Thursday, November 6, 1997
Media Madness
FILM: The stars of ‘Mad City,’ John Travolta and Dustin Hoffman,
talk about the fine line between journalism and sensationalism
By Stephanie Sheh
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Get the story. Get The Times. The Post. The Bruin. Reporters and
journalists have long held the stigma of being ruthless,
information-seeking scandal producers who just want to get the
story. The masses, as well, have long been known for their
inquiring minds.
Well, Dustin Hoffman’s and John Travolta’s new movie, "Mad
City," which opens tomorrow, is Hollywood’s latest look at the
media’s ability manipulate and the public’s willingness to be
manipulated.
Travolta is gun-toting Sam Bailey who arrives at a museum to
simply get his job back. However, Max Brackett (Hoffman) quickly
takes control, turning the situation into one of the biggest
hostage stories of all time.
"My take on the media is very simple. It’s the scene where
(Bailey is) in the windows. He’s telling a story with the gun to
the kids, and he’s misperceived by the police," Travolta says. "It
looks different than it is. He thinks that I’m going to hurt the
kids, but I’m telling like a sweet story to the kids."
Travolta says that these past three or four years have been like
a lovefest with the media. He says that they have treated him well,
and he returns the sentiments.
"I don’t want to be an asshole," Travolta says to the handful of
journalists seated at a table in the Hotel Nikko. "You’re asking
thoughtful questions you’re being very decent to me and respectful.
You like my movie, or so it seems. So there’s no reason for me to
be disgruntled."
Last summer when reports of walk-outs and creative differences
on the set of Roman Polanski’s "The Double" surfaced, Travolta
could have had a reason to be disgruntled. But the actor looks on
that troubled time with calmness.
"Some of it was accurate, some of it was inaccurate, but then
the truth came out in the end, you know," Travolta says. "Again
that’s reporting. That’s not an interview with misperceiving me or
something."
But far more notorious than reporters are the paparazzi. They
are known for using more intrusive means to get their photo or
story.
However, Hoffman says he never found the paparazzi to be a big
issue. He attributes their lack of intrusion into his life to the
fact that they didn’t exist when he was a young star.
"What I find more offensive than the paparazzi, ’cause I’ve
never been affected by them personally, is the normal person on the
street with the video camera," Hoffman says. "You realize they’ve
been invading your life for the last few minutes. You’re talking to
your kid, and someone’s been standing there just recording you 20
feet away. You’re going to be in their living room, your private
life, and it would infuriate you if it was done to you."
Unlike Travolta though, Hoffman has had his share of
misrepresentation in the media.
"I was shocked the first time I ever did an interview, which was
for ‘The Graduate,’" Hoffman reveals, "because it was The New York
Times, and the woman came over to my apartment and spent three
hours, and it was about 10 total distortions. I mean that’s putting
it mildly.
"And I don’t know whether it was different because she meant it
to be," Hoffman continues. "I don’t know what happens, whether it’s
the interviewer or whether it’s the editor."
If there have been any attacks on Hoffman, Mia Kirshner, who
plays Laurie, Brackett’s young intern, will vehemently defend her
co-star’s character.
"This is is the best experience I’ve ever had working with
another actor. I mean this guy (Hoffman), he’d come in on his days
off to read off-camera for me," Kirshner recalls. "He doesn’t need
to do that. I mean he’s a seasoned actor … he gave me so much for
the character."
Improvisational sessions with Hoffman helped Kirshner define her
character. She says that while rehearsing, Hoffman would add lines,
and the two of them would create improvised scenes. The actors
would then bring their work to director Costa Gavras.
Kirshner says Hoffman’s continual devotion and willingness to
help out deeply affected her.
"He had hit his head on scaffolding, and he had to go to the
hospital," Kirshner reveals. "He came back from the hospital to do
the off-camera for me. I was so touched by that."
Though Hoffman is a veteran actor, he confesses he’s never quite
mastered dealing with the media.
"I never learned the lesson. And if I had to do it again, I
would do what Barbara Harris, the wonderful actress who lived
across the street from me on 11th Street after ‘The Graduate’ came
out (advised)," Hoffman says. "She said, ‘You never tell the truth.
You make it up. You’re an actor. You have an imagination. Have fun.
I always make it up, and then you’re never hurt. And it’s never
distorted ’cause you own the distortion.’
"Oh, I never learned, but I would do it. It’s too late now,"
Hoffman regrets. "She’d say, ‘Yes, I have a pet alligator in my
bathtub, three months old.’ And she’d get serious and talk about
it, and the person gets a good story, and it’s interesting and
everybody’s happy."
FILM: "Mad City" opens Friday.Max Brackett (Dustin Hoffman) is
restrained by paramedics after an explosion.
John Travolta portrays a disgruntled employee in "Mad City."