©AMPAS

Q.      Congratulations.

A.      Thank you.

Q.      You were talking about sitting on the bed, your dad giving you all the pointers of being an actor.  From that day to this moment, what kind of ride has this been?  And did you ever see this happening?

A.      Well, you know, ups and downs, what does the Dude say?  Strikes and gutters, man.  That’s about it.  That’s about it.

Q.      I just wanted to know what part of Bad Blake do you identify most with?  And also, will you and Colin Farrell please make a country band?

A.      Say that again.

Q.      What part of Bad Blake do you most identify with personally, and also, will you and Colin Farrell please form a country band?

A.      The music, that’s what I most identified with Bad.  I have been writing music, playing music since I was a kid.  Unlike Bad, I have    you know, I didn’t think he had great parents.  Certainly didn’t have    he had four, probably, great wives that he got rid of, you know.

But I have a very strong marriage, you know.  Bad didn’t have that.  There’s a lot of stuff he didn’t have.  But the music, I don’t know about forming a country band.  Sounds like a good idea.  I’ll talk with those guys, maybe.

Q.      Congratulations.

A.      Thank you so much.

Q.      One of the fascinating things about the Oscars in recent years, including this year, is that some of the acting, the key acting categories, are won by people in pictures that are not in the Best Picture category.  Very odd, but interesting.  And I am curious if you have any insight into that and what it means to be able to elevate the profile of a picture like Crazy Heart with this kind of triumph.

A.      Well, that’s the exciting thing to me, because this award brings some attention to that great movie.  I was kind of surprised.  We got 10 nominees and Crazy Heart didn’t make it.  Oh, God.  But, of course, Scott, you know, but…  bitch, bitch, bitch, right.  I mean, God.

Did I answer your question?  Say that again.  Yeah, yeah.  That’s, in a way, that’s one aspect of what these awards are all about to bring attention to all these great movies that we made, you know.  And so I’m all for this ten Best Pictures.  I think that’s wonderful.  And I hope a lot of people can see Crazy Heart because of this.

Q.      Jeff, over here.  Congratulations, I loved this film.  Loved it.

A.      Thank you so much.

Q.      What are you going to do with this newfound power?  Any projects you’ve been associated with or that you’re going to sprinkle this stardust on?

A.      Yeah.  Well, certainly, the music, that’s going to bloom for me.  That’s something that I’ve been doing for a long time.  And this is going to help me continue that.  But also, you know, there’s upsides and downsides of things.

The downsides, you lose some of your anonymity, and for an actor, that’s kind of tough.  But the upside is, you know, hopefully, this award will help bring peace and understanding and prosperity to our world, you know.  I think, because, really, movies are more than just entertainment, they are connecting us, you know.

And music is the same way.  We have, you know, a movie about music here, but music and movies are a common link for all of us.  And I am hoping that this will kind of raise my profile, and I am all about getting us, you know, getting us all together, getting the world healthy.

Sometimes I’ll think of movies as a great example for the way the world can work.  You have all these, you know, different opinions, and all these different ways we can work together.  And we can make the most beautiful movie we can make, and we have the opportunity to make this the most beautiful world too.  So I hope that furthers that idea.

Q.      As we see tonight, for a lot of your career you’ve been defined by one movie, The Big Lebowski.  Will this put that to rest?

A.      I’m digging the Dude.  You know, I love him.  That’s wonderful.  You know, the success that he’s had.  I was a little disappointed, when it first came out, it didn’t do much.  But now we have Lebowski fests and all kinds of things.

Q.      I was wondering what you were listening to on your iPod this morning when you were walking through Beverly Hills?

A.      I was digging a little Benji Hughes.  Do you know Benji Hughes?

Q.      I don’t.

A.      Check him out.

Q.      I’ll look him up right now.

A.      Good, good.

Q.      That’s all.

Q.      Everybody said tonight that you’re a successful man in every area.  Now you are the Best Actor of the year.  What would you say is your personal key for success?

A.      Oh, well, first thing that pops into my mind is my wife, my support, you know.  She holds that kite string.  Lets me go way out there, and then it’s so sweet being reeled back in.  I love coming home.  She pointed out the other day, we’ve been apart 11 of the last 14 months.  So I went, whoo, really far out there.  But my wife and my girls, I guess the girls are the tail of the kite, keep me centered like that.  My girl, my daughters.

Q.      Thank you so much, and congratulations.

Onstage Speech: Performance by an actress in a supporting role

CATEGORY: Performance by an actress in a supporting role

SPEECH BY: Mo’Nique

FILM: “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

First, I would like to thank the Academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics. I want to thank Miss Hattie McDaniel for enduring all that she had to so that I would not have to. Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey because you touched it, the whole world saw it. Ricky Anderson, our attorney of Anderson & Smith, thank you for your hard work. My entire BET family, my Precious family, thank you so much. To my amazing husband Sidney, thank you for showing me that sometimes you have to forego doing what’s popular in order to do what’s right. And baby, you were so right. God bless us all.

Mo’Nique Had Just Won For Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role At The 82nd Academy Awards.

