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.

Pete Hammond And Tom O’Neil Discuss The History Of Oscar® Acting Awards, And Deserving…

Two Oscar Pundits discuss a long history of actors winning Academy Awards for movie performances that were really because of earlier performances, in previous film,  or for longevity of acting career.

There is something to be said for longevity of career. Especially if an actor gives great performance after great performance. That, to me, says that is maestro level acting chops. Very high-level, to be held in high esteem. Longevity of acting career, with repeated  high-level acting, bears a message that the great acting that the actor did in one movie wasn’t a fluke, or because of a great director, or even a good casting fit.

I think there should be another Oscar for that. Separate from an individual acting Oscar, and in addition to the Lifetime Achievement Oscar for Acting.

Seriously. An Oscar  can be awarded to show that we do respect and revere our accomplished and high-level actors. To Actors, that show, repeatedly, a great artistry.

Should we also have an Oscar for being lovable? I am serious about this too. George Clooney and Sandra Bullock are so loved by the public. I love them too. Her a bit more than him, but that is just a personal thing because I think she’s a bit more real than him, more authentic.I think she works hard, very hard.  Movie star status is important to the movie business. The Academy Awards are a movie-star-affair. Maybe there should be an additional movie star award, at the Oscars.

That way, the great acting performances will be the only criteria that gets rewarded by the Best Actor and Best Actress awards, and the Supporting acting categories as well. Not get all muddied up with these other categories or past performances.

I find this video interesting, and I love the history. When I started Oscar Prep, I used vintage footage from past Academy Awards, but then they put the Academy kabosh on that.

This video goes Oscar Vintage, so I dig it. Pete Hammond and Tom O’Neil really know their stuff, their Oscar® history…

(By the way, I disagree a bit with what they say about Sandra Bullock’s acting choices. That, later in another post.)

You can find these two Oscarologists, Tom O’Neil and Pete Hammond at the LA Times.

Enjoy

Dana

Oscar© Nominees For Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress :: Printable List

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Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards

Performance by an actor in a leading role

• Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)
• George Clooney in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
• Colin Firth in “A Single Man” (The Weinstein Company)
• Morgan Freeman in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)
• Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

• Matt Damon in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)
• Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
• Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones” (DreamWorks in association with Film4, Distributed by Paramount)
• Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a leading role

• Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.)
• Helen Mirren in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Carey Mulligan in “An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
• Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia” (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

• Penélope Cruz in “Nine” (The Weinstein Company)
• Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
• Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)
• Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
• Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)

For the complete list of 82nd Academy Award Nominations, all categories:

Click to go to: Dana Kaminski’s Oscar Blog called Oscar Prep, at OscarPrep.com.

TO PRINT THE LIST OF ACTING CATEGORY, OSCAR NOMINEES :

Click on the title at top of page: ‘82nd Oscar…’ . You will get a new page that looks nearly the same, except it will have this identical Oscar© list on it, with the same title and picture. Only.

Enjoy!

Dana

Thank you for sharing this.

Golden Globe Actor Winners Photos Make It To This Blog By 6:26 PT, 9:26 ET, Jan. 18, 1010

Okay, so it took me about a whole day toiling with the all my blog tech to get this posted…And, yes, near the end, I was wondering out loud to inanimate objects why-ever I was ‘Doing-all-this’…I did accelerate to the question, with simultaneous head shaking…“Why, Any Of This??”…But then, by the end, when I saw the finished gallery: the actors expressions, expressiveness…well…)

For me, these photos…of these well-known actors, are just wonderful.

©HFPA

Their faces are so wonderfully expressive of how they feel about their very recent Golden Globe win. Full of authentic emotion. Yes, they are famous; yes, they have had long careers. Yet, this win really feels like a prize to them. Look, and see.

I can also, clearly,  see what separates real actors, from most of the other people in the world.  The trait what makes them really great at acting.

I share their joy with them, when I see these photos, and I hope you will get a similar satisfaction from seeing these Golden Globes Winners:

Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, And Accompanying Authentic Joy…

©HFPA

I Would Know That These Winners Are Actors, And Great Ones…

Even if I never saw them in a movie, or anywhere that I was informed what they were.

They were born actors, and they love acting.

They also worked very hard at it. These individual actors.

They cherish being rewarded for acting. For being recognized, their true nature.

How Could I Tell That These Are True Actors?

And all these other annoying assumptions?

You look at the photos, and tell me how you can. We’ll compare impressions. Leave a comment, or tweet me at my Twitter name which is @__dana__.

©HFPA

Big-And-Serious-Thank-You to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Best,

Dana

Please do share.

That’s what makes it worth it, for me. Honestly.

Here’s another Golden Globe Nomination List, To Print.

I am going to put my favorites on this post, just before the show. If you wish to put your predictions or favorites, please do. I realize I am a little late to ask for such, but just in case…Use the comments area if you catch this, in time…

♦

GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS IN THE FILM CATEGORY

GOLDEN GLOBE TELEVISION NOMINEES

 

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

FILM
BEST FEATURE – DRAMA
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures
“Frost/Nixon” – Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Studio Canal; Universal Pictures
“The Reader” – Mirage Enterprises; The Weinstein Company
“Revolutionary Road” – An Evamere Entertainment BBC Films Neal Street Production; DreamWorks Pictures in Association with BBC Films and Paramount Vantage
WINNER: “Slumdog Millionaire” – Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.; Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.

