In Democratic Hollywood these days it's not enough to be the hardest-working act in show business, you've also got to be engaged 24/7 in political fundraising, personal campaigning, robocalling, image advising, party planning (and attending) and surrogate appearances in towns without even a single screen, let alone a multiplex.
Whatever the industry's travails, Hollywood has stepped up big for the most expensive election in presidential history.
The industry has raised more than $34 million for the 2008 election cycle, 75% going to Democrats. Beyond the $5.8 million for Barack Obama (and $3.2 million for Hillary Rodham Clinton), Hollywood's Dems have put together millions for a wide swath of congressional campaigns -- all backed up by the kinds of personal appearances that usually accompany the release of a major film.
"None of us want to wake up the day after the election and see there was something we could have done that we didn't do," said Marge Tabankin, a longtime Hollywood consultant and activist.
So just this week:
Matt Damon campaigned in Florida for Obama, while Kevin Costner hit the trail in Colorado for the Illinois senator and George Lopez did the same in New Mexico.
Barbra Streisand recorded an automated telephone message urging people to vote for Obama.
(If you haven't heard from Babs yet, don't worry, there's a message coming soon to a voice mail near you.)
On the Republican side, Elisabeth Hasselbeck campaigned for the John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket, telling people not to buy the hype about Palin's designer wardrobe. (After all, what is $150,000 compared with Cindy McCain's $300,000 RNC outfit?)
Sarah Silverman continued talking to younger voters, telling them to make the great schlep to Florida to talk to their grandparents about Obama. Meanwhile, Hollywood's "Bubbies for Obama," which included songwriters Marilyn and Alan Bergman and comic writer Gary David Goldberg -- went on a condo tour in the Sunshine State, reassuring older Jewish voters that Obama really does support Israel.
Those not on the trail were busy making plans for election night. Should they go to a Hollywood bash or just fly straight to Chicago (or Arizona), where their candidate will be watching the returns?
As the media tools for campaigning have moved beyond voice-over radio and television ads to YouTube, viral advertising and the blogosphere, Hollywood's importance as a repository of sophisticated knowledge and recognizable personalities that cut through the electronic white noise has increased correspondingly.