Here is the transcript of her backstage interview:

A.      Thank you very, very much, baby.  Hey.  Hey.

Q.      Hey, Mo’Nique.

A.      Hey, Sugar.

Q.      Right here.  It’s Sam from KTLA.

A.      Hey, Sam.

Q.      How are you?

A.      I am wonderful.

Q.      You’ve got all the time in the world now.  Everything you’ve wanted and what you said on stage was wonderful.  There was no red light or time pressure, and you could say anything you wanted to say.

what do you want to say, holding that in your hand?

A.      Everything I wanted to say and everything I needed to say, I said it.  Thank you, Sam.

117.  Is that how we do it?  Is this what they do at the Oscars?  117.

Q.      Mo’Nique?

A.      What we are going to do, sugar?  Who was 47?  Where is 47?

Q.      Right here on the right.

A.      After 160, we are going to do 117.  Okay?  Go ahead, sugar.

MODERATOR:  We are going to 117, then we will go to 147.

Q.      Mo’Nique, you’ve often said you are not an actress, you’re a standup comedienne.  That’s your baby, and you won’t call yourself an actress.

Now that you’ve won an Oscar, are things going to change?

A.      I am a standup comedienne who won an Oscar.

Q.      Okay.

A.      Oh, baby, I did it, me.

Q.      Thank you so much, my friend, Mo’Nique.  Congratulations.  We told you, you would be right here.  Okay.

I want you to just share the story with the audience and the world that you shared with us on the red carpet about Hattie McDaniel.  I don’t think people out there really got it?  Please explain the blue dress and the whole

A.      This is why I called your number, because I don’t know how many people would have taken out the time to ask about that dynamic woman.

The reason why I have on this royal blue dress is because it’s the color that Hattie McDaniel wore in 1940 when she accepted her Oscar.  The reason why I have this gardenia in my hair, it is the flower that Hattie McDaniel wore when she accepted her Oscar.

So, for you, Ms. Hattie McDaniel, I feel you all over me, and it’s about time that the world feels you all over them.  Thank you so much, baby.  I love you.

Q.      Congratulations.  Well deserved.

A.      Thank you, sugar.

Q.      Now, you are a very empowering woman.  So I want to ask you, what do you think would happen to Hollywood actresses if they had more natural figures and didn’t shave their legs?

A.      They’d win Oscars.

Oh, sugar, who is next?

Mickey, what question do you have, baby?  Do you have one?

Q.      Let’s go with 22.

A.      You know what, sugar, I am going to tell you why.  I have to go to the people I have to go to, because they were the ones that came to me when no one did.

You have a question for me, sugar?  Can we get a mic?  It’s as simple as walking.  Mickey, as soon as you get the mic, baby, we got you, sugar.

Q.      Congratulations.

A.      Thank you, sister.

Q.      So tell me, as awful as Mary Jones was, did you see any of yourself in her?

A.      Yes, in that last scene.  And I will ask you, have you ever had a dark moment when you were unlovable?  I am asking you the question.

Q.      Yes.

A.      Didn’t you want somebody to love you through it?

Q.      Yes.

A.      That was that same for me.  For as cruel as Mary Jones was, for the monster that she was, everybody    and I don’t care who you are and what crime you’ve committed, everybody deserves to be loved, even when they are unlovable.

Thank you, sugar.

Q.      Okay.  Does Mickey have a microphone?  Yes?  No?

A.      They are giving it to her, baby.  Thank you for your patience.

Q.      Hey Mo.

A.      Hey, sugar.

Q.      How’re you doing?

A.      I am good.  I’m a queen.

Q.      All right.  Did you and Sidney have a moment right when they announced your name?  Did anything go on between the two of you?  Did you say anything to each other?

A.      When they announced my name, Sidney and I went back to Ramblestown High School on the balcony, at 14 years old, in the 10th grade.

And I said, “One day we are going to be stars.”

And he said, “You first.”

That is the moment we went to.

Q.      Thank you.

A.      Thank you.

Q.      Hey, Mo’Nique, it’s

A.      Hey, sugar.

Q.      It’s Russ with BET News.

A.      Hey, Russ.  We love you, baby.

Q.      This moment culminates a very long career, and at your NAACP award, you dedicated it to all the Preciouses out there.

A.      Yes.

Q.      Can you tell us how it feels at this moment for that little girl from Baltimore who was told, “I can’t, you won’t, you will not, and you can’t,” what does it feel like in this moment?

A.      I feel like you can, you will, and I did.  God bless you, brother.

Q.      Thank you.

Q.      How has this powerful role shaped the rest of your acting career?

A.      You know what?  This role was not so    not about my acting career, this role has shaped my life to allow me not to judge and to love unconditionally.  Now, if that goes into my career, great.  But if it doesn’t and I am just a dynamic person that I strive to be every day, I’ve won, baby.

Q.      Congratulations.

A.      Thank you, brother.

Q.      Hi, Mo’Nique.  Congratulations.

A.      Thank you, sugar.  We are actually going to do this young lady.  Then, 85, then we can wrap it up with 244.

Q.      Uhm, thanks.  One of our viewers, Marilyn, wants to know about your technique:  ”How long did it take to you relax when you’d get home from Precious, in doing some of those really emotional scenes?”

A.      You know, and I have said this before, I am married to an angel, and oftentimes I tell him, “I can see your wings,” because the best advice he gave me was, “Don’t judge it, just be it, and leave it on the floor.”