BEST FEATURE – COMEDY
“Burn After Reading” – Working Title/Releasing Company; Focus Features in association with Studio Canal
“Happy-Go-Lucky” – Summit Entertainment, Film4, Ingenious Film Partners, Miramax Films; Miramax Films
“In Bruges” – Blueprint Pictures; Focus Features
“Mamma Mia!” – Relativity Media, Playtone, Littlestar; Universal Pictures
WINNER: “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” – Mediapro; The Weinstein Company

DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
WINNER: Danny Boyle – “Slumdog Millionaire”
Stephen Daldry -”The Reader”
David Fincher -”The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button”
Ron Howard – “Frost/Nixon”
Sam Mendes -”Revolutionary Road”

ACTOR – DRAMA
Leonardo DiCaprio – “Revolutionary Road”
Frank Langella – “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn – “Milk”
Brad Pitt – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
WINNER: Mickey Rourke – “The Wrestler”

ACTRESS – DRAMA
Anne Hathaway – “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie – “Changeling”
Meryl Streep – “Doubt”
Kristin Scott Thomas – “I’ve Loved You So Long”
WINNER: Kate Winslet – “Revolutionary Road”

ACTOR – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Javier Bardem – “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
WINNER: Colin Farrell – “In Bruges”
James Franco – “Pineapple Express”
Brendan Gleeson – “In Bruges”
Dustin Hoffman – “Last Chance Harvey”

ACTRESS – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Rebecca Hall – “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
WINNER: Sally Hawkins – “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Frances McDormand – “Burn After Reading”
Meryl Streep – “Mamma Mia!”
Emma Thompson – “Last Chance Harvey”

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tom Cruise – “Tropic Thunder”
Robert Downey Jr. – “Tropic Thunder”
Ralph Fiennes – “The Duchess”
Philip Seymour Hoffman – “Doubt”
WINNER: Heath Ledger – “The Dark Knight”
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams – “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz – “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis – “Doubt”
Marisa Tomei – “The Wrestler”
WINNER: Kate Winslet – “The Reader”

SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
WINNER: Simon Beaufoy – “Slumdog Millionaire”
David Hare – “The Reader”
Peter Morgan – “Frost/Nixon”
Eric Roth – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
John Patrick Shanley – “Doubt”

BEST SCORE
Alexandre Desplat – “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button”
Clint Eastwood – “Changeling”
James Newton Howard – “Defiance”
WINNER: A. R. Rahman – “Slumdog Millionaire”
Hans Zimmer – “Frost/Nixon”

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“Down To Earth” from “Wall-E” – Music By: Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman; Lyrics By: Peter Gabriel
“Gran Torino” from “Gran Torino” – Music By: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens; Lyrics By: Jamie Cullum
“I Thought I Lost You” from “Bolt” – Music & Lyrics By: Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele
“Once In A Lifetime” from “Cadillac Records” – Music & Lyrics By: Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott Mcfarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street
WINNER: “The Wrestler” from “The Wrestler” – Music & Lyrics By: Bruce Springsteen

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
“Bolt” – Walt Disney Pictures; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
“Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation SKG; Paramount Pictures
WINNER: “Wall-E” – Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“The Baader Meinhof Complex” (“Der Baader Meinhof Komplex”)(Germany) – Constantin Film Produktion GmbH; Summit Entertainment, LLC
“Everlasting Moments” (“Maria larssons eviga ögonblick”) (Sweden) – Final Cut Productions Aps; IFC Films
“Gomorrah” (“Gomorra”) (Italy) – Fandango; IFC Films
“I’ve Loved You So Long” (“Il y a longtemps que je t’aime”) (France) – UGC YM/UGC Images/France 3 Cinema/Integral Film; Sony Pictures Classics
WINNER: “Waltz with Bashir” (Israel) – Bridgit Folman Film Gang/Les Films D’Ici/Razor Films/Arte France/ITVS International; Sony Pictures
TV

TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
“Dexter” (Showtime) – Showtime/John Goldwyn Productions/The Colleton Company/Clyde Phillips Productions
“House” (Fox) – Universal Media Studios In Association With Heel And Toe Films, Shore Z Productions And Bad Hat Harry Productions
“In Treatment” (HBO) – Sheleg, Closest To The Hole Productions In Association With HBO Entertainment
WINNER: “Mad Men” (AMC) – Lionsgate Television
“True Blood” (HBO) – Your Face Goes Here Productions In Association With HBO Entertainment

MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
“A Raisin in the Sun” – Sony Pictures Television, Storyline Entertainment and Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment
“Bernard and Doris” – Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films
“Cranford” – A Co-Production of BBC and WGBH Boston.
WINNER: “John Adams” – Playtone in association with HBO Films
“Recount” – Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
WINNER: “30 Rock” – Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little
Stranger Inc.
“Californication” – Showtime Presents in association with Aggressive Mediocrity, And Then…
“Entourage” – Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
“The Office” – Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC, Universal Media Studios
“Weeds” – Lionsgate Television

