Posts Tagged ‘Hollywood’
Gavin Newsom: The Humphrey Bogart of California Politics
Twitter user @SGourley on @GavinNewsom
Twitter user @SGourley raises an interesting point about search engines, public personas, and political aspirations by offering the instructions seen to the right.
Following those instructions (running a google image search on “gavin newsom“), you’re greeted with a number of views of the honorable Mayor of San Francisco: taking the oath of office, eating a reporter’s microphone (where’s the video of that one?), lounging with his former wife, smiling with his wonderful new bride, looking goofy in a T-Shirt, looking strong behind a podium, and – shall we say – looking amused in the “3rd Result” that @SGourley is focusing on.
Making Friends and Influencing People
@SGourley assumes that Newsom would want rid of such a picture. But with Garry South – Newsom’s campaign guru (and a guru of mine) – talking up every reporter in his speed dial about Jerry Brown’s time in office (code for “the other guy’s old!”), maybe Newsom wants pictures like this out there.
Part of the allure of a candidate like Newsom (and even stick-in-the-mud Barack Obama) is that there’s a certain brash danger that comes with a handsome young leader. The swagger. The knowing smirk. It’s like Humphrey Bogart is running for office; a drink in one hand, a smoke in the other, and a remit envelop in the inside pocket of his suit.
Decades earlier, Bogart likes what he sees.
In fact, the Newsom photo actually reminded me of a famous picture of Bogart. Out on the town with Lauren Bacall, Bogie found himself face to – ahem – face with Marilyn Monroe.
Bogart’s got a few years on Newsom, and is playing it cooler…
…but there’s that look.
The handrolling of the cigarette is certainly more than any politician could ever muster, because of California’s modern smoking laws and the fact that there will only ever be one Humphrey Bogart.
Same eyeline...totally different meaning!
But, the look is the same.
Which brings me to of another famous photo from that era (and the moral of the story). Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield.
The eyeline is the same, but the meaning is completely different. I’m guessing Lauren Bacall laid the same look on Monroe just after this photo was taken.
And while a Google image search of Jennifer Siebel Newsom turned up no similar shot, take this as a word of warning.
Female Newsom supporters: you probably won’t get the Bogie look, but the Loren look is always right there in your face – or wherever.
UPDATED: I took the time and tracked down a short clip of Newsom eating a reporter’s microphone mentioned above – a still of which appears in the “gavin newsom” image search @SGourley is talking about. Oh Gavin, you cad!
Writers’ Workshop – Members of the WGA put on an advocacy vlogging clinic as part of their strike
Let us get the following out in the open: I am extremely partial to the Writers Guild of America in their strike against the AMPTP. After all, at one point I fancied myself a future member.
Now, members of the Guild are inspiring me once again, as they provide a superb example of how to vlog in support of your agenda. I saw the video below posted at United Hollywood, which is the go-to site for strike information. This video speaks with a number of WGA strike captains, who explain what the strike is about and make clear what they’re fighting for. This isn’t some abstract contract dispute between the Union and the Producers.
This is a struggle for working writers to make a living during those long stretches of time when they aren’t actively employed on a show or movie. It not only shows what is at stake for the casual viewer or outsider, it makes a strong activation case for Members to become Captains themselves.
The video above packs a ton of factual material into 3:50, laying out the case for the strike quickly and clearly. It goes through decades of Hollywood Labor history, they formulas behind residuals as they are, and the better structure the Guild is working toward.
It’s not exactly a surprise that the WGA members are putting out material of this quality. They are professional storytellers, after all. What surprises me is that these folks aren’t being pulled in to create content for the 2008 contenders. I’m guessing a lot of them are politically minded and progressive. Why aren’t they in the camps of the Democratic candidates?
Actually, I know exactly why (hint: it’s the pay). And for me, it’s for the best. I don’t want to compete with the guys behind The Office.
Rob Reiner appears in Clinton video…but does her campaign “Go to eleven?”
I’d meant to post this before, as any appearance by Meathead deserves an upload. File it under better late than never. If you haven’t watched this yet, check it out! In it, Hollywood impresario Rob Reiner directs Clinton supporters in how to convey their outreach.
A friend connected to a rival campaign points out, “This is a video where they need a Hollywood director to show Hillary’s young supporters how to be enthusiastic.”
Sharp elbows, indeed – but why would a passionate supporter need a great director like Reiner to impart their heartfelt support of Hillary? It’s something to think about while you watch Reiner’s funny performance.