Jumat, 14 Desember 2007

Strike Could Mute Globes, but Not Nominees' Reactions (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) - The nominations are in, but are the nominees?

As actors, filmmakers, writers and the talent in between expressed their surprise, gratitude and all-around good cheer Thursday after learning that they had been nominated for a Golden Globe Award (or two, or three), speculation continued to swirl over who might opt out of next months ceremony in honor of the ongoing writers strike--and not just because there might not be any memorable one-liners waiting on the teleprompter.

As it stands, no major nominee has flat-out told the press--on the record--that he or she is going to skip the second-biggest night of the year for the film and TV industries. But anyone with particularly strong feelings about not crossing a picket line or fraternizing with studio and network bigwigs will likely have a tough (or not) decision to make now that negotiations have ended for the time being on such a rancorous note.

In fact, the Writers Guild of America announced Thursday that it is filing a complaint against the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers with the National Labor Relations Board for its refusal to bargain in good faith with the WGA., calling the AMPTPs decision to leave the table before an agreement was reached the height of irresponsibility and intransigence.

To which the alliance responded: The WGA has now been reduced to pounding the table, and this baseless, desperate NLRB complaint is just the latest indication that the WGAs negotiating strategy has achieved nothing for working writers.

The WGAs latest move, which followed the Directors Guild of Americas announcement that it might kick off its own new-contract negotiations with the alliance next month, doesnt mean that there are no writers out there not willing to cobble together some Atonement jokes. But it certainly implies that the guilds leaders arent in a concessionary mood.

According to WGA spokesman Gregg Mitchell, the Golden Globes will be treated like any other struck company (i.e. Universal Media, Warner Bros.) if the union doesnt issue waivers allowing scribes to work on the production, and the possibility of picketers walking the red carpet alongside Julia and Denzel has not been ruled out.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which hands out the Globes, is hoping all goes according to pre-strike plan, of course, or that the event is granted a full WGA waiver, but has only said so far that its considering its options, including inviting attendees to speak out--in the writers favor--about the strike during the ceremony.

"I might be picketing," Al Jean, The Simpsons showrunner and writer whose collaborative big-screen adaptation of the Fox classic is up for Best Animated Film, told E! Online Senior Editor Marc Malkin. "If its struck, then as a writer I certainly wouldnt go in. I [would] just have fun outside and go to the parties."

Actors who have been spotted on the frontlines supporting the WGAs cause and who now find themselves nominated for Globes include Steve Carell, Katherine Heigl, Tina Fey, Sally Field and America Ferrera.

Thanks in part to the empowering support from the on-camera talent, the WGA has already granted a waiver for the upcoming 14th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Jan. 27.

But while the 65th Annual Golden Globes is going to bring up far more pressing questions than Whos wearing what? this year, and the atmosphere inside might be comparable to what youd find after a Michael Moore acceptance speechits still a heck of a thrill to find out that youre nominated, right?

From Charlie Wilsons War star Julia Roberts and her simple overjoyed reaction to Best Director nominee Tim Burtons inclination to paint girlfriend Helena Bonham Carters pregnant tummy gold, the overall theme was thanks and more thanks, with plenty of thrilled, honored and dream come true thrown in for good measure.

Im very happy! Carter said upon learning that she is up for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for the as-yet unseen (by the masses) Sweeney Todd. I am fairly globular at the moment as I am about to have a baby. Tim wants to paint my belly gold!

Burton and Best Actor nominee Johnny Depp both echoed Carters excitement for each other and the film, which received four nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.

As for himself, super-flattered and immensely thankful to the HFPA for the nomination," Depp said.

Also expressing happiness for nominations bestowed upon a still-mysterious film was Denzel Washington, whose pet directorial project The Great Debaters is up for Best Motion Picture Drama alongside American Gangster, which also earned the two-time Globe winner another nod for acting in a drama.

It is an amazing honor to be recognized for ones work, the much-recognized Washington said. In addition to the American Gangster nominations, including Ridley Scott for Best Director, I am so proud that all the kids who star in The Great Debaters will be able to share with me in this Best Picture nomination.

Denzel Washington called me before the sun went up and it was a wonderful alarm clock! said producer Todd Black about the true story starring Washington as a college debate teacher who coaches his ragtag team from a small Texas school into a match-up with Harvard.

Pushing Daisys Anna Friel, a first-time nominee for acting in a comedy TV series, didnt mind the early wakeup call, either.

[I] have never been so pleased to hear the phone go at 5:30 in the morning! the British actress said, also expressing her congratulations to costar Lee Pace, a nominee for Best Actor in a TV Comedy, and to the show itself, which is up for Best Comedy Series. To get this affirmation from the HFPA just warms my heart, I already feel so welcomed in this country!

And though fellow first-timer Marion Cotillard was already way past her morning coffee when she found out that she was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her transformative turn as Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose, being fully awake didnt dilute the effect of the news.

The announcement was like 2 p.m. here, so I was in the middle of something at my friends house, the French star said from Paris. I listened to my voicemail, and my agent had left me a message like an hour before!"

"I am really enjoying every minute and second of it!" she added, noting that champagne was definitely in order.

Go Raibh Mile Maith Agaibh--that means thank you very much in Irish," said 13-year-old newcomer Saoirse Ronan, nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Atonement, which led the pack this year with seven nominations, including Best Picture, Drama, and Best Actor and Actress for stars James McAvoy and Keira Knightley.

Both of whom were honored and thrilled, accordingly.

Atonement is a film about which Im deeply passionate and its a huge thrill to see it embraced by the HFPA with so many nominations," McAvoy said. I adored making it, and am delighted for [director] Joe [Wright], James, Saoirse and everyone involved, Knightley added.

And it turns out that Julia Roberts was pretty thrilled, as well as overjoyed, when it came to her sixth Golden Globe nomination, this time for Best Supporting Actress in Charlie Wilsons War, which snagged five nominations, including Best Picture, Musical or Comedy.

I didnt realize I had done that much, the mother of three and winner of three Golden Globes told Todays Matt Lauer in an interview scheduled to air Friday. Thats great. No, its exciting. I mean, you know, usually the triumph of my day is everybody making it to the potty. So, yes, I think its thrilling.

The 2008 Golden Globes, be they scripted or not, are scheduled to get handed out Jan. 13, with the ceremony to air live on NBC.

 
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