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
WINNER: Gabriel Byrne – “In Treatment”
Michael C. Hall – “Dexter
Jon Hamm – “Mad Men
Hugh Laurie – “House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers – “The Tudors

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Sally Field – “Brothers And Sisters”
Mariska Hargitay – “Law And Order: Special Victims Unit”
January Jones – “Mad Men”
WINNER: Anna Paquin – “True Blood”
Kyra Sedgwick – “The Closer”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Christina Applegate – “Samantha Who?”
America Ferrera – “Ugly Betty”
WINNER: Tina Fey – “30 Rock”
Debra Messing – “The Starter Wife”
Mary-Louise Parker – “Weeds”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
WINNER: Alec Baldwin – “30 Rock”
Steve Carell – “The Office”
Kevin Connelly – “Entourage”
David Duchovny – “Californication”
Tony Shalhoub – “Monk”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Judi Dench – “Cranford”
Catherine Keener – “An American Crime”
WINNER: Laura Linney – “John Adams”
Shirley Maclaine – “Coco Chanel”
Susan Sarandon – “Bernard And Doris”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Ralph Fiennes – “Bernard and Doris”
WINNER: Paul Giamatti – “John Adams”
Kevin Spacey – ” Recount”
Kiefer Sutherland – “24: Redemption”
Tom Wilkinson – “Recount”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Neil Patrick Harris – “How I Met Your Mother”
Denis Leary – “Recount”
Jeremy Piven – “Entourage”
Blair Underwood – “In Treatment”
WINNER: Tom Wilkinson – “John Adams”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Eileen Atkins – “Cranford”
WINNER: Laura Dern – “Recount”
Melissa George – “In Treatment”
Rachel Griffiths – “Brothers And Sisters”
Dianne Wiest – “In Treatment”

Thank you, Variety.

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”

Have you heard about the movie: “Frozen River”? It was released this past summer, and is still being buzzed about.  Not just because it is a stirring film, and it’s different…

Thematically… it’s a bit more real, than the average Hollywood film. It’s a story about a woman whose husband gambles away all the money that they’ve saved for a suitable trailer home, for the family. Their “dream savings”. Now, he’s gone. She’s got a family, and poverty.

She’s not young; and all glammed-up.  Sexily clad. No.

 

Melissa Leo’s character “Eddy”, doesn’t have a high end manicure. No little things, like hair tangles, ruins her evening… She’s a grown woman, with the kind of real-life-authentic-drama, that all human beings deal with. Female humans, too.

Yes, female, and Eddy is a mother, and if you are one, then you know… motherhood is just about the most profoundly dramatic experience… (Oddly, it’s a drama that is rarely, theatrically, expressed.) 

In “Frozen River”, Leo is the type of mother who will do anything for the good of her children. 

And, this woman’s life is on the precipice of complete ruination, without many options. 

How does she handle an overwhelming challenge? She pairs up with a Mohawk woman [Misty Upham], smuggling people across a border.  In Alaska, in the freezing cold.   

You may remember Melissa Leo from television, she was detective Kay Howard, on “Homicide”. Her performances are always so seamless; she slips so deeply into the characters she plays, that, paradoxically, it almost renders her unnoticeable

…Remember “21 Grams”?

This time around, it’ll be a surprise if Melissa Leo doesn’t get nominated for a “Best Actress” Academy Award. If the Academy votes fairly, she may even win.  

Recently, at the 18th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards, in New York, “Frozen River” won best feature film, and Melissa Leo won best breakthrough actor…the two best awards.

Here are selected portions of an interview with Leo, by  Thelma Adams…

 

MELISSA LEO SHARES: FOUR YEARS TO FEATURE FILM

At the after-party, a wide-eyed blond-haired gal came up to me and said ‘I have a short, will you read it?’ And I said, ’sure.’ I read a script called Frozen River about two characters: the blond and the native; they didn’t even have names.

About four years ago, [writer-director] Courtney Hunt, [co-star] Misty Upham and I went up to Massena, NY and shot the short. After, I saw that short and was very impressed by what she had done, Courtney said, ‘wanna do the feature?’ And I said, ‘oh, I didn’t know you had one,’ and ’sure, let’s do the feature.”

So every six, eight months I would call Courtney and say, “Are we going to make that movie?” And she would say, “oh, yeah, no, I’ll get right back to you,” so I would kick-start her again to go look for the financing.

 

ON ACTING A CHARACTER, USING “SELF”

It’s difficult for me to know how much of myself I end up bringing.

Comments from people after the fact like my mom’s friend who just can’t get over the fact that I really knew how to look for that change in that couch [laughs]. She’s known my history. She’s known me my whole life. I’m not quite sure what parts of the character are parts of my self.

What I do know is first of all in the writing of Ray Eddy, she was a whole, complex character with flaws that Courtney wrote, and Courtney even was, as many writers are when they write, her character. And very, very generously gave me the character when it came my turn to play Ray Eddy and Courtney, then, took a backseat. So there were things in her writing that are primary to who Ray Eddy is, and there’s what I then brought to it, which is innate in me. I’m not sure how to describe what that is.