So when Mr. Daniels said, “cut,” Mary Jones was left on the floor.  There was no deprogramming, there was no therapy where I had to be brought back.  Mary Jones was left on the studio floor, so when I went home, I was Mrs. Hicks, Sidney Hicks’ wife.  I was Mommy to David, Jonathan, Michael, and Shawann.

Thank you, baby.  85.

MODERATOR:  Okay.  And I am just going to add, unfortunately, we do have to end with 85.

Q.      First of all, congratulations.  I knew you were going to win it all along.  It was wonderful to see you up there.  I just wanted to ask you, you talked about, in your acceptance speech, the politics and talent, meting it out.

Can you talk a little bit more about that?

A.      Sure.

Q.      Thank you.

A.      Through this journey and process    and I’m sure some of you are sitting in this room right now    some journalist wrote, some reporters wrote, “Someone needs to teach Mo’Nique a lesson.  Someone needs to tell her how this game is played.”

And I am very proud to be part of an Academy that says, “We will not play that game.  We will judge her on her performance and not how many dinners she attended and how many pictures she took.  It’s on the screen.”

So I am proud to hold this Oscar in my hand because this Academy said, “We won’t play the game that the media wants to so readily put out there.”

Thank you, baby.  And God bless all of you.

Q.      Thank you, and congratulations.

Academy Award Winner Sandra Bullock Won For Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role, Playing Leigh Ann Tuohy In The Blind Side

Here is Sandra Bullock’s Acceptance Speech:

Did I really earn this or did I just wear you all down? I would like to thank the Academy for allowing me in the last month to have the most incredible ride with rooms full of artists that I see tonight and that I’ve worked with before and I hope to work with in the future, who inspire me and blaze trails for us. Four of them that I’ve fallen deeply in love with I share this night with and I share this award with.

Gabby, I love you so much. You are exquisite. You are beyond words to me. Carey, your grace and your elegance and your beauty and your talent makes me sick. Helen, I feel like we are family through family and I don’t have the words to express just what I think of you. And Meryl, you know what I think of you and you are such a good kisser.

I have so many people to thank for my good fortune in this lifetime and this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I know. To the family that allowed me to play them, the Tuohy family, I know they’re in here and you’ll probably hear her in a minute. Maybe not. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to… the family that made this film that gave me the opportunity to do something different. John Lee Hancock, Gil Netter, Alcon, Warner Bros., the actors, everyone who’s shown me kindness when it wasn’t fashionable, I thank you. To everyone who was mean to me when it wasn’t… George Clooney threw me in a pool years ago. I’m still holding a grudge. But there’s so many people to thank.

Not enough time, so I would like to thank what this film is about for me which are the moms that take care of the babies and the children no matter where they come from. Those moms and parents never get thanked. I, in particular, failed to thank one. So… if I can take this moment to thank Helga B. for not letting me ride in cars with boys until I was 18 because she was right. I would’ve done what she said I was gonna do. For making me practice every day when I got home. Piano, ballet, whatever it is I wanted to be. She said to be an artist, you had to practice every day, and for reminding her daughters that there’s no race, no religion, no class system, no color, nothing, no sexual orientation that makes us better than anyone else. We are all deserving of love. So, to that trailblazer, who allowed me to have that. And this. And this. I thank you so much for this opportunity that I share with these extraordinary women and my lover Meryl Streep. Thank you.

Backstage Interview: Performance by an actress in a leading role

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW

CATEGORY: Performance by an actress in a leading role

INTERVIEW WITH: Sandra Bullock

FILM: “The Blind Side”

======BEGIN TRANSCRIPTION======

Q.      Hi, Sandra.  As a fellow southern woman and big Allman (sic) fan, I just wanted to say you’re making Delta women and strong mothers everywhere very, very proud.

A.      I’m glad I could represent.

Q.      I was wondering if you had any advice for students out there, acting students or just people who want to be in the entertainment industry who want to be in your shoes tonight?

A.      Well, don’t aspire to be in these shoes.  You know, walk in your own.  I mean everyone’s really good at telling everyone else how to live your life or how to be or how to do it.  Just don’t listen.  My mother beat it into our heads to be original, and I didn’t understand that until later on and just everyone’s unique and that’s what makes people exciting to watch, I think, so just savour what you are and not what everyone else wants you to be.

Q.      So last time I asked you a question at the SAG Awards I suggested you were the favorite for the Oscars and you shushed me.

A.      I’m going to shush you again.

Q.      What does this mean to you and did you sort of think you were the favorite?

A.      Are you joking?  No.  It’s    as I said up on that stage, you know, I questioned did I win it or did I just wear everyone down?  It’s if you hang in there the longest, it’s, you know    you know, I didn’t aspire to this.  I was in awe of it.  I admired it.  I got to watch it like everyone else did or present, but it wasn’t something that I said, One day when I get the Oscar.

I didn’t think it was something that was    the opportunity would ever present itself for me to rise to that occasion.  And I was okay with that and I was very happy working and this came out of left field, every pun intended.  Sorry.  I think everything’s going to be a metaphor tonight and I apologize.  This is the film I said “no” to.  If I thought this was going to be my, you know, golden ticket.  It just was such odd circumstances and things came together in a way that I just didn’t see coming.  No one saw coming.  And I think that’s what makes it so overwhelming and unexpected.  I look at the company I keep in this category and you can’t pick.  There’s not one that rises above the others, and I love these women that I got to spend this time with so much for who they are.  So I feel like I share it equally in five parts because we ladies need to stick together.

