GM FYI Blog

Christie Conti
Experiential Marketing Director, PR & Branded Entertainment

It’s that wonderful time in Hollywood when a massive red carpet is rolled out and workers are scurrying like ants to put up flowing white tents and eye-popping lights and bleachers for fans for the 80 th Annual Academy Awards extravaganza. Tinseltown will earn its name on Sunday, February 24 when celebrities put on their Prada, Harry Winston, Gucci and more – oh my – to attend the film industry’s premier awards show.

But it isn’t about just what you wear from head to toe that will cause a buzz on Oscars day, but also about the ultimate fashion accessory – what you drive to the awards. For the first time ever, Oscar presenters and performers are prime to be the most stylish thanks to GMC and Chevrolet. The duo has teamed up to roll up to the red carpet with the largest fuel-friendly fleet ever assembled of its kind at a major awards show. Hollywood’s hottest talent will be stylish and environmentally friendly when they step out of a GMC Yukon Hybrid, Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell or FlexFuel E85 ethanol-compatible GMC Yukon.

GMC and Chevrolet will bring hybrid and fuel cell technology to the forefront at the red carpet as well as other Oscar Week events like the prestigious “A Night Before” party. What’s more, is that this isn’t a shot in the dark. GM is making a major effort to bring “fuel-friendly” products to the entertainment industry in 2008 with presence at awards shows, film festivals and special events, as well as heightened product placement effort in movies and television. Just a few weeks ago I saw that effort while watching an episode of TV’s “Friday Night Lights” and it was so cool to see a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid on the show.

And I was lucky enough to have stood on the red carpet when the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards were held in Los Angeles and see major music artists arrive in Chevy Tahoe Hybrids. Stars definitely appreciated arriving eco-friendly, but it was the Chevy Volt Concept car that really turned heads. Brad Paisley and his actress wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley were nearly late for interviews because they couldn’t get enough of the electric car and learning about when it would be out in market. The Foo Fighters were last-minute arrivals and had to head straight to their perch on the outdoor stage, but kept asking, “What is that car?” as their publicist ushered them down the carpet. And Cyndi Lauper proved that girls really do just wanna have fun as she hopped up on the Volt to pose for photographers.

But the Oscars are the big kahuna when it comes to awards shows. I’m anxious to see who ditches their limo for a fuel-friendly arrival. I’m hoping Cate Blanchett, Forest Whitaker, Denzel Washington, George Clooney, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Garner arrive in a fuel-friendly GMC or Chevy. But I will have to wait along with everyone else and tune into the red carpet pre-shows to find out who goes “green” and fashionable – now that would be something to talk about on those fashion programs.

Check out what the celebrities thought about the Chevy Volt at the GRAMMY Awards celebration over at Flickr and be sure to check back next week for more about GM’s trip to the Oscars.