Writers strike chic: Pins, not pickets!
The 2008 awards season is in jeopardy! There may not even be a Globes or an Oscar ceremony, due to the ongoing WGA strike. So far, the SAG Awards, which scored a waiver thanks to WGA's friendly relationship with the actors guild, might be the extent of the season's glitz and glamour.
Oh, Lord. Imagine a world without Oscar parties, Oscar suites, Oscar betting and red carpet Oscar fashion?
Can the awards season be saved, but still, somehow, support the stymied writers strike?
Here's an idea now being bandied about in Hollywood's top public relations firms' offices:
Pins. Not picket lines.
How about a Writers Guild strike support pin? Perhaps a red and white (WGA colors) version of the standard AIDS (red) or breast cancer (pink) pin design? Or a simple gold writing quill that could be worn on tux lapels and gown bodices?
"Actors walking the red carpets wearing a pin to show their support of the strike and then talking about it to the TV crews would keep the Guild from looking like such a bad guy," said one seasoned publicist.
"The Guild would be much smarter to use the cameras and turn the attention on the cause in a positive way," said another wily publicist.
Naturally, publicists would be the first to see the potential to turn this heated deadlock into a win-win situation that wouldn't further alienate the strikers from their industry supporters. Here's what my comrades-in-awards-coverage Pete Hammond and Tom O'Neil have to say about pins, pickets and the strike.
In a word, it's genius. Imagine a Jan. 13 Golden Globes carpet loaded with big stars such as Jodie Foster, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Viggo Mortensen, Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett (this year's Helen Mirren), Denzel Washington, and Keira Knightley, all wearing these pins and talking fervently to the international media about their support of the strike.
Then imagine the Jan. 27 SAG Awards -- filled with beloved TV and film nominees such as James Gandolfini, Tommy Lee Jones, George Clooney (again), James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Russell Crowe, the ubiquitous Cate Blanchett (she's the 2008 Helen Mirren), and Julie Christie, all doing the same thing?
The incredible exposure could even turn the pins into profit! If the pin popularity takes off, the money from sales could go to a special needs fund for writers' families who have medical emergencies or those who are in danger of losing their homes or cars because of the strike.
He-llo? WGA, are you listening? Pins, not pickets! Then, if the strike continues, maybe some cute Writers Do it Better T-shirts for summer. (That would be a joke).
Photo Credits: Tom Cruise and a guest both sported bright red AIDS awareness pins with Paul Newman at the Oscars back in 1994. Will red and white WGA awareness pins be the big thing this year?
WireImage
Now that surely is an idea worth considering. There are many striker 's families who are sorely hit financially by this strike. This could not have been the intention originally but is a result of the breakdown of sensible negotiations. The children do not deserve to suffer!
This idea is brilliant, but it seems like the WGA is a tad bitter to consider such a sensible option.
Awards shows are a bit of a meaningless extravaganza anyway, so picketing them is kind of pointless. Why not use them as a vehicle for change? Clearly the WGA needs better publicists.
This is a great idea! if only the WGA would start listening to people.
Not to be off topic, but I think the "guest" in the photo is actually Newman's daughter.
If no one shows up to the globes or academy awards - don't you think more people will be talking? Let the networks lose the money. When no one watches the globes they will see all the oscar money hanging over their heads. Pluse the studios heads and execs love the party scene, makes them feel part of the movie making scene
Actually, pins HAVE been created. They're showing up on picket lines as we speak. Picketers can be seen wearing them in the photo gallery on this site: http://www.bringbackthedialogue.com