Q.      Here we go.  She speaks fluently German.  Fluently.  This speech was about family.  Of course your mother passed away like 2000, I think, it was.  Your family’s right now watching the film in Germany.  So many relatives of her, what would you say to them in German.  [In German.]

A.      Okay.  [In German.]

Q.      Picking up away from the camera, you’ve done a lot of work for Warren Easton High School.

A.      That’s right.  Hey.

Q.      And then    congratulations by the way.

A.      Thank you.

Q.      And then this picture as well there’s a tie in there.  I just want you to talk a little bit about what draws you to these projects that are youth oriented that are to do with

A.      It’s not that I consciously draw    I’m drawn to them.  You know, we’re presented with the opportunities we’re presented with in this business, and you’re able to make some of your own opportunities.  I didn’t    it’s not conscious, but I think it makes a great inspirational story when you can see it work, when you see what someone can rise to the occasion and do.  And you know, I’ve seen it happen day after day in New Orleans and that’s why I love that town so much, and it’s the people and the perseverance and the love of each other that makes that work.  And I think that’s what works so well in stories like that.  I love stories about passion and love.  Love of country, love of people.  Love of sport.  It’s just    it makes a good film.  But I don’t think I’ve ever consciously been drawn to it.  I just    I just end up, I guess, maybe loving it the most.

Q.      Hey, Sandra.  Congratulations.  I want to ask you about the power of the same sex kiss, which you mentioned a couple of times.

A.      Yes, yes, yes.

Q.      So why is it you can do, for instance, a really hot love scene naked with someone like Ryan Reynolds, yet all the headlines are about kissing Meryl Streep?

A.      Well, first of all, if you saw me in the scene with Ryan, no one noticed me because Ryan was in the scene naked as well.

Q.      You were naked in it, too.

A.      I know.  I looked fine but Ryan, who is my friend, is a freak of nature and it’s disgusting the way he looks and all I see is him, naked.  When I see him naked    on the film.  You know, but I think because no one expects Meryl to, you know, roll with the flow like that, I think no one realizes how much fun Meryl Streep is.  I mean, she    I’m not going to tell you half of what she’d do or what she’s done.  But she just is everything that Stanley Tucci said is right and then some.  I don’t think anyone expects her to do it.  That’s why it makes the headline.  She’s an awesome broad, and I think she’s an extraordinary actor but she’s also a really free, fun human being, so I think it’s because it was Meryl.  I kissed Meryl.  No one’s ever taken the bull by the horns like that before, but I did.

Q.      Sandra, congratulations.

A.      Thank you.

Q.      I just would love to hear the story about Clooney throwing you in a pool.

A.      Yeah.  See I could have taken that moment and gotten him back.  There was also Tom Cruise involved in that as well, and I told them one day, in a very public forum, I would get them back, but George looked so tired tonight.  I saw his little eyes and said, I can’t do it to him tonight.  Yeah.  It was    you might want to ask George about that.  See how much information he’ll give because it was funny to everyone else but me.  It was actually really funny, but not at the time.  Ask George.  It’s George Clooney.  It’s what George does well.

Q.      Sandra, in the back.  Sandra, firstly, thank you for the free All About Steve DVDs.

A.      You are more than welcome.  I want you to watch it.  No interruptions.  I want you to watch it.

Q.      I’ve already seen the film; I have to be honest.  You have both an Oscar and a Razzie.  How much are you enjoying the irony of that situation and what are you going to do with both awards?

A.      They’re going to sit side by side, as they should.  You know they’re both    we’re in the entertainment business.  That’s what we’re supposed to do.  You know, it’s    you take the good with the not so good.  But I had the best time at the Razzies last night.  It is what it is and, you know, it probably means more that both of them happened at the same time because it’s the great equalizer.  You know, nothing ever let’s me get too full of myself.  It quickly chops me off at the knees, and I like it that way because it just    it keeps things stable and they’ll sit side by side in a nice little shelf somewhere, the Razzie maybe on a different shelf, lower.

Q.      Congratulations.

A.      It’s like one of those kids’ games where you pick up the apple    do you remember where else you saw the apple?

Q.      Hi.  Congratulations.

A.      Thank you.

Q.      This might be a bit of a personal question, but you and your husband    your husband whispered something in your ear after you    your name was called and

A.      You expect me to tell you that?  I know, bless your heart for trying.  I mean you got to ask.

Q.      Well, the follow up is, what’s it like for him, to be able to make a tough guy like that cry on national television.  He was tearing up right in front of

A.      Did he cry?  He doesn’t cry.  He doesn’t cry.  No.

Q.      He

A.      He’s right there.  Don’t piss him off.  He had something in his eye.  It’s very dusty from the dance music.  I’d never divulge what Jesse says unless he divulges it first.  It’s between me and the man.  This is like an auction.  I feel like a baby grand.

Q.      Hi.  Congratulations.

A.      Thank you.

Q.      I want to know how you’re celebrating tonight?  What’s the first thing you’ll do?

A.      Food.  I just want a burger and I just want some food.  I want to sit down, take the shoes off.  You know, we got some friends that are all meeting.  I just want to eat.  I want to eat and not sweat it and not worry the dress will bust open.  I just want to relax and just eat.  I’m sorry.  That’s all I can give you.  And I’d like a nap.  I’d like a nap, too.