And, then, there’s also the direction that Courtney gave me. With another director at the helm, and me in that part, it wouldn’t have been the same thing because Courtney made me make Ray more likeable, that even though she might be doing things people might question, that you would still care for her. That’s very much Courtney’s hand in the direction.

Courtney had a very keen eye that that was important and, now, in viewing the film, which is very different from reading or performing the film, I understand and see the importance of that. So Courtney’s direction of me was a big, big part of it.

 

ON ACTING WITH A FIRST-TIME DIRECTOR

There were some bumps to get through in the first handful of days of shooting. Courtney’s never really been on a set before. There’s a way things work that everybody else there knows because the gaffer and the grips and the electric, they’ve all been on lots of sets…

There was a really scary day about three days in. We were shooting late in the film, not when we’re out and Mark Boone Jr. is being mean to those poor Chinese girls and then he shoots me in the ear, but right after I get in the car. So we’re starting the scene. We haven’t shot the other stuff with Mark Boone and the girls, where Ray gets shot in the ear, but we’re shooting right after when I get in the car. So we’re in the car, it’s pouring out with snow, with me driving to the start mark. Courtney’s in the back seat with what they call a clamshell, which is a monitor so she can see what the camera’s seeing. And I turn to look over my shoulder, quick as I’m driving to the start mark. ‘Courtney, do you think that we’ve been driving a little while and now we start the dialog or have I just got in the car, and we’re starting the dialog,’ Does that question make sense?

…Didn’t make sense to Courtney! [Laughter] So then, I’m now about to act like a woman who’s just got shot in the ear, I’m getting a little amped up because I know my face is going to be about this close to the camera in about three seconds, because they’re going to call rolling and I ask Courtney one more time [voice rising] ‘just be very clear with me if this is a little while down the road or if I’ve just gotten in the car?” and she says [softly, whispery] ‘don’t talk to me like that.”

…I remembered that I was working with a first-time director. We were going to have to work this out after we got the shot. They rolled the camera. We did the take. We got there. I got out of the car. I looked for a producer and I said, [loudly] “talk to her!” And they did. And it never happened again. That’s the amazing thing about Courtney. Is that she could learn even as we were doing it. And when we got through that third day, and that particular bump, and we came back the next day, something had changed. I knew we were going to be OK.

 

ACTING OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME

This was very different for me in so many ways because here I was being given that opportunity that I have waited a lifetime for, the opportunity to carry the film. So everything mattered that much more to me. I was that much more involved in all of it. There’s all kind of utter nonsense that goes on on-set but, somehow, you get the darn thing in the can anyway….

 

Best,

:Dana
Please contribute to the cost of running this blog, if you find it valuable.  Thank you.

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.

 

 

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.  

 

 

 

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.

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

[This post is outdated, so I took out the link.  The post that was linked to this one, can be found in the archives of this blog. Outside of the parenthesis, the post reads the same as before, except for a change in the last few lines.]  

The Cheat Sheet for the Emmy categories of Acting Nominees, and Best Show, that I posted two days ago…

turned out to be a surprisingly popular post.   Since, the Emmys are on tonight, I thought I would provide a link for those who might need it last minute.  Use it either straight off of your computer screen; or you can print it out, to  keep a “hard copy” next to you, while the show goes along.

It’s really just a show “program”, that lists all the nominees, of the most popular categories.

It contains everyone who is nominated for the actor category; which category, type of role, show they were acting in,  etc.  Similarly, the shows that are nominated, are all in their respective categories; with corresponding information.

Favorites, then, for the Emmy, can be decided, and rooted for…if you haven’t had a chance to catch-up on who all the nominees are, prior.

Just go to the sidebar of this blog, and look in the archives…You’ll see the Emmy Nominations Cheet Sheet post listed there…Enjoy!

Interested in the Emmy Awards?  Good, because I made up some printable cheat sheets, that you can watch the Emmy’s with.  Or in case you need some catching up, on who the nominees are…

And it’s the 60th Emmy show!  Sunday  September 21, 2008 at 8 P.M.

Emmy Cheat Sheets — there’s two on this post:  

The Acting Nominees

The Best Show Nominees

These are straight from the Academy Of Television Arts And Sciences website.   I placed  them in an easily- printable layout.

