Carey Mulligan has Jane Austen to thank for that BAFTA award

Posted in Uncategorized on February 23, 2010 by dbu57

Courtesy dailymail.co.uk

You gotta love this:

After finding myself suddenly yet joyously snowed in today, I decided to spend my afternoon watching the DVD commentary of 2005’s “Pride and Prejudice” (yes, I think it’s fun to do that) and perusing the Web for a new post topic.

As I was scrolling through the latest Oscar buzz, Director Joe Wright told of how he hired a young woman with zero acting experience to play one of the Bennet sisters, and how wonderfully surprised he was when that young unknown took to acting “like a duck to water.”

I looked down at my screen and smiled at the irony, for the leading story was how that same little duckie – Carey Mulligan – was now the front-runner for best actress at next week’s Oscars.

Mulligan took home the award for leading actress at last Sunday’s BAFTA Awards for her phenomenal performance in “An Education,” beating out film legend Meryl Streep for the prize. Because the last four BAFTA victors in the leading actress category have gone on to claim the same award at the Oscars, many are starting to predict an upset.

But how did Mulligan go from being a pub waitress to the toast of Hollywood in the span of a mere few years? Easy. She used a tool that good publicists know to use when there are very little opportunities to get the job done – she begged.

No, it’s not glamorous and no, it’s not something a publicist wants to do all the time, but knowing how to beg in the right way to the right people can have fabulous results.

While Mulligan was still a student at a boarding school in England, she introduced herself to a guest speaker – British actor Julian Fellowes – and expressed her desire to be an actress. Mulligan’s newfound connection ultimately secured her an audition for “Pride and Prejudice.” Once there, she unabashedly begged Wright and his casting director for the role, citing her love for Jane Austen’s works as one of the reasons she wanted to be a part of the project. The rest is history.

The star-studded re-make of the Austen classic was a hit. Since the success of “Pride,” Mulligan has earned accolades for performances in several television series and theatre plays, culminating in her role as a 1960s teenager in love with an older man in “Education.”

Mulligan’s career proves the necessity for those in entertainment to use every tool available to get where one wants to be, including a little begging when need be. According to imdb.com, Mulligan agrees:

“My generation tends to play it cool these days,” she said. “But there is no room for cool. You have got to be irritating and desperate, and if you are not it is terribly boring.”

Well, Mulligan and her rapid climb to stardom is anything but boring.  However, although she is currently the favorite pick for lead actress at the Oscars, one thing must be noted – Sandra Bullock, the previous favorite for her role in “The Blind Side,” was not eligible for the BAFTA Awards due to a late overseas release. For this reason, the running streak of dual wins by a lead actress might not happen for a fifth year in a row.

We’ll have to wait until March 7 on ABC to see who takes home the gold. Nothing against Ms. Bullock, but as for me I’ll be rooting for Mulligan.

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White shreds gold on the halfpipe

Posted in Uncategorized on February 18, 2010 by dbu57

Courtesy Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

More and more, little boys aren’t growing up wanting to be NFL quarterbacks. They don’t want to slam dunk like Michael Jordan. They don’t even want to be Superman.

When they grow up, they want to be The Flying Tomato.

Twenty-three-year-old pro skater and snowboarder Shaun White claimed his second Olympic gold medal yesterday during the halfpipe competition in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Dubbed “The Flying Tomato” for his locks of fiery red hair, White scored an impeccable 48.4 on his final run, making Olympic history in the process.

Although he had already secured the gold in his first run, White used the final run to show off his new signature move, the Double McTwist 1260 (for those of us who think that sounds more like a fast food item than a stunt, that’s three and a half  rotations while flipping head over heels in the air – twice). White completed the move, the crowd roared, and history was made. His competitors didn’t even have a chance.

“It’s impossible to beat Shaun unless he falls,” said Finnish competitor Peetu Piiroinen. Pilroinen came in second after White while American Scotty Lago took home the bronze.

Since coming onto the pro alternative sports scene at the age of 13, White’s career has snowballed into an unbelievable and unbeatable reign in both skateboarding and snowboarding. On top of his pair of Olympic gold medals, White has earned a record 16 X Games medals, 5 ESPY awards, the title of Actions Sports Tour Champion, and has become the first athlete to sweep the entire U.S. Grand Prix Series.

And if that doesn’t stoke you out, consider that White – alongside alternative sports stars like skateboarder Tony Hawk and motosports athlete Travis Pastrana – is the reason that alternative sports are as popular as they are today. Ten years ago, sports such as skateboarding, motocross, and snowboarding were viewed more as extreme recreational hobbies than true professional sports.

Since then, however, a miraculous PR feat has been achieved. Today, alternative sports have become as mainstream as “mainstream” sports themselves, yet the rugged renegade culture of the alternative sports movement has not only persevered but prospered. By carefully deciding what sponsors to do business with (like Red Bull over Coca-Cola), which television networks to work with (like MTV over CBS), and what type of clothing to compete in (like White snowboarding in plaid and denim jeans yesterday),  athletes like White have brought their passions to the forefront of sports while allowing its counterculture soul to thrive.