Q.      Hi.  Now that you’ve won the Oscar will you think twice about doing a more commercial fun film versus a

A.      No.

Q.         serious critically acclaimed film?

A.      I want to do everything.  I’ve always been one of those people that I don’t like when people tell me I can’t do something.  Just because, you know, I did commercial films doesn’t mean I couldn’t do wonderful small art house films.  Just because I won an Oscar, I don’t want to ever stop doing something that makes people laugh.  I love making people laugh.  I don’t know what I’m going to do next.  I sort of wanted this to sort of all die down, but I’m going make mistakes and I’m going to make everyone roll their eyes and I’m going to maybe do something that works, but I just want to keep working in every genre that I’m allowed to until I’m asked to not do it anymore.

Q.      Thank you.

A.      Thank you.

If You Need To Catch Up, Head Over To My Other Site: Oscar Prep…

I have put some last minute content up; and the PDF Downloadable Oscar Ballots are there, as well as lots of other interesting stuff.

Oscar Prep [link] only runs for two months, just before the Academy Awards, every year. For the rest of the year, I put all my focus back here.

But Adam Shankman’s Parents Wouldn’t Let Him

He’s had an interesting path to where he is now.

Here’s an excerpt from the LA Times, about this dancer, who grew up in Brentwood, California to become a recognizable name for ‘Dancing With The Stars’, and a movie producer. Someone who is a self-proclaimed workaholic, and is part of the Producer-Duo of the Academy Awards show this year.

Long before Shankman received calls from movie stars, he dreamed of being one. Growing up in Brentwood, Shankman wanted to be a child actor — something his therapist mother and his father wouldn’t allow.

“My parents couldn’t get me to stop cartwheeling up and down the aisles of restaurants,” he recalled.

His affinity for dance landed him a spot at the prestigious Juilliard School without ever having had any formal training. He dropped out about a year and a half later. Back in L.A., he began getting small jobs as a backup dancer in music videos for artists such as Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul. He also got a gig as “Jack the Rubber Boy,” Rubbermaid’s dancing commercial spokesperson.

One job led to the next, and soon he was choreographing dance numbers in films. He created a short film involving dance that landed at Sundance and was soon offered his first directing job on “The Wedding Planner,” starring Jennifer Lopez.

Since then, Shankman has directed a number of movies, including “Bringing Down the House” and “Bedtime Stories.” Meanwhile, his production company has churned out popular films including “Step Up” and the upcoming Miley Cyrus film “The Last Song.”

Zac Efron, who worked with Shankman on “Hairspray” and “17 Again” and will be a presenter at this year’s Oscars, said he thinks the director is “able to connect with younger people because he’s maintained his own youthful energy.”

“I think people think of me for saccharine family movies,” Shankman acknowledged. “I’ve spent most of my career taking pretty schlocky ideas and turning them into something a little original. But I want to do something more adult than kids and animals.”

Shankman’s commercial sensibility has certainly been welcomed by the academy, which has long been trying to attract a younger viewership — Channing Tatum, who starred in “Step Up,” Cyrus, and a slew of dancers from “So You Think You Can Dance” will join Efron in appearances on the Oscar telecast.

Despite the frenetic pace of the last few months, Shankman has already been pondering his next career move.

“I think I do a lot of work so I don’t have to look at my life. I think that’s what my workaholism is about,” he said. “I’ve had the craziest year doing all these things I’d never seen myself doing, and a lot of people see me as diversifying, but I was just trying to fill up my time. And it’s not a sad thing. But my heart has now turned towards wanting to do things that make me happy.”

Source : LA Times, Amy Kaufman

If you haven’t been to my other site, called Oscar Prep, click on the name to go there now. There’s lots there, including a downloadable , printable Oscar Nominee list there, as well as an Oscar Bingo game with 9 game cards, to spice up the boring parts of the show…

Enjoy!

Dana

An audition is an audition.

Yeah, I know this is a site for actors, these are photos of an audition for dancers.

I think the photos are beautiful with talented people trying out for a show, so I put ‘em up to share them with you. It was an open call, held just recently; for The Oscars© Show, The Academy Awards.

I put a notice for this audition on this site, and on my other awards season site, called Oscar Prep.

All photos ©AMPAS.

Break a leg!

;~Dana

Please share Hollywood Actor Prep.

See the little squares peeking out, just below?

There’s one for Twitter, one for you to Email this article, one to put it up on your Facebook, etc.

You don’t have to fill in much, at all…Thank you!

Gaborey Sidibe Acts, For The First Time, At Her Audition For Precious

This video is absolutely not for children.

UPDATE!!!

Next Post Will Feature Another Actor Who Has A Lead Acting Role In A Major Movie, This Year, Without Any Prior Film Credits…

And, photos of the Oscar winning actors, in their memorable performances…

Academy Award Winners 2009

• Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

• Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader

• Actor: Sean Penn, Milk

• Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

• Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

• Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

• Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk

• Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

• Original Score: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire

• Animated Film: WALL-E

• Short Animated Film: La Maison En Petite Cubes

• Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

• Costume Design: The Duchess

• Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

• Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire

• Live Action Short Film: Spielzeugland (Toyland)

• Original Song: A.R. Rahman and Gulzar, Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire

• Documentary: Man on Wire

• Documentary, Short Subjects: Smile Pinki

• Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

• Sound Editing: The Dark Knight

• Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire

• Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire

  Foreign Film: Departures (Japan)

  

The Stanislavsky Method, The Technique At The Actors Studio, Strasberg, etc.

