Letters of Note: Harvey Says You Are Boring, Errol Morris. So There.
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Jan 27 2010, 1:01 PM
The always amazing Letters Of Note has a great letter from then Miramax head Harvey Weinstein blasting legendary and revered director Errol Morris for being "boring" on NPR. To give some context, NPR is kind of boring on its own so it may not be all Errol. Also Harvey is kind of a prick.
THIN BLUE LINE went on to win National Board of Review, National Society of Film Critics and NY Film Critics Circle awards. Morris has an Oscar for FOG OF WAR. Harvey has one Oscar for SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE; though his company was considered the Oscar bait generator back in the 90s.
Transcript
MIRAMAX FILMS
August 23, 1988
Errol Morris
c/o The Mondrian Hotel
8440 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
Dear Errol:
Heard your NPR interview and you were boring. You couldn't have dragged me to see THE THIN BLUE LINE if my life depended on it.
It's time you start being a performer and understand the media.
Let's rehearse:
Q: What is this movie about?
A: It's a mystery that traces an injustice. It's scarier than NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. It's like a trip to the Twilight Zone. People have compared it to IN COLD BLOOD with humor.
Speak in short one sentence answers and don't go on with all the legalese. Talk about the movie as a movie and the effect it will have on the audience from an emotional point of view.
If you continue to be boring, I will hire an actor in New York to pretend that he's Errol Morris. If you have any casting suggestions, I'd appreciate that.
Keep it short and keep selling it because that's what's going to work for you, your career and the film.
Congratulations on all your good reviews. Let's make sure the movie is as successful.
Best Regards,
(Signed)
Harvey Weinstein
The always amazing Letters Of Note has a great letter from then Miramax head Harvey Weinstein blasting legendary and revered director Errol Morris for being "boring" on NPR. To give some context, NPR is kind of boring on its own so it may not be all Errol. Also Harvey is kind of a prick.
THIN BLUE LINE went on to win National Board of Review, National Society of Film Critics and NY Film Critics Circle awards. Morris has an Oscar for FOG OF WAR. Harvey has one Oscar for SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE; though his company was considered the Oscar bait generator back in the 90s.
Transcript
MIRAMAX FILMS
August 23, 1988
Errol Morris
c/o The Mondrian Hotel
8440 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CADear Errol:
Heard your NPR interview and you were boring. You couldn't have dragged me to see THE THIN BLUE LINE if my life depended on it.
It's time you start being a performer and understand the media.
Let's rehearse:
Q: What is this movie about?
A: It's a mystery that traces an injustice. It's scarier than NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. It's like a trip to the Twilight Zone. People have compared it to IN COLD BLOOD with humor.
Speak in short one sentence answers and don't go on with all the legalese. Talk about the movie as a movie and the effect it will have on the audience from an emotional point of view.
If you continue to be boring, I will hire an actor in New York to pretend that he's Errol Morris. If you have any casting suggestions, I'd appreciate that.
Keep it short and keep selling it because that's what's going to work for you, your career and the film.
Congratulations on all your good reviews. Let's make sure the movie is as successful.
Best Regards,
(Signed)
Harvey Weinstein
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