 

 

HERE ARE THE ACTOR NOMINEES…

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

 

Monk • USA • NBC Universal Television Studios in association with Mandeville Films and Touchstone Television

Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk

 

The Office • NBC • Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC, Universal Media Studios

Steve Carell as Michael Scott

 

Pushing Daisies • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

Lee Pace as Ned

 

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger Inc., in association with Universal Media Studios

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy

 

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper

 

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

 

Boston Legal • ABC • David E. Kelley Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television

James Spader as Alan Shore

 

Breaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge Productions, Inc. and Gran Via Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television

Bryan Cranston as Walt White

 

Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions

Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan

 

House • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions

Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House

 

In Treatment • HBO • Sheleg, Closest To The Hole Productions and Leverage in association with HBO Entertainment

Gabriel Byrne as Paul

 

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Jon Hamm as Don Draper

 

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

 

Bernard And Doris • HBO • Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films

Ralph Fiennes as Bernard Lafferty

 

Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale • HBO • BBC and HBO Entertainment

Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman

 

John Adams • HBO • Playtone in association with HBO Films

Paul Giamatti as John Adams

 

Recount • HBO • Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

Kevin Spacey as Ron Klain

 

Recount • HBO • Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

Tom Wilkinson as James Baker

 

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

 

The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari’s Logo Here in association with Warner Bros. Television

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell

 

Samantha Who? • ABC • ABC Studios

Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly

 

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger Inc., in association with Universal Media Studios

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

 

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios

America Ferrera as Betty Suarez

 

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents Lionsgate Television and Tilted Productions, Inc.

Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin

 

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

 

Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios

Sally Field as Nora Holden-Walker

 

The Closer • TNT • Shephard/Robbins Company in association with Warner Bros. Television Productions

Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson

 

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television

Glenn Close as Patty Hewes

 

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal Media Studios

Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson

 

Saving Grace • TNT • Fox Television Studios

Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko

 

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie

 

An American Crime • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with First Look Pictures / Killer Films Productions / John Wells Productions

Catherine Keener as Gertrude Baniszewski

 

Bernard And Doris • HBO • Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films

Susan Sarandon as Doris Duke

 

Cranford (Masterpiece) • PBS • A BBC and WGBH/Boston co-production

Dame Judi Dench as Miss Matty Jenkyns

 

John Adams • HBO • Playtone in association with HBO Films

Laura Linney as Abigail Adams

 

A Raisin In The Sun • ABC • Storyline Entertainment and Bad Boy World Wide Entertainment Group in association with Sony Pictures Television

Phylicia Rashad as Lena Younger

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

 

Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest To The Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold

 

Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest To The Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama

 

How I Met Your Mother • CBS • 20th Century Fox

Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson

 

The Office • NBC • Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC, Universal Media Studios

Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute

 

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

Jon Cryer as Alan Harper

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

 

Boston Legal • ABC • David E. Kelley Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television

William Shatner as Denny Crane

 

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television

Ted Danson as Arthur Frobisher

 

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television

Zeljko Ivanek as Ray Fiske

 

Lost • ABC • ABC Studios

Michael Emerson as Ben

 

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

John Slattery as Roger Sterling

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

 

John Adams • HBO • Playtone in association with HBO Films

David Morse as George Washington

 

 

HERE ARE THE SHOW NOMINATIONS:

Outstanding Comedy Series

 

Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO • HBO Entertainment

Larry David, Executive Producer

Jeff Garlin, Executive Producer

Gavin Polone, Executive Producer

Alec Berg, Executive Producer

David Mandel, Executive Producer

Jeff Schaffer, Executive Producer

Tim Gibbons, Executive Producer

Erin O’Malley, Produced by

 

Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest To The Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Mark Wahlberg, Executive Producer

Stephen Levinson, Executive Producer

Doug Ellin, Executive Producer

Rob Weiss, Executive Producer

Denis Biggs, Co-Executive Producer

Brian Burns, Supervising Producer

Lori Jo Nemhauser , Producer

Wayne Carmona, Produced By

 

The Office • NBC • Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC, Universal Media Studios

Greg Daniels, Executive Producer

Ben Silverman, Executive Producer

Ricky Gervais, Executive Producer

Stephen Merchant, Executive Producer

Howard Klein, Executive Producer

Paul Lieberstein, Co-Executive Producer

Michael Schur, Co-Executive Producer

Jennifer Celotta, Co-Executive Producer

Kent Zbornak, Co-Executive Producer

Teri Weinberg, Co-Executive Producer

B.J. Novak, Supervising Producer

Mindy Kaling, Producer

Lee Eisenberg, Producer

Gene Stupnitsky, Producer

 

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger Inc., in association with Universal Media Studios

Lorne Michaels, Executive Producer

Tina Fey, Executive Producer

Marci Klein, Executive Producer

David Miner, Executive Producer

Robert Carlock, Executive Producer

John Riggi, Co-Executive Producer

Jack Burditt, Co-Executive Producer

Jeff Richmond, Producer

Don Scardino, Producer

Jerry Kupfer, Producer

 

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

Chuck Lorre, Executive Producer

Lee Aronsohn, Executive Producer

Eric Tannenbaum, Executive Producer

Kim Tannenbaum, Executive Producer

Mark Burg, Executive Producer

Oren Koules, Executive Producer

Don Foster, Co-Executive Producer

Eddie Gorodetsky, Co-Executive Producer

Susan Beavers, Co- Executive Producer

Mark Roberts, Co-Executive Producer

Jim Patterson, Producer

Michael Collier, Produced By

 

Outstanding Drama Series

 

Boston Legal • ABC • David E Kelley Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television

David E. Kelley, Executive Producer

Bill D’Elia, Executive Producer

Mike Listo, Co-Executive Producer

Lawrence Broch, Co-Executive Producer

Steve Robin, Supervising Producer

Janet Knutsen, Producer

 

