Bonnie Laufer is an entertainment reporter and critic, who has been doing interviewing artists and performers for four decades. This time around, she had the tables turned on her, and discussed being an entertainment journalist in the digital age.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” This quote applies to Bonnie Laufer, who is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ).
Daily motivations as a journalist
On her daily motivations as an entertainment journalist and critic, she said, “I still love it after all this time. What I love the most is speaking with people. This is what thrills me; it always has.”
“I love digging into people’s brains and trying out things that perhaps nobody else has asked them before,” she noted.
“From day one, I’m an over-preparer, and I always have been,” she admitted. “Even when I was in school, I was like that too.”
“Sometimes, you get four to five minutes with people on these press junkets, and I would have pages and pages of questions prepared, and if I get two of them in, it’s a miracle,” she elaborated.
“I try to be a little more original, this way they can see that I’ve put a little more thought on something,” she noted.
“What is really important is that you need to listen to people. You need to have an open mind, and don’t be worried about the next question on your piece of paper. If somebody says something really interesting, then go in that direction. Keep it as a conversation,” she elaborated.
“Sometimes, you find that little gem, and you ask that question that just connects with somebody, and that makes me happy. That’s what gets me going,” she added.
The digital age
On being a part of the digital age, Laufer said, “When COVID started, the digital age really took off, and Zoom was the best creation.”
“Early on in my career, I traveled every weekend,” she recalled. “I was a mother with two kids, and I had to juggle that. Thank God my husband was there to help out with the kids. You have to arrange your priorities obviously, when it comes to family.”
“Back in the day, I would have to fly to LA for a press junket, and I wouldn’t even be there for a full 24 hours,” she said.
“So, back when I was younger, I would fly all the time. Now, I thank God for Zoom. I am so happy to be able to talk to anybody virtually. I still get the interview and what I need even though it’s less personal,” she explained.
“I think Zoom is awesome, and even post-COVID, I am happy that I still get to do interviews this way,” she acknowledged.
AI on the future of the entertainment industry
She shared her thoughts on AI on the future of the entertainment industry.
“That’s a tough one,” she admitted. “I feel for people, especially kids, who are in school taking journalism. It’s a tough business and I can relate to it personally. Anybody can start a website now; anybody can call themselves film and TV critics or filmmakers. There are a tons of opportunities now.”
“Don’t ever think that going to school and getting any kind of education is a waste because it is not,” she underscored. “You will always use something from what you’ve learned in your future.”
“So, it is going to be interesting to see where this all goes. Personally, I think we’ve lost so many newscasts but there’s the Internet, and if you want to get somebody’s attention, that’s the easy way to do it,” she elaborated.
Favorite interviews over the years
When asked about her favorite interviews over the years, she responded, “Oh my God. I have done thousands and thousands and thousands of interviews. Some of my favorite people that I love interviewing are directors.”
“For me, the directors are where the meat and potatoes are,” she admitted.
Bonnie Laufer on Joel Schumacher
“One of my favorites of all time was Joel Schumacher,” she revealed. “I just loved Joel. The first time I ever met Joel Schumacher was for the movie ‘Phone Booth’ at the Toronto Film Festival, and that was Colin Farrell’s first film.”
“Joel and I spoke for a long time and we got along so well, to the point where we became friends going forward from there,” she said.
“Joel had so many great stories to tell: he used to work for Woody Allen and he was a hard drug user to the point where he almost killed himself from his drug use, but he cleaned up,” she elaborated.
“Joel was such an amazing man. Joel passed away a few years ago, and for me, that he will always be special,” she noted.
“Also, having interviewed Eddie Redmayne when nobody knew who he was, was also special… and now, we’ve become pals. Eddie is so lovely. Hugh Jackman is also wonderful when I talk to him, and I loved interviewing the whole ‘Harry Potter’ cast from their first film to the last one they did,” she said.
“Sometimes, with some people, you make a special connection and it’s nice,” she added.
“Back when I was producing at an entertainment department at a TV station, I got to meet all my favorite musicians and idols. It was so cool,” she recalled.
Dream interviews to someday conduct
Regarding her dream interviews to someday conduct, she listed, “Al Pacino and Jack Nicholson.”
“Those would be two my dream interviews in life.” “They would have such great stories to tell,” she said.
Stage of her life
On the title of the current chapter of her life, she said, “Preparing to be a Grandmother.”
“In September, my son and my daughter-in-law are having a baby, so I am excited about that,” she said. “Also, I am enjoying ‘Living Life.’ It has been a rough 10 years or so, and I’ve learned to live life and chill out. I don’t let stupid things bother me anymore; it’s not worth it.”
Superpower of choice
Her superpower of choice would be “invisibility.”
“Sometimes, I would like to be invisible, and be in places to listen in, where nobody would know I am there,” she admitted.
“That would be so satisfying,” she said with a sweet laugh.
Career-defining moments
On her career-defining moments, she responded, “There have been some very high moments such as getting an interview that nobody else ever did. I haven’t really had a specific moment that defined me… My family and my kids define me.”
“While my work is very important, and it still always is, family always comes first,” she underscored.
Success
Regarding her definition of the word success, she said, “Success means a happy family and a happy life that way. Success isn’t money or who you spoke to in an interview.”
“At the end of the day, your gravestone isn’t going to list the interviews you did or the career you had; hopefully it will memorialize the difference you made in someone’s life,” she elaborated.
Closing thoughts for young and aspiring reporters
For young and aspiring reporters, she stated, “I would encourage people to be patient and to take their time. Don’t beat yourself up.”
“If you are in this business and doing an interview with someone and you walked out thinking it was ‘awful,’ but remember it is in the past, and it is done. When you look at it, it is probably fantastic and don’t beat yourself up over it,” she elaborated.
“There is always a next day, if you think you’ve made a mistake, you can learn from it. Don’t beat yourself up and don’t get upset about it,” she noted.
“Finally, don’t compare yourself to other people either even though I know it’s hard with social media these days. You are your own individual. Be that way, and you will be appreciated,” she concluded.
To learn more about Bonnie Laufer, follow her on Instagram and X (formely known as Twitter).
