Obama pays tribute to Hollywood on studio visit

   

Glendale - President Barack Obama praised the American movie industry on Tuesday, saying Hollywood was not only a key export industry but also an important cultural and diplomatic tool.

Speaking after a visit to the DreamWorks Animation studio in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, Obama said Hollywood was one of the engines of the American economy.

"I've come here today, because this is one of America's economic engines, not just DreamWorks, but this whole cluster of companies that generations have grown up knowing, Disney and Warner and Universal and others," Obama said after a guided tour of the studios responsible for successful franchises such asShrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda.

Hollywood a 'diplomatic tool'

The entertainment industry had also served as an important diplomatic tool, Obama said.

"It's part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us such a world power," he said.

"You can go anywhere on the planet and you'll see a kid wearing a Madagascar T-shirt," he said.

"You can say, May the Force be with you, they know what you're talking about," he added, referring to the iconic line from Star Wars.

"Hundreds of millions of people may never set foot in the United States, but thanks to you, they've experienced a small part of what makes our country special," he told DreamWorks employees.

Obama ears as 'inspiration' for Shrek

Obama, meanwhile, peppered his address with cinematic references, joking that his ears had provided the inspiration for DreamWorks' lovable green ogre Shrek.

He also paraphrased from the mafia classic The Godfather in a pointed barb directed at his political enemies in Congress.

"When it comes to Congress, there's no such thing as an offer they can't refuse," he said.