I know that there is a lot of fun made of those who are “Method Actors”. 

You’ll hear about the “mumbling” of Marlon Brando, the “not looking at the other character” of Al Pacino, you’ll even hear stuff about James Dean’s behavior.   I remember there was lots written on actor Sean Penn, way back before anyone knew much else about him (or how good he was!) when he was that stoner character in “Fast Times At Ridgemont High”.  On set, at all times, he stayed in character, and didn’t answer anyone who didn’t call him by his character name, in the movie.

It sounded silly to me, at the time.  For that character, especially for that type of film.   (Well, baby, look at him now.) 

You don’t hear much about different acting techniques, anymore.  

Times are different. Publicly, we are more celebrity-focused, than artistry-interested.

The most well-known acting teachers have passed on, so much about technique and what actors use, has gone ‘underground’.

Even Robert Downey Jr. describes his Oscar nominated role (for “Best Supporting Actor”) as a “narcissistic Method actor”.

Since that Downey role was in a Ben Stiller movie, and Ben Stiller was in my acting class, as taught by Actors Studio well-known:  Sharon Chatten…(as was Amy Stiller, Vince D’onofrio, Cecilia Peck, Adrian Pasdar, and those who are not coming to me immediately…but were very talented and whose work was superb…)  …I know that he was very serious about his acting technique, as we all were; that’s why we all found Sharon, and those classes.  (He was the one who recommended her classes, and took me as an observer, originally.)

I know that Ben Stiller studied hard, working at learning the Stanislavsky Method.  Well before he got into doing comedy, or even creating his own stuff.

Now, in his writing, ‘nothing is sacred’. Especially not himself; and not the groups or communities that he is a part of, or born into.   His comedic style is defined by irreverence, and most often, his subject matter that gets “knocked” is within his own experiential realm.  (Note, please, the Jewish Producer, as played by Tom Cruise.  Um, Ben is Jewish.)

Why am I focusing on Method Acting now?

Why did I put up my post about how I am a Method Actor, and how I trained?

Because I am writing for lots of novice actors,  seeking information on how to get ahead, as a professional actor.

Having a good solid, able acting technique is ’square one’ for all actors who wish to become professional.

…You wouldn’t go to a dentist who got an office, a nurse and a receptionist; hung a shingle, and took started filling cavities…who hadn’t trained for dentistry, at a school..(Not even if you believed  him, that he was born-to-be-a-dentist, and even ‘looked like’ a dentist.)

A dentist who wears the outfit, and holds a dental drill, only hurts other people, if he didn’t go to the right school (or any dental school) first…

Actors, who don’t train with a strong solid technique, only hurt themselves.  Unless an actor looks like Brad Pitt, and even if you do! …You need good strong training, first priority.

I saw a video where Brad Pitt said that his early acting heroes were Mickey Rourke, and Sean Penn…

(I put it on my site called “Hollywood Oscar Prep”– http://oscarprep.com.)

They are both nominated for “Best Actor” this year, 2009, for an Academy Award.

Sean Penn already won a SAG award, this year.

Mickey Rourke already won a Golden Globe.

They both have won countless other awards this year, but most importantly…currently, they are two of our finest actors. They have a long history of incredible film work.  Incredible, mindblowing work.

Mickey Rourke, and Sean Penn, are Method Actors.

Here’s a short video, where Mickey Rourke talks about the public perception, and reality of, Method Acting…As well as his own early acting training…

*Hat tip to Newsweek’s Oscar Roundtable, and to The Hollywood Reporter, for the video…

Keep your faith in yourself,

;Dana

Please share the Hollywood Actor Prep Blog with your friends, by posting it on  your Facebook, or MySpace page.  

You can use the “Save/Share” button down below (it is white) and it’s so easy.  

If you don’t, then some good solid information may not reach many actors, that could use it, to make their ‘path’ a lot easier.  You are creating good karma, for yourself, and you are supporting my efforts.  I do this to assist others. For no self-return…

Thank you.

What A Great Year For Movies, It Was…

Below, is the list of the best films of the year, according to the ‘Members of the Academy’…The “Best Picture” Oscar Nominees. One of them will win an Academy Award, on February 22, 2009.

Following, on the list, are all the other Oscar categories, and their respective nominees. (I use that word ‘respective’, respectfully! All of them are important to the industry, even though the rest of the world may not be as familiar with their category, or job…)

Yesterday, I posted the Oscar Nominees for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress Categories. (Click here for that Hollywood Actor Prep Oscar Nom Cheat Sheet…It’s printable, also…)

For the next few weeks, I’ll be posting quite a bit on the Academy Awards 2009. My focus, of course, will be the acting performances that are under Oscar consideration.  

I also have some thoughts on these “Best Picture Nominees”: what films made the list, and those that didn’t. The surprises, and the expectations.

There’s a lot of stuff to talk about…So stay tuned, and stay involved!

You can subscribe to get my posts by email. You can also get them in your “feedreader” such as Google Reader or Yahoo, etc. (Click here to hook it up! Or, on the sidebar on the right side of this page, at top.)

