[IMG:L]OK, so merely one month later, the Oscars are already a quickly fading memory. In fact, the entire two-month-long American bacchanal known as “award show season” seems like it was a frantic, distant dream. At long last, Martin Scorsese is sleeping well. The vintage couture ‘borrows’ have been returned. The Hummer stretch-limos are back in their garages. But what about all the red carpets? I mean this quite literally. What happens to all that red carpet? And, on a slightly more philosophical note, why is it that we are so obsessed with the red carpet in the first place?
In pursuit of some answers, I called up Joel Resnick–a man whose life is encompassed by red carpets. On any given day, Joel has about 3,000 yards worth of red carpet at his office in Flemington, New Jersey. Joel runs “The Red Carpet Store,” which is one of the nation’s leading suppliers of red carpets. Here’s what it says on his Web site: “Whether you are looking for a way to elevate your private party to a ‘Red Carpet’ event, are catering to the Stars, or are looking for a conversation piece for your own home, the Red Carpet Store has got you covered.” Joel has only been in the red carpet business for about seven years, but he has already made quite a name for himself, and he has done the carpeting for everything from the MTV Music Awards to the 2004 Olympics.
It’s a big operation and Joel does much of the work himself. As Joel explained it to me, he takes the orders; he cuts the materials; he binds the edges; and he ships the carpets. Sometimes, when the red carpet events are in New York City, he actually goes to the site and nails the seductive carpet to the floor. He did this for the first time at the 2003 MTV Music Awards and what he experienced blew him away: As he was laying down the carpet, feverish, diehard fans we’re begging him for scraps. Not wanting to disappoint, Joel tossed them a few frayed strips of red cloth and watched, in amazement, as the fans pocketed them and ran away in pure, unadulterated glee. An enterprising businessman, he, afterwards, sold larger (2-foot-by-2-foot) souvenir carpet swaths on eBay for twenty bucks a pop.
[IMG:R]“Selling red carpets is a high profit margin,” Joel said. “It is relatively cheap material and people are willing to pay top dollar for it–that is a beautiful thing.” When I asked Joel why Americans are so red carpet crazy, he was quick to answer. “It’s like diamonds,” he explained. “They are not actually that rare, but the minute that kings and queens started wearing them, everyone wanted them. It’s a perception thing.”
Joel is right. This is all about perception and the power of association. And who knows? Fifty years from now, if our obsession with celebrities continues, maybe Tiffany’s and Debeers will be competing with Joel to corner the red carpet market.
The truth is that we, as a nation, have an almost Pavlovian response to red carpets. We see them and immediately our hearts quicken at the possibility of glimpsing a celebrity. Over time, this association has strengthened, and eventually the red carpet itself has become an object of worship.
We do the same thing with celebrities. In fact, if you think about it, we are drawn to celebrities and inanimate red carpets for very similar reasons–they’re both flashy, fabricated facades. I don’t know the first thing about Leonardo DiCaprio, nor Cate Blanchett. Neither do most folk, I suspect. The celebs are just symbols, icons, red carpets–that we’ve come to associate with a dreamy, euphoric vision of a more glamorous life. And we seem to like them best–not when they’re acting, or singing, or making speeches–but when they’re slinking down the carpet, not saying much, letting us imagine just how marvelous all of this must be!
Also on Hollywood.com:
[IMG:L]Meet America’s Youngest Fame Junkies
Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? How come the average teenage boy desires fame almost as much as intelligence–while the average teenage girl craves fame more than intelligence? And why do 43.4% of teenage girls say that they want to be a “celebrity personal assistant” when they grow up, while only 13.6% say they’d want to be a U.S. Senator?
Watch this eyebrow-raising, documentary short based on Fame Junkiies, the critically acclaimed book by Jake Halpern.
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 3: The Grooming of Baby Idols
American Idol’s controversial, Sanjaya-focused season is quickly building toward its climatic finale; however, for all those dazed contestants who have been brusquely eliminated–yet emotionally crippled by razor-tongued Simon–there is still hope. Look no farther than the International Model and Talent Agency (IMTA), which hosts two annual talent conventions, one of which is quickly approaching this summer.
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 4: The Secret Lives of Stylists
Marcel Winter* has made a life for himself by dressing other people–mainly powerhouse celebrities. Their distinguished ranks include the likes of Halle Berry, Jim Carrey, John Travolta, and Nicole Kidman to name just a few. Over the years, Winter has also developed a successful second career as an analyst of celebrity fashion for several television networks, on which he identifies, candidly, the “best” and “worst” dressed attendees at the biggie events like the Oscars and the Golden Globes.
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 5: The Devil’s Helper
Anyone wondering just how aggressive paparazzi photographers are these days should look no further than Britney Spears’ Malibu home. Earlier this week, two photographers–who were staking out Britney’s house–got into a heated scuffle as they vied to snap a shot of the recently-rehabbed star. In truth, the paparazzi have good reason to be so aggressive; an exclusive photo of Britney can earn upwards of $250,000 these days. Yet if these two brawling photographers were truly interested in mastering the tricks of their trade, they would put Britney on hold–at least for a few hours–and pay a visit to the home of Russell Turiak.
This was adapted from the new book, Fame Junkies. Read the hot, page-turning exposé that everyone in Hollywood is talking about! Purchase a copy of FAME JUNKIES for a discounted price on Buy.com right now.