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television

Todd A. Kessler, Executive Producer

Glenn Kessler, Executive Producer

Daniel Zelman, Executive Producer

Mark A. Baker, Executive Producer

 

Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions

John Goldwyn, Executive Producer

Sara Colleton, Executive Producer

Clyde Phillips, Executive Producer

Daniel Cerone, Executive Producer

Melissa Rosenberg, Co-Executive Producer

Scott Buck, Co-Executive Producer

Robert Lloyd Lewis, Produced By

 

House • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions

Paul Attanasio, Executive Producer

Katie Jacobs, Executive Producer

David Shore, Executive Producer

Bryan Singer, Executive Producer

Russel Friend, Executive Producer

Garrett Lerner, Executive Producer

Thomas L. Moran, Executive Producer

Gerrit van der Meer, Co-Executive Producer

Peter Blake, Co-Executive Producer

Eli Attie, Co-Executive Producer

Doris Egan, Co-Executive Producer

Deran Sarafian, Co-Executive Producer

Marcy Kaplan, Producer

Leonard Dick, Supervising Producer

 

Lost • ABC • ABC Studios

J.J. Abrams, Executive Producer

Damon Lindelof, Executive Producer

Carlton Cuse, Executive Producer

Bryan Burk, Executive Producer

Jack Bender, Executive Producer

Edward Kitsis, Co-Executive Producer

Adam Horowitz, Co-Executive Producer

Drew Goddard, Co-Executive Producer

Stephen Williams, Co-Executive Producer

Jean Higgins, Co-Executive Producer

Elizabeth Sarnoff, Supervising Producer

Pat Churchill, Producer

Ra’ul Glasgow, Producer

 

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Matthew Weiner, Executive Producer

Tom Palmer, Co-Executive Producer

Scott Hornbacher, Producer

Lisa Albert, Producer

Andre Jacquemetton, Producer

Maria Jacquemetton, Producer

 

Outstanding Miniseries

 

The Andromeda Strain • A&E • Scott Free/Traveler’s Rest Productions in association with Universal Pictures, A&E Network

Ridley Scott, Executive Producer

Tony Scott, Executive Producer

David W. Zucker, Executive Producer

Tom Thayer, Executive Producer

Mikael Salomon, Co-Executive Producer

Clara George, Produced By

 

Cranford (Masterpiece) • PBS • A BBC and WGBH/Boston co-production

Kate Harwood, Executive Producer

Rebecca Eaton, Executive Producer

Sue Birtwistle, Producer

 

John Adams • HBO • Playtone in association with HBO Films

Tom Hanks, Executive Producer

Gary Goetzman, Executive Producer

Kirk Ellis, Co-Executive Producer

Frank Doelger, Co-Executive Producer

David Coatsworth, Produced by

Steven Shareshian, Produced by

 

Tin Man • Sci Fi Channel • RHI Entertainment

Robert Halmi, Sr., Executive Producer

Robert Halmi, Jr , Executive Producer

Michael O’Connor, Executive Producer

Steven Long Mitchell, Executive Producer

Craig W. Van Sickle, Executive Producer

Matthew O’Connor, Producer

 

Outstanding Made For Television Movie

 

Bernard And Doris • HBO • Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films

Jonathan Cavendish, Executive Producer

Adam Kassen, Executive Producer

Mark Kassen, Executive Producer

Bob Balaban, Executive Producer

Dana Brunetti, Executive Producer

Kevin Spacey, Executive Producer

Mark Olsen, Co-Executive Producer

 

Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale • HBO • BBC and HBO Entertainment

Ricky Gervais, Executive Producer

Stephen Merchant, Executive Producer

Jon Plowman, Executive Producer

Charlie Hanson, Producer

 

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter • Lifetime • Produced by Jaffe/Braunstein Entertainment LLC and Sony Pictures Television for Lifetime Television

Howard Braunstein, Executive Producer

Michael Jaffe, Executive Producer

Michael Mahoney, Produced By

 

A Raisin In The Sun • ABC • Storyline Entertainment and Bad Boy World Wide Entertainment Group in association with Sony Pictures Television

Craig Zadan, Executive Producer

Neil Meron, Executive Producer

Sean Combs, Executive Producer

Carl Rumbaugh, Executive Producer

Susan Batson, Executive Producer

John M. Eckert, Produced By

 

Recount • HBO • Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

Paula Weinstein, Executive Producer

Len Amato, Executive Producer

Sydney Pollack, Executive Producer

Jay Roach, Executive Producer

Michael Hausman, Produced By

 

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

 

The Colbert Report • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc. with Busboy Productions and Spartina Productions

Jon Stewart, Executive Producer

Stephen Colbert, Executive Producer

Allison Silverman, Executive Producer

Meredith Bennett, Co-Executive Producer

Richard Dahm, Co-Executive Producer

Tom Purcell, Supervising Producer

 

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc.

