Over the summer, the blog That Girl Emily went from famous to infamous. Its infamy came after Interneters “outed” the blog as part of a marketing campaign for a new Court TV television show, Parco P.I.
That Girl Emily became famous in large part due to the writing. Eva Nagorski is the talented writer behind the blog. Thankfully, Eva consented to speak with us after we dared ask her for an interview. We’d love to be able to say we sleuthed her out in the exquisite manner that the online flash campaign outed That Girl…, but, truthfully, we discovered Eva simply by watching Rocketboom. After that, it was a quick entry into Dogpile and…
How did you get involved with the “That Girl Emily” project?
Eva Nagorski: Court TV generated the idea of “That Girl Emily” and the ad agency, Deep Focus, specifically Jim Marsh and Sabrina Caluori, came up with the concept of the blog. Deep Focus asked a few writers to submit a sample blog, which I did, and they chose mine as the one that best fit the voice they were looking for.
The site was officially live for about one month. How long were you actually involved behind the scenes with the project?
Eva Nagorski: About two weeks before the first blog went up.
Was it easy or was it difficult to remain silent re: That Girl Emily?
Eva: A bit hard when people talked about it but overall, easy since my husband knew about it and I knew that soon enough, I could tell people.
How did it feel to take on her persona?
Eva: A bit voyeuristic.
Being a writer, have other characters that you’ve created come to life for you so viscerally?
Eva: Yes, especially ones closer to my personality, and I don’t realize how much they’re like me till after I write them.
Where do you live?
Eva: Turtle Bay, Manhattan
Where did you grow up?
Eva: Massachusetts, New York, Hong Kong, California, the former Soviet Union, Italy, Germany, Poland, etc.
So you’re not really well traveled, are you? What/who inspired you to become a writer?
Eva: My father, who is a writer, and my mother, who should be a writer. Most of the people on my father’s side, especially my grandfather, are also writers so I don’t think I had much of a choice.
Back to Emily, how well do you identify with her plight? Her rage?
Eva: Her plight-not at all. Her rage-I do get that, although I’m not the type to seek vengeance. So it made it so much more fun to delve into her.
Did you ever meet the actress/model portraying Emily?
Eva: No.
At any point, did you want to portray Emily yourself?
Eva: No.
When the bleeding edgers of the online community decided to “out” Emily, what were your emotions? Were you even aware of the campaign?
Eva: Yes, I was aware of what was going on. At first, it seemed to be a shame Emily was outed so quickly but then, when so many people wrote that they still wanted to continue reading the blog despite knowing it was fake, it was great to receive such a compliment. And no matter what, it definitely touched a cord. Bottom line, Court TV and Deep Focus kicked ass on a campaign that was literally talked about around the globe.
Did their actions cut short the Emily project, or was it always designed to go for just one month?
Eva: Always designed to go for just one month.
When did Emily actually end for you, from a strict project deadline standpoint, and from a personal, emotional standpoint?
Eva: Both on Sunday, June 30th.
Did you have to decompress from the experience?
Eva: No.
Would you do an Emily again? How about any other multi-media story project?
Eva: Of course!
What was your favorite aspect of doing Emily?
Eva: Writing a blog, which I had never done before.
What was your least favorite aspect about the Emily project?
Eva: Knowing that some people were emotionally connecting to Emily and that they might be upset once they found out she was fake. Although “Emily” was meant to give people a chance to live vicariously through her, and people do find strength in fictional characters as well!
What other projects have you written?
Eva: I’ve written for TV (Law&Order: SVU; Las Vegas; Deadline), for various American and Polish publications; various films, features and shorts, such as “solidarity”, about Poland during martial law that has been in numerous film festivals — and documentaries.
What other projects have you done with Deep Focus?
Eva Nagorski: Some freelance ad copy work. They’re a great company.
You have extensive ties to the New York Polish artistic scene. How did you get involved with them?
Eva: I’m Polish-American, speak the language and have many relatives and friends in that scene.
How tight is that community? In other words, how extensive is the support network there?
Eva: During communism, the community was extremely tight. Now, it seems just close enough that everyone still knows who to gossip about but don’t really hang out.
How big is the New York Polish artistic scene?
Eva: It could be bigger.
As a freelance writer, how do you support yourself between gigs?
Eva: I also produce.
Are there days when you wake up and it was just too overwhelming to get out of bed and be Emily? Also please apply that also to the general subject of you being a writer.
Eva: No because I know if I don’t show up to the computer and write, no one else will. And the more material I’ve got, the more there’s a chance someone will pay me!
After Emily, what’s next for you?
Eva: Am pitching TV, film and book projects so hopefully one (or all!) will come to fruition.
What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?
Eva: Being a mom and still writing.
Who was your biggest influence(s) growing up?
Eva: My parents.
Who were your parents and what did they do?
Eva: My father is a senior editor at Newsweek Magazine. My mother is a mom. They are tremendous, hardworking, generous (in every sense of the word), honest people, with the biggest hearts and always an open door for anyone.
Are you married? If so, do you have children? If so, are any girls? If so, how did they react to this project in general; and specifically, how did they react to discovering that you were Emily?
Eva: I am ridiculously happily married. No children yet.
Who is your biggest influence now?
Eva: My husband.
What’s the biggest problem facing the world today?
Eva: Intolerance and religious fanatics.
Would you rather spend a year locked in a space capsule orbiting Earth or on a desert island?
Eva: Desert island.
Who makes you laugh the most?
Eva: My husband.
What’s the worst car trouble you’ve ever had?
Eva: Making a small dent while my brakes locked in a huge snowstorm.
What hobbies have you?
Eva: Tennis, reading, photography, film.
Favorite movie starring relationship revenge?
Eva: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Almovodar)
What sound or noise do you love?
Eva: My husband’s voice telling me, “good night”.
What sound or noise do you hate?
Eva: My husband’s voice telling me, “wake up”.
What is your favorite food that you’ve never had?
Eva: Fried mayonnaise
What is your favorite food that you actually have had?
Eva: Bread & chocolate
What superpower would you want?
Eva: Telepathy
Hillary Rodham Clinton or Oprah Winfrey?
Eva: Oprah
Paper or Plastic?
Eva: Plastic
Hybrid or electric?
Eva: Hybrid
If Heaven does exist, what would you like God to say when you enter?
Eva: Ready for your next reincarnation?
