Even veteran entertainment reporters will tell you that getting an interview with George Clooney is a big deal.
Well, some teenagers in Florida just showed Hollywood journalists how it’s done.
Staff at the Eagle Eye, the student newspaper at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Florida, got the scoop of a lifetime when, to their shock, the Oscar winner responded to their request for an interview.
The students, who are taking over the Guardian’s website to run their coverage of right March for Our Lives Saturday, decided to try their luck and sent a request for interviews to politicians and celebrities, including George and Amal Clooney, who gave $500,000 to support their rally.
The Clooneys turned them down on the interview … but sent them an exclusive letter that explained why.
“Amal and I are 100 percent behind you and will be marching in DC on the 24th, ” Clooney told them, “but we both feel very strongly that this is your march. Your moment.”
Clooney went on to explain that “anyone you ask would feel proud to be interviewed by you but it’s so much more effective if it’s young people.”
“You make me proud of my country again,” Clooney concluded.
Read the full letter below.
Dear Emma, Lauren and Rebecca,
Thank you for your note and congratulations on the incredible work you and all of your fellow students are doing to make the country a safer place.
It’s terrific that you’re editing the Guardian. It’s a stellar newspaper and they must feel honored to be working with you.
Amal and I are 100% behind you and will be marching in DC on the 24th, but we both feel very strongly that this is your march. Your moment. Young people are taking it to the adults and that has been your most effective tool. The fact that no adults will speak on the stage in DC is a powerful message to the world that if we can’t do something about gun violence then you will. The issue is going to be this, anyone you ask would feel proud to be interviewed by you but it’s so much more effective if it’s young people.
You could take over the Guardian and make it tell the stories of children by children. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to point to this moment and say it belongs to you. You certainly should do what you want but that would be my hope for you.
Amal and I stand behind you, in support of you, in gratitude to you.
You make me proud of my country again.
Thank you.
All the best,
George
The March for Our Lives rally is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to Washington, D.C. as well as sibling protests across the country on Saturday.
You can read more of the Parkland students’ coverage on the Guardian here.