JOLIE BACKTRACKS ON INTERVIEW RESTRICTIONS (US, NYT, HUFF, FOX)

By Nancy Vialatte

Following news of Angelina Jolie’s demands on the press at the premiere for ‘A Mighty Heart,’ the actress and her lawyers have reportedly switched gears on making journalists sign restrictive contracts before interviewing her.

At Wednesday night’s premiere, journalists were required to sign agreements which forbade them to ask her about Jolie’s personal relationships and also stipulated, “The interview may only be used to promote the Picture. In no event may Interviewer or Media Outlet be entitled to run all or any portion of the interview in connection with any other story…the interview will not be used in a manner that is disparaging, demeaning or derogatory to Ms. Jolie.”

When Fox's Roger Friedman reported on the contract Thursday, he called Jolie a “mighty hypocrite” pointing out that “A Mighty Heart” champions freedom of press, and that the premiere supported Reporters Without Borders.

But, usmagazine.com is now reporting that Jolie has reversed her position and won’t restrict reporters' questions at today’s press junket for the film.

Paul Colford, Director of Media Relations for the Associated Press tells Us: "APTN was asked to sign a document pertaining to an interview with her scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) but declined to sign because it is not AP policy to do so. Jolie has agreed to the one-on-one interview without the signed document." (US)

The New York Times points out that at the premiere most media outlets, including the AP, declined to sign the document and that in the aftermath, Jolie’s lawyer Robert Offer is issuing a big mea culpa.

Ms. Jolie’s lawyer, Robert Offer, said that the statement was the fault of a “bone-headed, overzealous lawyer” — meaning himself — and that his client was unaware of the move. “This was my creating something to protect her from the press’s talking about personal matters, a document that would limit discussion to the film,” he said. "But it was drafted overly broadly. It was well intended, but I understand how it was received.” (NYT)

Yet, Offer did note that journalists were asked to sign a similar agreement around the release of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” when Jolie and Brad Pitt caused a media firestorm over their apparent affair and the collapse of Pitt’s marriage to Jennifer Aniston. Journalists did sign that agreement, Offer said.

Ms. Jolie’s manager, Geyer Kosinski, said the new document was meant to “guide” journalists, not control them, because Ms. Jolie has a tendency to speak frankly. “She is an incredibly candid, honest person, who is undeterred herself in answering questions,” he said. “Our collective intention was to protect her.” (NYT)

A spokeswoman for Paramount Vantage denied an accusation made by Friedman that Jolie had banned Fox from the red carpet at the premiere, and that it was given a spot only after the studio intervened. “It was an omission,” the spokeswoman said, “an honest mistake.”

And while it's nothing new in Hollywood, forcing reporters to sign “Stasi-style” contracts, as Dana Kennedy points out on the Huffington Post, made Jolie come off “like the world’s biggest diva.” And yet, she adds:

Angelina Jolie has the right to demand whatever she wants of the reporters who want to cover her. If she wants her people to shove a contract in your face and tell you to sign it if you want the privilege of an audience with her -- that's her prerogative. (HUFF)

And that's the problem: Angelina Jolie or whatever star promoting his or her movie that week is always the prom queen or king. The entertainment reporter is always the band geek. (HUFF)

What goes on there, strictly speaking, is none of our business -- except when Hollywood wants it to be our business, when it has something to promote. That's when the "entertainment reporter" becomes a valuable arm of the studio publicity machine and the star's as well. (HUFF)