On-camera interview

[dallas10086]

We're in promotional mode and we've had a couple interviews lined up for the director and leads this past week. I asked the director if I was needed for a specific onsite on-camera interview, since it was only two actors without costumes, etc. and it was scheduled on my day off. I was told yes, I should be there. After the interview was done, the interviewer asked the director if there was anyone else she should talk to? The director said - loud enough for me to hear - "you should talk to our stage manager, she could offer you a different perspective." I pointedly declined (a nice way of saying I said "What? No. NO."), largely because I was given no notice and I didn't think I would represent the company well in my present state (another nice way of saying I put no thought into how I looked that morning). My director looked disappointed and asked me again, and I declined again. I feel like I wasted my one day off if a surprise interview was the reason for me being there.

Has anyone else been surprised into an interview of some kind? Should I have gone ahead with it?

[Jessie_K]

I have been put on the spot in similar situations more than I can count. And (mostly) declined.

In hindsight, I should have said yes.  It's the expected and polite thing.

Should you have said yes... maybe.

But ultimately if you don't feel you represent yourself or the company well, than no.

People in the public arts and or journalism HONESTLY don't understand people that prefer to remain behind the scenes.

[nick_tochelli]

I've been interviewed multiple times. I've never been concerned. Then again to be fair, I was given warning of official interviews and when I had it sprung on me. I was more prepared because it was a situation like yours: I'm there in an official capacity to keep an eye on the actors and I, being the minor egomaniac that I am, thought well of course they want to talk to me because I totally rock!

[On_Headset]

I think (emphasis on "think") you may be misreading it.

There are people in the world who think being on television (or on the web, etc.) is a sort of treat, and--to me--it sounds like your director was intending it that way. A little reward, a pick-me-up, a nice-job pat-on-the-back kind of thing.

The tricky thing is that, while directors (and actors! especially actors!) tend to be the outgoing gregarious centre-of-attention kind of people who thrive on that kind of reward (especially if it comes as an unexpected surprise!), stage managers tend to be the sorts of people who don't even like being photographed. ("You want me on camera? Oh my. I'll do it--if I have to--but let me get ready first." as opposed to "OOOH! ME NEXT! ME NEXT! Hi, my name is Stephanie and I love ~THEEEEEEE-AT-HRE~!!!!!!!:D!!!!!!")

So. That makes it awkward. Especially because, if I'm onto something here, you've just turned down what your director thought was both a kind gesture and a sort of reward.