Some campaign planners even enlist the American Cinematheque to help out, creating two- or three-day "tributes" in which stars make in-person appearances not only for their older classics but also the new film.

Max von Sydow, a supporting hopeful for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" recently did two days at Santa Monica's Aero for that movie and two of his Bergman classics.

John Travolta showed up for "Hairspray" and Samuel L. Jackson is coming between a double bill of his 2007 long shots, "Resurrecting the Champ" and "Black Snake Moan."

A planned two-day tribute this weekend with Lauren Bacall in person tied into her new ThinkFilm drama, "The Walker" (Dec. 7) is still going on despite the star's cancellation. (She will film an interview in N.Y. to be shown at the "tribute" instead).

On Dec. 8, Christian Bale will turn up at the Aero for a "Bale Head Marathon" in which five of his films will run. Three days later, Bale and "3:10 to Yuma" costar Ben Foster and director James Mangold will appear at the Landmark for the Envelope's screening series, all of which are tied to Bale's campaign in the best actor race.

And in a twist on the practice, John C. Reilly will appear at the Roxy on Monday night to perform songs from his new biopic satire, "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story."

Why put yourself and audiences through all this?

"Q&As are a great way to get interactive with voters. They show off the human side of someone and this makes them directly accessible in person in ways that count," says one key awards consultant. "While performance remains the key to getting nominations, personality can help too. Who knows? One or two votes can make a difference."

It's not uncommon to see a star or director with limited time squeezing in up to three, even four of these in one night, something that requires serious coordination from their handlers and brilliant time management.

When Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh were in town for one night promoting their hoped-for contender "Sleuth" (which has since fizzled), time was so tight between Q&As that they hatched a plan in which Caine left the first session early, got in his limo and raced to the next to start without Branagh, who breathlessly appeared 15 minutes later. Somehow it all worked and both got standing ovations.

This year, everyone seems to be out there, and most appear to be having a good time once they are in the thick of it.

The normally elusive Daniel Day Lewis did guild Q&As three nights in a row recently and had the audience eating from the palm of his hand.

Jodie Foster, George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Jennifer Connelly, Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Casey Affleck, Frank Langella, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney, Will Smith, James McAvoy, Vanessa Redgrave, Terrence Howard, Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden, Sean Penn, Jack Black, Halle Berry, Cate Blanchett and numerous others have either already appeared or plan to shortly for SAG and other Q&As.

Viggo Mortensen, obstensibly promoting the December DVD release of his "Eastern Promises," plans also to do SAG, AFI and Backstage next week in order to remind voters of his acclaimed performance in the movie that just won him the British Independent Film Award.

French star Marion Cotillard was in the car on the way to a "La Vie en Rose" SAG session at the Pacific Design Center when the power went out in the middle of the movie and the audience bolted before she could get there. Best laid plans... She was still able to do another one later that same night.

Even elusive stars like Nicholson, Woody Allen and Julie Christie, who never even turn up on TV talk shows, are in the swing of the in-person Q&A.

Lions Gate strategists took it slowly with Christie even as they hoped she would help make her May release "Away From Her" more visible to awards voters now. She enjoyed doing a low-key session at the Ojai Film Festival and agreed to do a couple of SAG Q&As after that, which went well enough that she will now probably be turning up at the Santa Barbara Film Festival just after Oscar nominations are announced in January.

In light of the strike, the intimate Q&A is another way to reach voters who might have only seen the contending actors on late-night talk shows that are now shuttered.

And if you think this is just a seasonal trend, in-person Q&A screenings for this year's Sag Nom Comm (a new one is selected each year) started almost as soon as last year's award season ended.

Angelina Jolie did one for "A Mighty Heart" on June 6 (and a refresher on Nov. 4). Don Cheadle entertained the group on June 20 after a "Talk to Me" screening. Even Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were out there in July for a packed SAG session on "El Cantante."

For some anxious contenders, The Season just cannot start early enough!