I am very aware of the fact that I am not a seasoned professional in this world of film criticism. Anyone who has every read one of my reviews could tell you that. But despite my lack of experience, I do understand the concept that you absolutely cannot look like an amateur in the world of showbiz (or the world of showbiz journalism for that matter). Thus I have become quite good at faking it, appearing as if I know what they hell I am talking about — feigning intellectual prowess, if I may.

Every once in a while, though, I allow myself to be exposed as an amateur and I receive the dreaded “who invited this guy?” look from those around me. It was the same feeling that I experienced the first time I attended a “press only” movie screening. There I stood amongst notable critics — not Roger Ebert or anything — but the most notable film voices in all of Central Ohio. They hailed from newspapers, magazines and television, I had a tiny website that I started months earlier with my lackadaisical friend Brian. I had sold myself this far, all the way onto the press list, and I was exposed in that moment as someone who was severely out of place. I hate that feeling.

But that is how it goes in life — sometimes you have to be the new guy in order to break in and get a shot at doing what makes you happy. I was struck with the same feeling again today, an overwhelming sense of naivety, but it ultimately resulted in by far the best experience of my career in journalism. Allow my to explain…

I have been all but fellating the publicity staff at Warner Brothers for weeks over the upcoming film 300, based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller. The trailer for the film is so spectacular that it could be used as a temporary substitute for intercourse for us movie lovers — it is that stimulating. I have been poking and prodding, attempting to score some insider info (which I have not yet gotten), a cool promotion for Film School Rejects (which we are very likely going to get) and possibly an interview with either Frank Miller or Director Zach Snyder (which I did get, thus the entire premise of this article). I finally scored the interview and was given a phone date with Mr. Snyder earlier today.

Aside from the fact that they were “running behind”, which translates into some jackass from Variety asking too many stupid questions and slowing down a day’s worth of interviews, it was a seemingly simple process. The publicist calls me, makes sure that I am ready to go and then throws Zach on the line and I have to then ask questions. Which would have been all well and good if I had any clue what I was doing when it comes to interviewing celebrities. I talked too much, explained my questions so meticulously that it left him with nothing but “Uh…” for an initial answer most of the time and I probably sounded like a brooding fanboy with too many “Thank you” and “Your movie fuckin’ rules” moments. And if that didn’t give away the fact that this was my first ever major interview, the fact that I ran out of questions surely did. I was stuck. What was my solution? Did I close the interview eloquently? No! I bumbled through some off the cuff questions like the village idiot. I would not be surprised if Zach Snyder, creator of what could be the “Film of the Year”, was giving me the “who invited this guy?” look over the phone.

But despite my obvious amateur status, the interview did go pretty well. How is that possible, you may ask? It turns out that Zach Snyder is one of the most laid back, cool guys you will ever meet in Hollywood. It was refreshing to talk to someone with such passion for what they do. He was relaxed, intelligent and ultimately just a cool guy. He has a razor sharp wit and a very personable nature — one of those guys you could just sit around and shoot the shit with about making movies. In the end, despite the nerves and the stumbling over my words, it was a very awesome experience. And just like every other situation I have come across in this business, with time I will become more comfortable and ultimately shake that “who invited this guy?” stigma for good.

Keep an eye out for the transcript of my interview with Director Zach Snyder over at Film School Rejects in the coming days…