The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards is over and done with but more than just recognizing the best of the best in television, the event also offered an opportunity to open up a dialogue on the red carpet beyond just what the stars are wearing.
Amy Poehler's organization, Smart Girls, The Representation Project and other initiatives launched a campaign during the 2015 Oscars called #AskHerMore, paving the way for more meaningful conversations on the red carpet. Poehler's Smart Girls teamed up with The Television Academy and Twitter to bring the same to the Emmys, but this time with the hashtag #SmartGirlsAsk.
Twitter set up a spot on the red carpet where celebrities were given the shot to answer various questions posted on the social networking site. Many of the entries were from ordinary people but a lot of celebrities and personalities, like Rowan Blanchard ("Girl Meets World"), Britney Spears, Danielle Cormack ("Wentworth"), Katie Couric and even Tom Perez, U.S. Secretary of Labor, also grabbed the chance to ask their own questions. Topics were varied but many of the questions highlighted issues about women in the industry and in general.
#SmartGirlsAsk questions were being sent in as early as a week before the Emmys, showing the kind of interest that people have at large regarding the effort. Poehler was, of course, pleased with how the campaign turned out.
"I'm happy to let fans ask interesting questions to interesting people," she added.
#SmartGirlsAsk offers a refreshing change from the typical who-are-you-wearing question every star is asked as they make their way down the red carpet but it doesn't completely do away with the hype. Then again, it is fun to see all the shiny, pretty dresses on display. It's just better being reminded that underneath all that glitz and glamour remains truthfulness, passion and wisdom not just for the craft but for life as well as shown by the responses to the questions posted.
Thanks, #SmartGirlsAsk!
Some of the #SmartGirlsAsk questions posted include:
What is the most meaningful project you have done? What would your dream project be? #SmartGirlsAsk
— Marah (@mhwillia) September 17, 2015
Cool campaign: #SmartGirlsAsk Did you ever have a time where you thought about quitting and what got you through it? https://t.co/bi145p3iGQ
— Felicia Day (@feliciaday) September 16, 2015
"What's the one thing you'd tell little girls who want to do great things?" #SmartGirlsAsk
— Yennie SolheimFuller (@YennieSolheim) September 11, 2015
Question for the #Emmys red carpet: What is the best piece of career advice someone has given to you? #SmartGirlsAsk
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) September 19, 2015
#SmartGirlsAsk! @smrtgrls @TelevisionAcad If you had infinite resources, and infinite support, what story would want you tell and why?
— VB (@VBookWyrm) September 16, 2015
How do you think we can better represent all vast types of women in the media, especially television? #SmartGirlsAsk @smrtgrls
— Rowan Blanchard (@rowblanchard) September 19, 2015
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