White  also understands that being a successful modern day athlete means being as much of a multi-faceted business mogul as it means being an impeccable athlete. It means White has to collect business ventures (albeit the right ones) like he does snowboards.

And collect them White does. Since his first big win at the Arctic Challenge in 2001, White has developed an affordable clothing line for Target, a signature outerwear line with Burton, a video game with Ubisoft, and a line of sunglasses for Oakley, just to name a few. The New York Daily News called White “a one-man conglomerate in a counterculture sport, a baggy-panted renegade with a CEO’s portfolio.”

And the best part is that he’s just getting started.

“We try to break the boundaries and see what we can do,” White said of his sport. “I think we’re just tapping into what is possible. I wish I could predict the future. We have to go create it.”

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Letterman laughs last in the late night wars

Posted in Uncategorized on February 11, 2010 by dbu57

The most shocking Super Bowl commercial wasn’t stripping women from GoDaddy.com. It wasn’t Tim Tebow’s mother talking about her decision not to have an abortion. It had no special effects, no over-the-top stunts, no Oscar-worthy production value – just a mere 15 seconds of three people sitting on a couch and watching the game.

Three people that just happen to be David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, and Jay Leno.

Shocking, yes, but not just because three television titans from different networks made a commercial together. Not even because they got together to promote “The Late Show with David Letterman.” It’s a shock that David Letterman and Leno actually agreed to be in the same room with each other.

Letterman and Leno have been rivals ever since television legend Johnny Carson named Leno as the successor of “The Tonight Show” in 1992, a position that Letterman had much wanted himself. The decision forced Letterman to move to CBS and start his own late night program that aired at the same time as “The Tonight Show.” Over the last twenty years, the two hosts have often used their respective programs to take jabs at one another.

When the new round of “late night wars” occurred this past January between Leno and previous “Tonight” host Conan O’Brian, Letterman had a field day poking fun at NBC and its contract troubles.

In the spot, Letterman grumbles that he’s at “the worst Super Bowl party ever.” Leno, revealed to be sitting on the opposite side of the couch, replies that Dave’s “just saying that because I’m here.” Oprah plays the mediator between the two, rolling her eyes at their bickering.

Yet what’s even more shocking is how Letterman, Leno, and Oprah pulled this commercial off without news of it leaking beforehand. A single paparazzi photo of Oprah or Leno walking into The Ed Sullivan Theatre (where Letterman’s show is taped) could have ruined the entire spot.

“We really wanted to keep this under wraps,” said “Late Show” Executive Producer Rob Burnett. “There were a lot of internal logistical conversations about how to even get Jay and Oprah into our building secretly.”

While Letterman was taping an episode last Tuesday, Oprah and Leno were snuck into the theatre. Leno was fully disguised with a false mustache, sunglasses, and a hooded sweatshirt.

The “Late Show” spot was a huge success, putting a much-needed comedic endpoint to the bitter feud at NBC. It was a wise move for all three  – it allowed Letterman to somewhat come out on top of the late night debacle yet also gave Leno an opportunity to repair his image, which has been badly bruised over the last two months. Oprah, too, most likely anticipated the attention this spot would bring and knew it would be crazy to turn down such good publicity.

Burnett told The Associated Press that Leno agreed to do the commercial almost immediately, adding that there was no animosity or awkwardness during the taping.

“These guys have known each other for a long time,” said Burnett. “I don’t think either of them particularly care about these jokes that have been made.” 

Letterman has a chance to edge ahead of Leno in ratings as NBC is putting its nighttime programming on hiatus to air the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Leno returns as the host of The Tonight Show on March 1st.

Side Note: I tried to link to “The Tonight Show” Web page but it currently doesn’t exist (most likely because a new site is under construction). The link above connects to NBC.com.

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Ladies AND gentlemen, put on your dresses! The Saints are headed to the Super Bowl!

Posted in Uncategorized on February 5, 2010 by dbu57

For millions of Americans, the Super Bowl is a national holiday. They attend big parties, cook lavish dinners, and get together with family and friends they haven’t seen in a while.

But dress in drag and parade down Bourbon Street? Probably not.

Yet that’s just what former Saints quarterback, Bobby Hebert, did last Sunday during the 2010 Super Bowl Parade in New Orleans.

Beloved Big Easy sportscaster, Buddy Diliberto, promised years ago to all Saints fans everywhere that he would walk down Bourbon Street dressed in drag should the Saints finally make it to the Super Bowl. When Diliberto passed away in 2005, Hebert took over the sportscaster’s long-running radio show as well as his promise to don a dress.