Jon Stewart, Executive Producer

David Javerbaum, Executive Producer

Rory Albanese, Co-Executive Producer

Kahane Corn, Co-Executive Producer

Josh Lieb, Co-Executive Producer

Jim Margolis, Supervising Producer

Jennifer Flanz, Supervising Producer

 

Late Show With David Letterman • CBS • Worldwide Pants Inc.

Barbara Gaines, Executive Producer

Maria Pope, Executive Producer

Jude Brennan, Executive Producer

Rob Burnett, Executive Producer

Jerry Foley, Supervising Producer

Matt Roberts, Supervising Producer

Eric Stangel, Producer

Justin Stangel, Producer

Sheila Rogers, Producer

 

Real Time With Bill Maher • HBO • Kid Love Productions and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

Bill Maher, Executive Producer

Scott Carter, Executive Producer

Sheila Griffiths, Executive Producer

Brad Grey, Executive Producer

Marc Gurvitz, Executive Producer

Billy Martin, Executive Producer

Dean E. Johnsen, Co-Executive Producer

 

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video

Lorne Michaels, Executive Producer

Steve Higgins, Produced by

Ken Aymong, Supervising Producer

Michael Shoemaker, Producer

Marci Klein, Producer

 

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special

 

Bill Maher: The Decider • HBO • Kid Love Productions and Moffitt/Lee Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Bill Maher, Executive Producer

Marc Gurvitz, Executive Producer

Pat Tourk Lee, Produced By

John Moffitt, Produced By

Benn Fleishman, Supervising Producer

 

George Carlin: It’s Bad For Ya! • HBO • Cablestuff Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

George Carlin, Executive Producer

Jerry Hamza, Executive Producer

Kimber Rickabaugh, Produced By

Rocco Urbisci, Produced By

 

James Taylor: One Man Band (Great Performances) • PBS • Don Mischer Productions in association with James Taylor

Sydney Pollack, Executive Producer
Michael Gorfaine, Executive Producer

Don Mischer, Producer

 

Kathy Griffin: Straight To Hell • Bravo • Production Partners, Inc.

Sandy Chanley, Executive Producer

Kathy Griffin, Executive Producer

Tom Bull, Supervising Producer

Scott Butler, Producer

Keith Truesdell, Producer

Cori Abraham, Executive Producer

Frances Berwick, Executive Producer

Amy Introcaso-Davis, Executive Producer

 

The Kennedy Center Honors • CBS • A George Stevens, Jr. Presentation for Kennedy Center Television Productions

George Stevens, Jr., Producer

Michael Stevens, Producer

 

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project • HBO • Dark Horse Indie Films and Salient Media in association with HBO Documentary Films

Mike Richardson, Produced by

Bob Engelman, Produced by

Larry Rickles, Produced by

John Landis, Produced by

 

Outstanding Children’s Program

 

Classical Baby (I’m Grown Up Now): The Poetry Show • HBO • HBO Family in association with The Poetry Foundation

Sheila Nevins, Executive Producer

Dolores Morris, Supervising Producer

Amy Schatz, Produced By

Beth Aala, Producer

 

Hannah Montana • Disney Channel • It’s A Laugh Production/Michael Poryes Productions/Disney Channel

Michael Poryes, Executive Producer

Steven Peterman, Executive Producer

Sally Lapiduss, Co-Executive Producer

Douglas Lieblein, Co-Executive Producer

Richard G. King, Co-Executive Producer

 

High School Musical 2 • Disney Channel • Salty Pictures, Inc./First Street Films/Disney Channel

Bill Borden, Executive Producer

Barry Rosenbush, Executive Producer

Don Schain, Produced By

 

Nick News With Linda Ellerbee: The Untouchable Kids Of India • Nickelodeon • Nickelodeon with Lucky Duck Productions

Linda Ellerbee, Executive Producer

Rolfe Tessem, Executive Producer

Josh Veselka, Produced By

Mark Lyons, Producer

Wally Berger, Supervising Producer

 

The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody • Disney Channel • It’s A Laugh Productions/Disney Channel

Danny Kallis, Executive Producer

Irene Dreayer, Executive Producer

Pamela Eells O’Connell, Executive Producer

Jim Geoghan, Executive Producer

Walter Barnett, Co-Executive Producer

 

Outstanding Nonfiction Special

 

AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition • CBS • An AFI Production in association with the Gary Smith Company

Gary Smith, Executive Producer

Frederick S. Pierce, Executive Producer for AFI

Dann Netter, Producer

Bob Gazzale, Producer

 

Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq • HBO • Attaboy Films in association with HBO Documentary Films

Sheila Nevins, Executive Producer

James Gandolfini, Executive Producer

Alexandra Ryan, Co-Executive Producer

Sara Bernstein, Supervising Producer

Ellen Goosenberg Kent, Produced By

Jon Alpert, Produced By

Matthew O’Neill, Produced By

 

Autism: The Musical • HBO • Bunim-Murray Productions and In Effect Films in association with HBO Documentary Films

Jonathan Murray, Executive Producer

Janet Grillo, Executive Producer

Kristen Stills, Executive Producer

Nancy Abraham, Senior Producer

Perrin Chiles, Producer

Tricia Regan, Producer

Sasha Alpert, Producer

 

Pioneers Of Television – Late Night: Johnny, Jack, Steve, And Merv • PBS • Boettcher/Trinklein Inc.

