The Venice International Film Festival begins this week, although it’s happening in a somewhat different form. There will still be premieres and events, but the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes rage on, which means that most SAG-card-carrying union members are not going to show up to promote jacksh-t. Still, many non-American actors will show up and promote their work, although I do wonder how many. A few films have already canceled their premieres and promotions because no one will show up.
So, against that backdrop, I was surprised to see George and Amal Clooney arrive in Venice. It’s been almost nine years exactly since their Venetian wedding, and they usually spend their summers at George’s Lake Como estate, so it’s not weird to see them out and about in Italy in general. But they are in Venice for the film festival, just not to promote a film. According to People, Amal is being honored at Diane von Furstenberg’s 14th Annual DVF Awards on Thursday. DVF is hosting the awards AT the film festival for the first time. So, that’s why they’re there. Amal will receive the DVF leadership award “for her global work for victims of human rights abuse.”
Will they also attend premieres at the festival? Would that be considered scabbing for George? It depends on whether SAG-AFTRA issued any waivers specific to the festival or certain films, I think. Hm.
Amal’s ensemble is cute – I appreciate that she wears low heels and she’s not towering over her husband. She loves a short skirt, always has. Amal and I have similar taste in sunglasses too – the bigger, the better. George looks really nice as well. Well-rested. Ah, to spend the summer in Como every year.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
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- Venice, ITALY – Actor George Clooney and wife Amal Clooney were pictured arriving at Venice airport. Pictured: George Clooney, Amal Clooney BACKGRID USA 29 AUGUST 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: Cobra Team / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Venice, ITALY – Actor George Clooney and wife Amal Clooney were pictured arriving at Venice airport. Pictured: George Clooney, Amal Clooney BACKGRID USA 29 AUGUST 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: Cobra Team / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Venice, ITALY – Actor George Clooney and wife Amal Clooney were pictured arriving at Venice airport. Pictured: George Clooney, Amal Clooney BACKGRID USA 29 AUGUST 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: Cobra Team / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Venice, ITALY – George Clooney and wife Amal arrive in Venice by private flight to Belmond Hotel Cipriani. Pictured: George Clooney – Amal Clooney BACKGRID USA 29 AUGUST 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: Cobra Team / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
George shouldn’t be there.
Yes he should. He shouldn’t do anything that could be considered scabbing but he absolutely should be there to support his wife getting an award for work that has zero to do with the strikes.
@MrsBanjo: Let’s hope Amal goes to pick up her award and George stays home with the children. He has no business attending a film festival when actors are on strike. Amal as a human rights lawyers should understand that.
With all due respect, @Amy Bee, hard disagree.
He 100% should show up to support his wife receiving an award, named after a fashion icon – not a movie studio – for human rights work, not filmmaking.
(Yes, sure, I do think it’s a bit odd to have this award at a film festival, but clearly it sounds like it’s been going on for years and isn’t some ploy for attention during the strike.)
The Venice Film Festival is showing many struck films he should stay far away from, yes, absolutely.
But it is also showing films from independent studios that were able to reach a deal with WGA & SAG-AFTRA, and those studios should not be penalized just because the huge studios are being stingy, dodgy a-holes. Their contracts should be honored (hence the waivers), and should George choose to see one of those films, that would probably be fine too. (In part because yes, the message that actors want to work and will work for those studios who do offer reasonable contracts, is a powerful one to send the AMPTP, and in part because it’s just the right thing to do for the studios that do have successful contracts with WGA & SAG-AFTRA.)
But, all film business aside, his wife, who is not in the movie/TV business, is receiving a major award for her important contributions that are not movie/TV related, in an actually important field that has nothing to do with movie/TV, and he would be a complete dick to stay home with the kids instead of getting a sitter (who I hope also lets them watch from home) and standing by to support and cheer her in person on her big night.
@DK: One phase I truly hate is with all due respect. I don’t believe SAG should have given waivers but that’s besides the point. I think if George supports the strike and to avoid any misunderstanding/confusion, he should stay away from film festivals. I have no doubt George supports his wife and her career but does he really want to be accused of being a scab?
The awards are not directly associated with the festival. The award presentation show has hopped around different cities and this is the first year it’s been in Venice. It was timed to piggyback on the festival to fill the audience with A-listers. So no SAG strike conflict by George supporting Amal at the awards.
Whenever I see him, I just imagine he’s in intense back pain now. I can’t I see it.
I hate kitten heels but she’s somehow making it work. I’m confused and concerned for myself.
George is there to support his wife. We have no idea if he will be there for anything else. They both look great. Was in Lake Como in June and July and it is a gorgeous place. I loved every minute of my time there.
Since Amal is getting an award for her work I don’t see the problem. They both do look fabulous.
A few movies have been given waivers. I think Jessica Chastain will be there and Andrew Driver, all for films given waivers. So technically maybe other stars could show up to watch movies that have been given those waivers? Idk, it’s a weird balance.
They look great. I’m in the camp that George is there to support his wife. As long as they only go for this specific event what’s the problem? Additionally why are there waivers etc. for movies if there’s a strike? What’s the point of a strike if they’re like “oh well we can make an exception here and here and here…”
Amal looks great and I’m glad to see kitten heels because I’m at the point where I am all but done with heels, although I will do kitten heels. I’m like Natasha Lyonne – done with being uncomfortable.
Basically the strike is against the studios who are members of the AMPTP. There are many smaller production companies who are not members of the AMPTP and who have signed new contracts with the unions. Thus they are in no way being struck and are free to continue to produce and promote their films.
I think we need a better name for it than waiver, though. That makes it sound like they are being exempted from rules they broke, when they actually are on the correct side of the issue.
How would it be scabbing if hes not promoting anything? Even if he would be going to see any of the premieres, it wouldnt be scabbing if the movies were non-american.
I agree. I would think actors and writers would still like to see work that has already been filmed under the previous rules and it wouldn’t be considered scabbing just to watch the films? I’m not a union member of anything so I don’t really know I’ll admit my ignorance here. I do like most everything Amal wears I guess we share the same taste although I’ve never been and never will be as skinny as her. I consider those high heels though I couldn’t wear anything higher than that anymore.
Is the awards ceremony occurring in Venice, but is not a part of the Film Festival? I can see how having the ceremony during the Festival is a good idea. The organization probably determined the location before the strike was called. So George is there to support his wife. Seems to me that it’s just an unfortunate choice of venue because the strike could not be foreseen.
I like them, I think they’re a gorgeous couple. She’s basically accepting a humanitarian award, it’s perfectly fine for him to be there supporting her.
I love that they still seem really relaxed and happy together.
(*cough, cough* BIEBERS)
It will make me super, duper sad if they ever break up.
You know I love the work Amal does, but isn’t it literally her job? Am I missing something? Does she do a lot of free stuff as well? I thought she was affiliated with a company, is that no longer the case?