In which I mention something I shouldn't

This next story is another one that was part of an interview that actually wasn't terrible. It wasn't super wonderful, but it wasn't terrible. It was just...standard, I guess.

Anyway, this interview was for a position at a company run by a famous political figure. Well, she's sort of famous in her own right, but she's mostly known for being related to someone who is a REALLY famous political figure. Like, even if you aren't up on your politics, you definitely know who the REALLY famous political figure is. And, well, you're probably not a fan. But whatevs, I'm a Republican, I'm used to the hate.

Anyway, I went in for the interview, but I didn't realize that [famous political figure] was actually going to be CONDUCTING the interview. I didn't even think she'd be there at all. So that was a surprise.

It turns out that she's really, REALLY nice, and the interview was fine - it was pretty obvious from the start that they were looking for someone older than me, which is fine, so I just tried to get through the rest of it without embarassing myself. Which I did, until...

[Famous political figure]: "Now, what have you been doing since January?"

Me, inwardly: Oh gee, I guess I've just really been DESPERATEY TRYING TO GET MYSELF EMPLOYED AGAIN.

Me, for real: "Well, I've done a couple of freelance projects, and I've gotten to travel a bit, which is nice, and, erm, I also worked on a movie, for a little bit."

[Famous political figure]: "Oh really? A movie? Here in DC?"

Me: "Well, sort of - it was already shot, but I just helped with some of the post-production work a bit."

[Famous political figure]: "What kind of a movie was it?"

Me, beginning to regret mentioning this: "Oh, it was, um, a small indie movie."

[Famous political figure]: "Yes, but what kind? You know, what genre?"

Me, really regretting this now: "Erm...well...it was, ah...it was...a samurai movie."

[Famous political figure]: "A...samurai movie?"

NOTE: OK...yes, I did work VERY BRIEFLY for this guy who was working on this samurai movie, and I was just doing, like, phone calls and emails, I wasn't, you know, running around set with swords and stuff, and it was only for like two weeks, and it was stupid, and obviously not the kind of thing you want to list as an accomplishment when interviewing in stuffy, political DC. And yet I bring it up in an interview. Good going EINSTEIN.

Me: "Um...yes. But...it's a really GOOD samurai movie." Lies. The movie is terrible.

[Famous political figure]: "Well...that's very...interesting. We...I guess we could use a few more samurai movies, right?"

Me: "Right! Haa, hee, I guess, you know, everything's better if you...ah...include a samurai movie."

[Famous political figure]: "Uh, yes...right. Ok, well, thanks for coming in."

In conclusion, I think the lesson here is: know your audience.

When interviewing with cool, hispter production companies - mention samurai movie work.

When interviewing with serious politicians - DO NOT mention samurai movie work.