer positive things her co-workers have said about her is past interviews that brought up some fond memories of playing with her cast mates. The questions Robin is asking are geared firstly to speak about the movie, and secondly to talk about Jennifer’s private life that has been made public. With questions about her private life, it is up to her to generate a response that helps them seem how they want to seem – they are on their own. Jennifer does an excellent job of keeping her genuine side out in the open.

            The main takeaway for me was that Jennifer Lawrence loves what she gets to do in life. She is genuinely happy, and uses her pull in the media to speak about issues she thinks are important. She loves her cast mates, and altogether loves her job of being an actress. The thesis for this interview for me was: “Yes, I am the girl on fire, and I’m just like you!”

  

Link to the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoggnotRoAI

Interview with Miles Teller

Actors and actresses utilize interviews as opportunities to showcase certain sides of themselves. It gives them a chance to self-promote in a way. The interview becomes an environment in which actors can have control over what kind of image they are putting forth to the public. It is so often the case that stories and information about actors and actresses get skewed by gossip columns and magazines. Interviews let them put out what information they want. They get to show the audience how they would like to be perceived.

In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, Miles Teller promotes certain character traits and provides insight into part of his life outside of Hollywood. The interview plays off of his role as a son and grandson. Jimmy Fallon questions Teller about his mom and his grandma and Teller goes on to talk about his relationship with his grandma and how the women in his family are his biggest fans.

Another side of Miles that we see in this interview is his capacity for humor. He makes a number of lighthearted jokes during the interview. This also serves the purpose of advertising his abilities as a comedic actor which is useful during this interview because it was an interview for his movie That Awkward Moment, which is a romantic comedy. I have seen the movie That Awkward Moment, but before that I saw Miles Teller in The Spectacular Now. These two movies were very different, yet he does an excellent job in both roles, proving his diversity as an actor. The interview did not necessarily shape my perception of Miles Teller, but it reinforced the ideas I had about him. He just seemed like a cool, laid back, nice guy.

These characteristics are highlighted through his interactions with Jimmy Fallon as well as the audience. He pals around with Fallon and even jokes that his mom thought they would be good friends. He also makes a remark about working with Zac Efron and how he is used to the screaming girls going crazy for his co-star. All in all the interview represented Miles Teller as humble and lighthearted. He is painted as someone who would be fun to work with. The interview looked at both his personal life, showing his relationships with his mom and grandma, as well as his professional life. It even included a clip from That Awkward Moment.

Often times we forget that there is more to an interview that the words that are exchanged. Body language is equally as important in revealing information about the person being interviewed. One of the things I noticed about his body language during the interview was that he kept fidgeting slightly. This indicated to me that he was nervous. It wasn’t annoying fidgeting, but it was obvious. I thought this made it even more personal and endearing. Here you have this big shot actor, and he’s nervous to be interviewed by Jimmy Fallon. It was really cute and definitely played on the audience’s pathos, making  Miles Teller seem just  like any other normal person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-93OaZF60vY

Blog 3

Leonardo DiCaprio Interview 

In the interview I chose with Ellen DeGeneres and Leonardo DiCaprio, there are definitely messages given off to us as the audience and viewers. For example, Leo is portrayed as a very down to earth, adventurous, and even caring in the interview. He is able to talk about his successful acting career in a subtle way without putting himself in the spotlight. Along with giving compliments to both the audience members and Ellen DeGeneres herself, he didn’t come across as self-absorbed like many other actors and actresses can be. Because their lives are constantly exposed to the public eye through the media, this self-absorbed attitude is something that most likely comes along with being famous. It is easy for actors and actresses to fall into this stereotype. Leonardo’s portrayal is definitely the opposite of this, making him seem extremely down to earth. He also gives glimpses of risky situations that he has been in before, which portrayed him as an adventurous person. He can also be seen as brave from these experiences as well. In addition, he is also portrayed as caring because of his philanthropic and environmentalist work. Before watching this interview I figured that Leonardo DiCaprio was probably like most other actors in the self-absorbing way. After watching it, though, it was obvious that he has been able to overcome this shallow attitude that most actors and actresses possess. The way Ellen maneuvers the interview with Leo helps shape our perception of Leo as a well-rounded and successful person. It is evident that Ellen is a big fan of Leo’s from the way she talks about him in their interview. She brings up the story how they first met and says she knew he would be successful one day because he was so charming. Along with that, she even provides proof of his hard work by confirming his 3-movie streak that happened in only a year and a half. After asking him about the current “break” in his career, Ellen made a lighthearted joke, showing her support in his career choice. Throughout the entire interview she continues to compliment him on his successful performances in his various movies, calling one of the movie sequences in Wolf of Wall Street, “genius.” Ellen also brings up Leonardo’s environmentalist work, which is protecting sharks. By bringing this to our attention, it is makes it easier to respect Leo as an actor, producer, and passionate citizen. The main take away from this interview focuses on the many successes that Leonardo has had during his life. Not only in movies, but in other areas like volunteer work as well. I also think that we were meant to get a glimpse of the free spirit he possesses and the kind of person he really is. He doesn’t present himself in a way that puts him above anyone else, but rather equal to everyone. It is important to be aware of these characteristics in an actor or actress so that we can respect their hard work and dedication even more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihkAKCOzjUg

Theo James Interview

Theo James Interview Review

            Theo James, age 30, has recently come onto the scene for his role as “Four” in the new movie series Divergent. In the movie, Theo plays a mysterious character that ends up being one of the main protagonists. He, along side of Tris, stand up against an oppressive nation. The characters in the movie have somewhat of a love interest and therefore I desired to dig a little bit and see if I could find out if the media would be swaying people’s opinions in order to boost popularity for the series. What I found was to be expected.

            In the Interview I posted below, we see Theo alongside his costar in what seems to be a normal interview of how they perceived the movie and what their opinions were. As expected however, the media analyzes the interview and adds their own perspective to it in order to add some sort of publicity. The interview itself was interesting enough. The interviewer asked Theo some basic questions about some of his favorite lines in the film and what he enjoyed most about playing Four in the movie.

            The main idea of this interview was to show how normal these actors were. Theo seemed to play a badass and mysteriously quiet young adult male in the film but watching the Interview I saw something different. Theo James is a normal man just like any of us. He laughed at his bad jokes, he teased his co-star and was also surprisingly light hearted/easily distracted. The interviewer really didn’t have much effect on guiding the interview. With questions simply about how they felt about the film and how they could relate to it, the interviewer seemed as if she was willing to let the actors take charge.

            Even though no really strong message was trying to be portrayed, the media was able to decipher what they thought to be some sort of love interest between the two. Many claims to the two flirting with each other have risen. I will say I must give those claims some credit but I honestly believe it is all a publicity stunt. When two actors have love interests in real life as well in films, it draws the public’s interest and therefore draws attention to the film. If there was any underlying message it would be that they were at the beginning stages of liking each other.

            Overall, I liked the interview for how normal it made the celebrities appear. Where celebrities often get talked about to a point where they seem fake, this interview did a great job at showing the public just how normal these celebrities seem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kROzmau2_NI

Blog 3 - Morgan Freeman

Link of the interview - HERE

The famous actor and producer, Morgan Freeman, has appeared on screen as one of the most respected figures in modern US cinema – a Hollywood icon with such impressive work as The Shawshank Redemption    (1994) and Invictus (2004). He also became a key figure in the shift from minor to major roles for African-American actors. He once sat down for a short chat with CNN’s Don Lemon which touched on the role that race does – or does not – play in wealth distribution in America.

The interview on the issues of race and the way the interviewer directed the questions to Morgan Freeman help shape audience’s perception of Freeman as an open-minded person, a free-thinker, an optimistic and responsible citizen who always strives for the better and the greatness. The communications between Lemon and Freeman on such a national news channel as CNN show how much knowledgeable, serious, important, and considerate the interviewee would be when he was invited by CNN to sit down and discuss about such issues. Additionally, there were times that Lemon used the opportunity to voice his thoughts. Both Lemon and Freeman expressed their sincere distaste for discussing the topic of racism. For example, when asked by Lemon if race plays a role in wealth distribution, Freeman answered insistently, “Today? No. You and I, we are proof.” He also added that, “Why would race have anything to do with it? Put your mind to what you want to do and go for that. It’s kind of like religion to me, it’s a good excuse for not getting there.” Some conservatives viewed the way Freeman addressed racism as distracting and ridiculous as they thought that Freeman left behind the whole African-American community, that he was the exception to most African Americans in America. Those conservatives also thought that he distracted individuals from the real issues to be dealt with “personal responsibility and accountability”. However, far more neutral and positive opinions show that his sincere expression for the discussion on racism helps downplay the impact of racism and inspire attempts and motivations among non-white people. To Freeman’s sentiment, certain corridors make it hard to succeed no matter which color one is, but it does not mean one cannot. Not working harder or blaming hardships on race or income is, to Freeman, just another excuse.