Update, Feb. 2009: Click to go to my HOLLYWOOD OSCAR PREP ©® SITE.  This page  won’t change when you do…

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OSCAR CONTENDERS LIST

Best Picture: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire.

Director: David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon; Gus Van Sant, Milk; Stephen Daldry, The Reader; Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire.

Foreign Film: The Baader Meinhof Complex, Germany; The Class, France; Departures, Japan; Revanche, Austria; Waltz With Bashir, Israel.

Adapted Screenplay: Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; John Patrick Shanley, Doubt; Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon; David Hare, The Reader; Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire.

Original Screenplay: Courtney Hunt, Frozen River; Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky; Martin McDonagh, In Bruges; Dustin Lance Black, Milk; Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, WALL-E.

Animated Feature Film: Bolt, Kung Fu Panda, WALL-E.

Art Direction: Changeling, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, The Duchess, Revolutionary Road.

Cinematography: Changeling, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire.

Sound Mixing: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire, WALL-E, Wanted.

Sound Editing: The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Slumdog Millionaire, WALL-E, Wanted.

Original Score: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Alexandre Desplat; Defiance, James Newton Howard; Milk, Danny Elfman; Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman; WALL-E, Thomas Newman.

Original Song: “Down to Earth” from WALL-E, Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman; “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman and Gulzar; “O Saya” from Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam.

Costume: Australia, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Duchess, Milk, Revolutionary Road.

Documentary Feature: The Betrayal (Nerakhoon), Encounters at the End of the World, The Garden, Man on Wire, Trouble the Water.

Documentary (short subject): The Conscience of Nhem En, The Final Inch, Smile Pinki, The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306.

Film Editing: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire.

Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Hellboy II: The Golden Army.

Animated Short Film: La Maison en Petits Cubes, Lavatory — Lovestory, Oktapodi, Presto, This Way Up.

Live Action Short Film: Auf der Strecke (On the Line), Manon on the Asphalt, New Boy, The Pig, Spielzeugland (Toyland).

Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Iron Man.

—-

“A movie star, and the rest….”

Anybody ever seen the vintage TV show, “Gilligan’s Island”?? Remember the song from that show? I do!

Catchy; it described all the people who were on the show…

“A movie star, and the rest, are here on Gilligan’s Island!”

Well, the movie stars are listed on my prior post. All the rest, (all the categories that are ‘bathroom breaks’ for the rest of the country, while, in the industry, they are very important artists….are on this one. )

Except for the Best Picture Winner, of course.

NO one in the world takes a bathroom break during that Oscar envelope opening? Do they?

I don’t think anyone I know even eats during that moment. Even if famished.

Let me know on Twitter… In the meantime, I’m going to listen to some modern music….

…Because, I can’t get the theme from Gilligan’s Island outa my head…

The Sharing Portion of the Post

You can email this Oscar Nominee list, and all Hollywood Actor Prep Cheat Sheets, below. Email ‘em to your friends, too, if you want to.

And, please, continue to share on Facebook, and MySpace…that can be done, just below, too! Thanks for all the sharing that you’ve done!
And, if you don’t already follow me on Twitter… well… where the heck have you been????! My Twitter name is __dana__.

Best,

;*Dana

This Hollywood Actor Prep Cheat Sheet lists only the 2009 Academy Award Nominees, in the Acting Categories.

Doesn’t everyone always talk about the “Best Acting” categories, primarily??

Or only??

I mean, everyone, everywhere.

Okay. Also, they talk about the “Best Picture Nominees”. Right?

Then, the other categories

…Maybe.

I’ve found…that is, to your average American ticket-buyer…the acting and best picture categories ARE their whole definition of “the movies”, when it comes to the Oscars.

Most movie-goers are in the dark …about what directors do…

And, about what producers do, fugedabowdit …total mystery. Like invisible… Right?

People watch the Oscars for the categories they are rooting for, the ones that they care about. It’s emotional…If they cared, while watching the movie; then they “care” during the Academy Awards. A–lot.

Acting + Best Picture: There are no other Oscar categories, to most.

Scientifically, I can prove it.

Monitor your own plumbing, during the Academy Awards television broadcast.

I’ll wager that almost no toilets are flushed, in any bathroom, in the entire USA…

…on February 22nd 2009..

…during the announcing of Oscar wins for any acting category, or best picture.

Okay.

The brilliant acting performances of this year….

The nominated actors are in alphabetical order, and not in order of my own favorites.

(…Come back to Hollywood Actor Prep this this weekend, for that…)

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ACADEMY AWARD ACTING NOMINEES 2009

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie in “Changeling”
Melissa Leo in “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep in “Doubt”
Kate Winslet in “The Reader”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Amy Adams in “Doubt”
Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis in “Doubt”
Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor”
Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn in “Milk”
Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Josh Brolin in “Milk”
Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder”
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt”
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight”
Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road”

Please share the Hollywood Actor Prep Blog with your friends, especially those who are actors.

Please put this blog on your Facebook and MySpace Pages. (*Thanks to those who already have!)

And wanna follow me, on Twitter? I “tweet” there, to announce new blog posts; and to communicate news that pertains to actors, in real time…On Twitter, I am __dana__.

