Hollywood set to become an Obama production

[BeyondGeography]

CAUSE CÉLÈBRE: Ready to give Barack the part

From the beginning, Hollywood has loved Obama's story -- his "pitch" as they say -- but was wary of his real box office potential.

By Tina Daunt, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 8, 2008

ON desks all over Hollywood, there's a note this morning waiting to be sent:

Memo to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: We think you're aces. Really. And we love your husband. But we're running off with Sen. Barack Obama. Hope you understand. It's all about being part of history. We'll do lunch after the inauguration.

...Phones started ringing even before the junior senator from Illinois had completed his Iowa victory speech, which hardened political pros compared to legendary addresses given by the Kennedys, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Ronald Reagan. West of La Cienega, the clips on cable news were the best audition tapes anybody had seen in a long time.

If Clinton loses in New Hampshire tonight, predicted longtime political operative turned Hollywood producer Brian Quintana, Hollywood "will defect to Barack in droves."

"It is not a question of loyalty; Barack is simply too close to making history for Hollywood not to be part of it," Quintana said. "For most of us, Hillary was our first choice, but she has come up short. Barack has become a movement."

...Obama supporters Irena and Mike Medavoy spent the weekend calling their Clinton-supporting pals in Hollywood to see if they wanted to switch sides. (They are also helping host a fundraiser in the Pacific Palisades for Obama on Jan. 16.) "Before, there was a sense that Hillary's nomination was inevitable and Obama didn't have a chance," said Irena Medavoy. "Iowa gave people a lot of hope. I'm not going to name names, but there are people who were supporting Hillary who now want to help Obama."

"As an African American who has supported Hillary, it's tough," said one industry executive who asked not to be named. "You listen to Obama's speech in Iowa, and it's like your DNA kicks in. That's hard to ignore. I've been very loyal, very dedicated. But this is rough. I don't know what I'm going to do."

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/la-et-cause8jan08,1,695977.story?coll=la-celebrity-news

[Nailzberg]

1. We love a good trend here in LALA

Been telling these people for years that Obama is the real deal. They're just now getting the picture.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. "Barack has become a movement."

I don't know about you guys but T_C_O doesn't do "movements".

[Nailzberg]

4. Sure you do. Everyone does movements.

[mathewsleep]

5. i don't

poop.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

6. What's wrong with you?

Barack is totally cool and starting up a totally fresh and cool movement man. It's like the 60's bro. Get with the times dude. Let's have some HOPE!

[Cha]

3. His DNA kicked in...well

I should hope so!

This is what I like.. "David Geffen, an early Obama supporter who is looking even more prescient than usual, shared a celebratory call over the weekend with Kelly Meyer, wife of NBC-Universal chief Ron Meyer. Kelly stepped out as one of Hollywood's early fundraisers for Obama, even though many of her industry friends were going with Clinton. She said Geffen had given her sound advice: Follow your heart."

[Anouka]

8. That line was offensive. What was that supposed to mean?

Here, Obama is doing his best to run on a colorblind platform....... and these fools are sabotaging him.

[CitizenLeft]

10. I know what he meant.

My man was Al Gore, just as a disclaimer against any thought that I'd choose him just because he's black. At the moment, I am candidate-less. But being an African-American, and hearing his speech the other night, I got goosebumps and cried. I can't explain it. All I can say is that images of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and visions of fire hoses and police dogs and lynched burnt bodies hanging from telephone poles and the Middle Passage all washed over me out of nowhere like a tidal wave. It overwhelmed me, just for a moment. I could easily be chastised for it only being a moment - I've tried hard to be "color-blind" when it comes to politics - I've probably over-done it, and tried too hard. Very difficult consideing cagings and voter ID cards and poll taxes and cops blocking the road and "broken" voting machines in Cuyahoga County - well, I could go on all night, couldn't I? But at moments like that... hearing his speech, and being faced with the suddenly REAL possibility that this may actually happen, in my lifetime... yeah... my "DNA" kicked in too. It really had nothing to do with color itself, but history. I felt that history all of a sudden right down to my bones. I would hope that would happen for some white folks, too. I'm sure it will, on some level. If it doesn't, well... whatever.

[Cha]

15. It's amazing...thanks

for post..I hope we can go all the way with Obama..it's gonna be tough but after the last 8 years of nightmare it will be a pleasure.

[BeyondGeography]

12. Fools for having their hearts pound a little harder because history is being made?

That's fucking dumb.

[Cha]

16. Correct.

[Cha]

13. People are getting too damn

offended..get a grip. Obama is Black and the man supported hillary. Sometimes it's just on another level. The guy wouldn't support armstrong jones just cause he's Black.

I'm White and I support Obama..there will be no DNA kicking in for me..it's more on a cellular level:)

[Anouka]

7. I don't trust them. They are piranha.

Those people don't have the good of the nation at heart; only what they can get out of it.

[Nailzberg]

9. Especially that Ari Emmanuel over at Endeavor.

Some of us Hollywood people aren't bad, ya know.

(And ARi, I was just looking for an ironic subject line, I don't think you're a piranha. Have your people call my people, we'll do lunch.)

[Cha]

14. Your brush is broad..

sorry you're in such a tight box with such a big brush.

[wiley]

11. Oh and Geffen and Winfrey will benefit greatly

as is Murdoch right now.

[Cha]

17. Whatever...