It seems I’m in good company in my disapproval of some of my fellow international journalists who ask questions like, "Do you think Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the most promising young actors of his generation"? (an actual question asked of David Fincher during a press conference for "Zodiac").
During a press conference for "To Each His Own Cinema," and omnibus collaboration from 33 directors celebrating the 60th Cannes Film Festival, Roman Polanski reprimanded the press for their insipid questions before storming off of the stage he shared with directors like Takeshi Kitano, Atom Egoyan, Walter Selles and Lars Von Trier.
I too had stormed out of a press conference earlier in the festival when the journalist sitting beside me not only left her cell phone on, so that its ringing would disturb everyone around her when it went off, but she had the nerve to actually take the call. I stood up and gently pushed her head back from her leaned-forward position so that I could exit the isle and escape the open insult which I refused to endorse.
Cannes is filled with faux-journalists who have no idea how to compose or deliver a question (it should be a SINGLE specific question of 20 WORDS OR LESS). And, they have no regard for when not to use cell phones. I’ve had to change seats twice because the person next to me seemed to be doing their taxes by texting on their phone during a screening.
Personally, I don’t use a cell phone when I’m in Cannes, preferring to do my communicating by e-mail or using a phone card at a proper telephone booth.
I’d love to see all press conferences in Cannes strictly moderated to prevent run-on double questions and asinine queries that the moderator could deny so that decent questions could be posed from journalists willing to do the heavy-lifting.
Cell phones and dumb questions are two of my biggest pet peeves.