The way he addressed racism and inequality actually does not differ much from how I viewed him previously and what I expected him to respond to Lemon. There have been lots of times earlier in the past when Morgan Freeman voiced his opinion for a solution to racism. Every single time does he maintain his philosophy that people should work hard rather than let the racism be an excuse for their not working hard. His consistent characteristics, his hard work, his priority of responsibility and his perseverance from the very beginning of his acting career until now remain unchanged. As a fan of Morgan Freeman who knows about his films well enough, I think that what makes Freeman himself is his responsibility and sincerity. This short, straight-forward interview provides viewers with closer observation and deeper understanding about such a delightful man.  

Furthermore, this short chat between Lemon and Freeman is, actually, also socially relevant. Morgan Freeman is an African American actor, starting his acting career as humbly as anyone else in filming industry. He did not blame discrimination or let it be an excuse for his hardships. He has been trying his best to climb up the ladder of success, exploring his life and times, and achieved immense respect among his world-wide audience. His insistent beliefs, endless persistence and huge sense of responsibility are the main take-away of the interview, the source of inspiration for upcoming generations. At the end, I really think that this is the very point of the interview – Do not make excuses which race you are in to wait for your dreams and keep moving towards your dreams.  

Blog 3: Katherine Heigl

I personally fell in love with Katherine Heigl due to her many appearances in my favorite genres of movies: chick flicks and romantic comedies. In most every one of her roles she is the funny female lead actress; however, she has become known around Hollywood as the biggest diva who nobody wants to work with. During her interview on The Meredith Vieira Show she makes a point to defend these comments to put to rest this claim once and for all. Once I began hearing these reoccurring statements about how rude Katherine was my perception of her began to change and then I read this interview and now I am even more confused about what to think of her.

During the time that I watched most of the movies that Katherine was in I didn’t know about this rumor going around about her being extremely rude off of screen. It really brought into perspective that the character an actor or actress plays on screen is not who they actually are as a person, which I think we all get confused on a lot of times. Knowing this rumor and watching movies of her I respected her less as an actress because I didn’t respect her as a person. Then I read her interview with Meredith Vieira. Honestly, I don’t think she did herself any help in this interview. This claim about her came from many sources, it wasn’t like she may have just had a few bad days when going into work. She didn’t defend her actions or apologize to those she upset because she obviously did upset some people. I got from it that everyone who made these accusations was wrong because she “knows” she is a nice person and they must have just misinterpreted her actions. She did this interview to change people’s perception of her but if these rumors were false I think she would’ve answered the questions in a different way. Part of it makes me believe that she doesn’t care what the audience thinks anymore because she is so established as an actress.

Meredith Vieira, the interviewer, simply asks the question and lets Katherine run free with it, which she does. Once she is done stating her case Meredith turns to asking some lighter questions, such as how Katherine met her husband, and ends the discussion regarding the rumors. I think Meredith takes this approach to allow the audience to view Katherine’s response in the way she is trying to portray it, not in a way that Meredith would be trying to portray it. The main take-away from the interview is that Katherine has a chance to defend herself once and for all regarding the claim that she is “very rude” behind the scenes at work.  Whether some feel she did herself justice or not, in her mind she did defend herself and end the ongoing media gossip about this character trait of hers. This may have been put in place by her publisher to give people a different outlook on who she was or maybe it came straight from the heart. Either way, I gathered from the interview that she doesn’t care if people think she is rude or not all that matters is that she knows she isn’t rude.

It is difficult to determine an actors personality through only the use of movies they played in and a short few interviews. I will still continue to watch films Katherine Heigl is in and I’m sure I will enjoy them just as much as her past films. I am in no place to judge her but I do keep my opinion of what I gathered from this interview.

http://www.eonline.com/news/600371/katherine-heigl-gets-real-about-the-rude-girl-rumors-reveals-how-she-used-john-mayer-to-get-her-future-hubby-to-commit