On the Beat with the Heartbeats
Seventeen Magazine
Karen Good
July 1992
I’m sitting at my desk at the Howard University newspaper, when one of my editors walks in and casually asks me if I would mind going to New York City to see a screening of the movie The Five Heartbeats (about the ups and downs of a Motown-type singing group) and interview director Robert Townsend and the cast, all expenses paid by Twentieth Century Fox. After picking my jaw up off the floor, I jump at the chance.
A month later, I arrive in New York City, feeling like one of the Beverly Hillbillies. Being alone and lost anywhere is bad, but to even look it in New York is dangerous, so I past a “you touch, I kill” sneer across my face and head for the hotel. Because this is all very surreal to me, I half expect some version of Motel 6. Instead I walk into a sort of minipalace. It’s close to movie time, so I run to join the other guests. People are standing around, sipping champagne and making small talk. I’m no fool. I decide since I’m here, I ought to try to make a few connections.
Neoprofessional Rule of Journalism No. 1: Timidity has no place in the competitive world of journalism. If you are a beginning reporter, you want to make as many contacts as possible. Be outgoing and meet people.
Excitement sets in, and I’m now ready to hop in the black limo I expect will be waiting to take us to the screening. The stars I’ll meet! (“Well, hello, Whoopi! Glad you could make it.” “Spike! Denzel! Lets’ do lunch.”) Then I walk outside where reality slaps me in the face—hard.
Neoprofessional Realization No. 1: I’m not Julia Roberts; therefore, I won’t be treated as if I am. My stretch black limousine is, instead, a bus.
Neoprofessional Realization No. 2: This is by no means a star-studded affair. There are several different premieres, some (like this one) mostly for the press. Disappointed, but still excited, I settle down to watch the movie, which I think turns out to be pretty good.
Day two, and I’m up at 6:00 AM reviewing my questions. Knowledge of your subject is essential for a reporter. The interviews are in thirty-minute “waves,” and the college-newspaper section is last. Only two colleges besides Howard are invited, and I am the only woman. I worry about the fact that the three groups before me are filled with more experienced reporters, so questions will be repeated.
Neoprofessional Rule of Journalism No. 2: A question is a question. If you want to know something, ask.
Clouding my judgment is the fact that I have a huge crush on Leon (the extremely sexy guy who was in Madonna’s Like a Prayer video), who plays J.T. in the film. Leon is the first to enter the room and looks better in person than he ever has onscreen. He walks up to me and introduces himself, and for a moment I completely forget why I’m there.
But then the interview begins, and it goes so fast! All of a sudden, a Fox exec is saying “Time’s Up.” So many important questions remain unanswered, like why hadn’t I been offered a part in Townsend’s next film? And why didn’t any of them ask me out?
Back in my room, I pack, and since my train doesn’t leave until 2:00 PM, I grab a bite. Then reality hits, and I remember that I’m not in Washington D.C., and that Manhattan midday traffic closely resembles a full parking lot. At 1:55 PM I’m just getting to Penn Station, and I make a mad sprint to catch the train. Finally on board, I relax. I feel so professional. So accomplished. So tired.
Now I’ve had a year to reflect on the whole exhausting experience. Would I do it again? You better know it. First of all, even though the movie didn’t turn out to be a hit and the trip wasn’t quite as glamorous as I’d imagined, I got a little taste of what it was like to be in the “real world” of journalism—and got my story printed in publications other than the school paper.
I also learned that writing is what I really want to do. I know I have a long way to go in my field. More stories, more internships, more jobs. Hopefully, in the end it’ll be all worth it. But no matter what, I’m definitely on my way.
