What to Avoid Saying or Doing at Your First Movie Premiere

If ever you find yourself staring down the glaring lights of a paparazzo's lens or find yourself chatting it up with a pesky Hollywood reporter at your first movie premiere, don't say anything political or controversial. By doing this you are only out to ruin your first big night, which might very well end up being your last.

And even while you're palms are sweaty and the glaring lights from the paparazzi are so bright they could bore a hole right through the back of your skull, it is always wise to down play any talks of awards, nominations; no one likes a braggart.

Here are five other things to avoid saying at your first movie premiere:

1. Avoid falling for reporters' tricks: keep all focus on the movie

There is no news like bad news and media outlets are constantly on the prowl for scandalous headlines that sell their magazines or grant exclusives to their television programs. Don't give them any; you are there to promote a movie. Therefore, do not allow a pesky reporter to shift focus from the movie by revisiting any alleged rift between cast mates, any other problems that might have occurred during filming or any alleged romantic interests. Play down the issue and quickly return to promoting the movie.

2. Avoid saying you have no new project: you always have a next project

Think like a Hollywood agent; think like Entourage's Ari Gold. In the event that a reporter asks what your next project is and you do not have one: do not say so. Rather, just say that you are reading a few scripts and never say what scripts they are. Be coy and keep them wanting more! You should say that you are reading scripts because you never want to promote the idea that nobody else is interested in hiring you after your first movie. Studio bosses and casting agents who hear of offers to you will view you as a viable option for their movie because other persons are competing for your time and talent.

3. Avoid looking unprofessional

It is not often that a first time actor is blessed with a great or even a good movie. Therefore, if you are less than enthusiastic about the quality of film in which you are in, do not let a reporter know that the movie is not good. Take for example Bernie Mac's promotion of Ocean's 12. He promoted it well on the red carpets and in promotional interviews. However, he later jokingly confessed on one of NBC's late night talk shows, that Ocean's 12 was so bad that when he watched it on DVD at home, he walked out of his own house! Commit to your project.

4. Avoid giving away the plot

An accidental slip of the tongue can happen to anyone, even the most experienced actor. A first timer at a movie premiere is sure to be nervous. Nervousness and anxiety open doors to many public blunders. Make sure you know how much you are allowed to say. No one likes a spoiler.

5. Avoid looking like an idiot: get your facts straight

Avoid appearing on your first red carpet as the dumb actor who does not know what should be known. It is important to know some of these things:

a) The location where the movie was filmed, not just the country and the city but the small town. This is important in case a reporter asks how accommodating the locals were during filming or how was it like filming in a specific town.

b) The name of your screenwriter. Give the writers their due. Credit should not only be given to the director you feared would fire you every day.

c) The name of the novelist and book if your movie is an adaptation from a novel. Read the book, so if you have to make comparisons between the book and the movie you will sound credible, smart and professional.