And when the Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship two weeks ago, Bobby Hebert found himself with a bet to settle. And settle it he did, sashaying from the Superdome all the way to the French Quarter on Sunday in a blonde pig-tailed wig, a sparkling muu muu, and – yes, that’s a tiny tiara. The muu muu was a gold and black sequined ensemble made especially for the parade by Hebert’s 23-year-old daughter, Cammy Lynn, who described the dress as “very Who-Dat-esque.”

But what makes this a notable use of PR is that it comes with a twist. In my opinion, the best PR stunts don’t just happily surprise the target audience but also the “stuntmen” themselves. When Hebert announced his upcoming appearance in the Mardi Gras Parade, hundreds of men volunteered to join the quarterback in his cross-dressed caper through New Orleans. The streets were so crowded that Hebert couldn’t walk – he had to be placed on a float to make it through the parade.

“This parade [was] totally out of control. It was above and beyond anything I expected,” Hebert told the New York Daily News. “We had men calling the station and wanting to form a club to march in all these Mardi Gras parades. I said, ‘Wait a minute, I just said I would do this one time.’”

This is a good PR tactic gone great – what started as a good-hearted tribute to a beloved radio host (and a little free publicity for Hebert and his show) turned into an massive, over-the-top display of unity and camaraderie for all New Orleans citizens and all Saints fans everywhere.

And if that’s not good PR, I don’t know what is.

Check out the gallery below for pictures of Bobby Hebert before and after the infamous muu muu as well as one of the late great Buddy Diliberto.

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Will the Grammys go ‘Gaga’?

Posted in Uncategorized on January 27, 2010 by dbu57

Courtesy whitemoonwatching.blogspot.coom

The Grammys, long heralded as “music’s biggest night,” will be celebrating its 52nd annual awards show this Sunday, Jan. 31st, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

With awards show ratings on the decline in recent years, the Grammys has become more about spectacular musical performances than handing out the awards themselves. One scheduled performer who is sure to entertain is Lady Gaga, a young pop/electronica artist who exploded to the top of the charts early last year and hasn’t left them since. Gaga’s wildly successful album, “The Fame,” has earned her five nominations, including album of the year, song of the year, and record of the year.

Like her music videos, Lady Gaga’s live performances are never without eccentric costumes, modern dance moves, and a fair amount of shock and awe. During her infamous performance at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, for example, Gaga sang her hit “Paparazzi” while fake blood spurted across her body.

But over-the-top performances are not what sets Lady Gaga apart as an artist – Michael Jackson, Marilyn Manson, Madonna, and even Britney Spears have all been known to have creative on-stage antics. Unlike any other artist, Gaga’s reputation for (intended) spectacle also extends to her personal life. She has embraced the fact that part of being a celebrity means being followed and photographed 24-7, so every single public outing (and corresponding outfit) is meticulously planned out by the Lady herself. This behavior has garnered her a mass amount of attention from the press – Gaga has often made the front page of celebrity gossip sites just by meandering around New York in a new costume.

On the flip side, I scoured the Internet for a picture of Stefani Germanotta (a.k.a. Lady Gaga in real life) without make-up or not in costume and could only find four photos from a single afternoon on the beach. Within the public eye, it is as if Lady Gaga is the real individual and Stefani does not exist.

“I dress this way all the time because it inspires my life,” explained Gaga last summer on a German television show. “I dress this way because my whole life is art and my whole life is performance.”

And herein lies the genius behind the transformation into Lady Gaga. Treating one’s entire life like a never-ending performance (or work of art) keeps an artist basking in the spotlight all while keeping his or her personal life entirely under wraps, nay invisible. Without any real personal details for the audience to relate to, the artist seems more like an enigma or superhero than an actual person. In essence, Lady Gaga has turned herself into an all-singing, all-dancing, all-manageable brand. And for a publicist, that is a very nice place for one’s clients to be.

While it may seem ridiculous and tiresome to micromanage a celebrity’s life this way, Gaga’s approach to “the fame monster” is the way of the future. For celebrities – especially music artists who cannot dip in and out of character roles as actors do – one’s personal life and professional life are now one and the same. Long gone are the days where individuals can be celebrities only when they want to be. Information is the name of the game and full disclosure is expected from everyone. Operating one’s entire life as a brand as Gaga does, however – with a single, unwavering message – is a way to cut through the clutter and rocket straight to the top.

I have no clue what to expect from Lady Gaga’s upcoming performance at this Sunday’s Grammys, but I have little doubt that it will be anything short of memorable. I’m guessing her performance will be outrageously over the top and viewers will most likely spend some part of their Mondays discussing it. And something tells me that that’s just how Lady Gaga has planned it.

You can watch Lady Gaga’s performance for yourself when the Grammys air on CBS Jan. 31st at 8 p.m. eastern/7 p.m. central.

Click on the picture gallery below to see some of Lady Gaga’s more notorious fashion statements over the last year.

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