4. Not Letting David Letterman Know You Are Coming 'In Character' Then Put The Interview In Your Movie
Case In Point; Joaquin Phoenix on David Letterman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BZI6j_Levk The concept of being interviewed as the character in your upcoming movie is nothing familiar. Made most famous in recent memory by Andy Kaufman and his annoying lounge singer persona Tony Clifton and then reintroduced to a wider, larger audience by Jim Carrey in Man on the Moon. 'Character' interviews help to make an otherwise dry, repetitive interview somewhat entertaining for everybody involved. Will Ferrell has made a second career of it, Sasha Baron Cohen has blended his iconic Ali G and Borat into cult phenomenons. But when it's done wrongly, well that's just embarrassing. Back in 2009 Joaquin Phoenix went on the David Letterman Show looking like a hippie who just came from a funeral and had no idea what he was there for. Purportedly on to plug his new-found rap career, he instead appeared to be taking lessons in civil discourse through Charles Bukowski as he is today (he's dead). A dead Bukowski or an even better example, Mickey Rourke, would come off as extremely gregarious compared to Phoenix during the segment. Letterman, being no stranger to
the odd guest coming on his show, waded through the awkward segment of pauses and mumbling like the professional desk jockey interviewer he is. After it was announced by Phoenix and Casey Affleck (Ben's brother) that he was just doing a bit 'in character' for the Ben Affleck's brother directed movie "I'm Still Here" David was more than a little pissed off and called in his lawyers. When the segment was featured in Phoenix's little-seen movie Letterman sued the actor and production company involved, as he had not given his permission for his likeness to be in the movie. Phoenix was invited back to apologize live to David, where he was forced to eat a little crow and do his best
not to look uncomfortable to the actual face of a multi-million dollar lawsuit in front of him. When Phoenix asked if they could discuss a settlement privately, Dave suggested a spot where nobody would see them, like one of their screenings. Burn! Game, set and match, Dave.