;Best,

Dana

The SAG AWARD NOMINEES were announced this morning. What makes this special, is that the focus is entirely about acting. Actors honoring acting performances. For me, that’s heaven,

And, in case you didn’t know, the SAG AWARDS are regarded, in Hollywood, as a kind of “Oscar E.S.P. ” (Oscar “channeling”?? Acad-Awards telepathy? SAG-The-Soothsayers??!

… Okay, enough…I know!)

Here’s a cheat sheet of all the nominees. Nice and brief.

Just one last thing, before I hit a show and after-holiday-party:

…This “Best Ensemble” category…well, the winner is usually the same movie that wins the Oscar for “Best Picture”, at the (a month later)… Academy Awards. We’ll see about that, this year we’ll check it out together, and I am psyched…

BEST ENSEMBLE
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Doubt”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk”
“Slumdog Millionaire”

BEST ACTOR
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”

BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Dev Patel, “Slumdog Millionaire”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Kate Winslet, “The Reader”

What Movies…How, and Why

Let’s start with “Indies”.  

There’s a lot of them, this year.  

Lots of good ones, too.  Many more…than ever before…may be nominated for Oscars.

Better Independent Films, then, influence the standard of American movies, altogether.  

If American movie quality improves, then, tastes rise. That means higher quality films will be continued to be made. 

The “bar” will be raised, significantly, which will effect on Hollywood Studio decisions, and blockbuster fare.

It’s not only good for right now, but this will have an effect on what will be made in the future.

Michelle Williams, "Wendy And Lucy"

As far as acting goes…That’s wonderful news.  

Because it means more creative roles, more types of roles.

When you are an actor who is truly passionate about the art of acting, the roles in “indies” are the better ones to play.  The fulfilling kinds of roles.

Various parts to be able to play; more depth, more complexity in each.  More authentic acting.

That’s right: more roles.  Variation for each actor.  (Because what actor really wants to play the same thing again and again?)

It also means there will be more parts for variable types.  

Film: Frozen River

The actors that have a tough time finding auditions, because of their “inherent type”, should not be as limited, when movies become more creative.  The truly dramatic, instead of melodramatic, widens the field.  

Independent movies have always been different than studio fare, simply because they enable artistic vision. They are fueled by someone’s creative vision.  Often, they are more unique, more literate.  Resulting in a deeper experience for the audience.

Independent movies are aptly named: they have less decision-makers, from above, telling them “no”. It’s a different tact, different mindset, different goal, when something is made to please the masses, or, mainly, for ticket sales. Art and depth have a hard time surviving, when made by committee.

Could mean a real evolution.

Benecio Del Toro

A solid one. 

This great movie trend can’t just go poof-in-the-night.

If you were worried, here’s your virtual valium…there’s something in the mix, that is here to stay.  

Because there is a basis for all this, that isn’t going away. 

No matter what happens in the economy.  No matter what, period.

It’s our lovely internet.  

And our internet, is us.

Before now, so much of a film success depended on it’s marketing.  In spades.  Both for major studio product, and for Independents.

Until now, movies were “pushed”.  Success was hoisted onto the public, by advertising.

The current economy has ended all that spending, for movie marketing. At the same time, the internet expanded, wildly, especially with sharing/spreading opinion, by the audience.  In other words, the old way was radically diminished, as the new way was expanding. 

The people,  on the internet, now, have more voice and more influence, on determining what will be a success, as far as movies go.

The internet has become a major “influencer”, a determinant; substantiating public opinion into a position of being a more “major player”.  A power-position, that isn’t going anywhere. 

Ticket sales.

Also been affected by the economy.  In a bad economy, “ticket sales” carry more weight, as messengers.

When people cut back on their entertainment spending, they cut back on how many movies they see.  The ones that they do see, are chosen, specifically. The preferred choice.  Aligned with taste level.

Buying tickets really makes a point, in times like this.  

Quoting “New Indies Make Splash?”, from Variety  (Dade Hayes):

“The general economic climate is becoming refreshing,” says Oscilloscope’s Fenkel. “Buying a nomination is going to be harder. A company like ours has the resources to be patient and cultivate grassroots support for films that really deserve attention.”

Yari agrees, citing the discernment of the adult audience as a parallel shift that plays to these newer campaigners’ advantage.

The ultimate year of reckoning for the American indie and specialty sector has turned into a rare kudos opportunity for the survivors….”People are being more disciplined in their spending,” notes David Fenkel, a ThinkFilm vet who heads marketing at Oscilloscope, which is pushing “Wendy and Lucy.” “The quality of films in the race has risen as a result.”

Focus, Miramax, Fox Searchlight and Sony Pictures Classics — are “taking a lesson from ‘No Country for Old Men’ and ‘There Will Be Blood,’ ” argues Bob Yari, whose shingle has “Nothing but the Truth” and “What Doesn’t Kill You.” Last year’s campaigns for those pics “were successful, but they used up a lot of resources. What you’re seeing is a big pullback by studios and that’s left a lot of room for the independents.”

Overture, IFC, Samuel Goldwyn, Yari Releasing, Oscilloscope, Summit and Bleiberg Entertainment have a cluster of pics aiming to compete in major categories. Win or lose, they are bringing a sense of freshness to a process that had become machinelike in its predictability.

“We hold back a little bit,” Yari says of the indie hopefuls. “If the buzz organically starts building, then you have a validation. We don’t have the luxury of saying, ‘We love it, and we’re going to force it through.’ “

Best,

:Dana