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Penn's Latest Role: Reporter
As a cub reporter, Sean Penn's generating more headlines than bylines.
The politically minded actor, on an assignment for the San Francisco Chronicle to cover Friday's presidential elections in Iran, has drawn photographers and looky-loos since arriving in the country last week, but Penn has yet to pen a story for the paper.
He attended Friday prayers at Tehran University, jotting notes in a pad and conferring with his translator as a cleric shouted, "Death to America." On Sunday, his camcorder was briefly confiscated by authorities after he taped a peaceful demonstration--a sit-in led by women--at the university.
On Monday, the 44-year-old Oscar winner offerered up a few political statements at a "friendly meeting" with Iranian actors, directors, cultural officials and press held at Iran's Museum of Cinema.
"I have the honor [to be] spending my time with you here in Iran. We love [your] cinema," he told the confab, per an Islamic Republic News Agency report, before receiving a film award.
According to wire reports, Penn also took time to note that the "death to America" chants hurt the peace process between America and Iran.
"I understand the nature of where it comes from and what its intention is," he told a film student at the event, per Reuters. "But I don't think it's productive because I think the message goes to the American people and it is interpreted very literally."
This is not the first time Penn has traveled to the Middle East. The Mystic River star famously visited Iraq in 2002, preaching peace and angering many who felt the actor was acting against America's best interest.
That sojourn, also a Chronicle-sponsored journalistic endeavor for Penn, provided comedy fodder for Matt Stone and Trey Parker, which they incorporated into South Park and last year's feature film Team America: World Police (Penn's puppet doppelganger was part of a group of liberal actors who go to Korea for a ill-conceived attempt at striking a peace accord).
The criticism led to a harsh exchange between Penn and the South Park brain trust, with Penn ripping Parker and Stone for suggesting people not vote in the 2004 U.S. election.
"It's all well to joke about me," Penn wrote. "Not so well, to encourage irresponsibility that will ultimately lead to the disembowelment, mutilation, exploitation, and death of innocent people throughout the world."
As for his current assignment, Penn is remaining mum on exactly what he plans to write about the Iranian election.
"I have focused on my plan to fulfill my job here," he told a reporter for the Islamic Republic News Agency. "I will comment later, after I accomplish my work here."
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