The press junket, a crucial but often disliked aspect of the film industry, serves as a condensed method of garnering extensive media coverage. Despite its effectiveness, the celebrities who serve as the main draw for these events often find the process of navigating a barrage of interviews and public engagements taxing.
Lupita Nyong’o, renowned for her roles in “Us,” “Black Panther,” and “12 Years a Slave,” is the latest to express her reservation about press junket, describing it as a “torture technique.”
In an interview with Glamour magazine to discuss her latest film “A Quiet Place: Day One,” Nyong’o expressed irritation with the repetitive nature of press junkets, where she has to engage in a series of interviews with various individuals being cycled in, describing the experience as tedious and taxing.
She added: “You have to give each one of them attention, focus, and an articulate answer that you just gave to the person before. That’s irritating.”
Cillian Murphy, during the promotion of Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” referred to the relentless cycle of interviews and red carpet events as a “broken model“, as reported by the Guardian.
Murphy implied that the success of films like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” released during the Sag-Aftra actors’ strike when promotional activities were limited, suggested that the typical junket approach might be unnecessary.
Concerns over the detrimental effects of press junkets on actors’ mental health have been raised by some in the industry. Jonah Hill, in 2022, announced his withdrawal from press tours, citing the need to “protect” himself from the potential strain associated with these engagements.
Before debuting his therapy documentary Stutz, Hill said: “I have spent nearly 20 years experiencing anxiety attacks, which are exacerbated by media appearances and public-facing events … However, you won’t see me out there promoting this film, or any of my upcoming films, while I take this important step to protect myself. If I made myself sicker by going out there and promoting it, I wouldn’t be acting true to myself or to the film.”
Even celebrities known for their media-friendly disposition have expressed disdain for press junkets. Tom Hanks, in 2017, characterized junkets as “opprobrious” and “merciless,” adding: “It is a level of corporate branding strategy to the degree of hackery and they honestly think you have the stamina of an ox to drag this piece of shit movie across international datelines.”