Steven J. Boettcher, Producer

Michael J. Trinklein, Producer

 

The Pixar Story • Starz • Leslie Iwerks Productions

Leslie Iwerks, Producer

 

Outstanding Nonfiction Series

 

American Masters • PBS • American Masters is produced for PBS by Thirteen/WNET New York

Susan Lacy, Executive Producer

Prudence Glass, Series Producer

Julie Sacks, Supervising Producer

Jim Brown, Produced By

Michael Cohl, Produced By

William Eigen, Produced By

 

Biography • Biography Channel • Produced by Corridor Group Productions Inc. for Bio

Gregory Hall, Executive Producer

Peter Tarshis, Executive Producer for Biography

Barbara Hall, Producer

 

Deadliest Catch • Discovery Channel • Original Productions, Inc. in association with Discovery Channel

Thom Beers, Executive Producer

Paul Gasek, Executive Producer

Jeff Conroy, Co-Executive Producer

Tracy Rudolph, Co-Executive Producer

Matt Renner, Series Producer

Lisa Tanzer, Supervising Producer

Ethan Prochnik, Senior Producer

 

Inside The Actors Studio • Bravo • A co-production of The Actors Studio, Bravo, In The Moment Productions

James Lipton, Executive Producer

Frances Berwick, Executive Producer

Christian Barcellos, Executive Producer

Sabrina Fodor, Produced By

Jeff Wurtz, Produced By

 

This American Life • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Chicago Public Radio, Killer Films, Inc., Left/Right, Inc.

The Producing Team

 

Outstanding Reality Program

 

Antiques Roadshow • PBS • WGBH Educational Foundation

Marsha Bemko, Executive Producer

Sam Farrell, Supervising Producer

 

Dirty Jobs • Discovery Channel • Pilgrim Films and Television, Inc in association with Discovery Channel

Craig Piligian, Executive Producer

Eddie Barbini, Executive Producer

Mary Donahue, Executive Producer

Eddie Rohwedder, Supervising Producer

Mike Rowe, Producer

David Barsky, Producer

Leigh Purinton, Producer

Kenitra Ford, Producer

Heath Banks, Producer

 

Extreme Makeover Home Edition • ABC • Endemol USA

Denise Cramsey, Executive Producer

Conrad L. Ricketts, Executive Producer

Dan Morando, Co-Executive Producer

Brady Connell, Co-Executive Producer

Max Swedlow, Supervising Producer

Diane Korman, Senior Producer

Herb Ankrom, Producer

Matt Fisher, Producer

Jeanne Kazumi Petrone, Produced by

 

Intervention • A&E • GRB Entertainment, A&E Television Network

Gary R. Benz, Executive Producer

Michael Branton, Executive Producer

Bryn Freedman, Executive Producer

Sam Mettler, Executive Producer

Dan Partland, Executive Producer

Robert Sharenow, Executive Producer For A&E

Colleen Conway, Executive Producer For A&E

Karen Pinto, Supervising Producer

Jeff Grogan, Supervising Producer

 

Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List • Bravo • Picture This Television

Marcia Mulé, Executive Producer

Bryan Scott, Executive Producer

Lisa M. Tucker, Executive Producer

Kathy Griffin, Executive Producer

Cori Abraham, Executive Producer

Frances Berwick, Executive Producer

Amy Introcaso-Davis, Executive Producer

Christopher Carlson, Supervising Producer

Amy Kohn, Supervising Producer

 

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

 

The Amazing Race • CBS • Amazing Race Productions Inc. and ABC Studios in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and WorldRace Productions, Inc.

Jerry Bruckheimer, Executive Producer

Bertram van Munster, Executive Producer

Jonathan Littman, Executive Producer

Hayma ‘Screech’ Washington, Executive Producer

Amy Nabseth Chacon, Co-Executive Producer

Elise Doganieri, Co-Executive Producer

Bill Pruitt, Supervising Producer

Matt Schmidt, Supervising Producer

Mark Vertullo, Supervising Producer

Jarratt Carson, Senior Producer

Giselle Parets, Senior Producer

Phil Keoghan, Producer

 

American Idol • FOX • FremantleMedia N.A., Inc. & 19TV Ltd.

Nigel Lythgoe, Executive Producer

Ken Warwick, Executive Producer

Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Executive Producer

Simon Fuller, Executive Producer

Charles Boyd, Supervising Producer

James Breen, Supervising Producer

Patrick Lynn, Senior Producer

Megan Michaels, Senior Producer

 

Dancing With The Stars • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions, LLC

Conrad Green, Executive Producer

Rob Wade, Co-Executive Producer

Matilda Zoltowski, Co-Executive Producer

Michael Brooks, Senior Producer

Ashley Edens, Senior Producer

Joe Sungkur, Senior Producer

Victoria Guinto, Producer

Erin O’Brien, Producer

Kim Kilbey, Producer

Natalee Watts, Producer

 

Project Runway • Bravo • Magical Elves for The Weinstein Company, Full Picture, Bravo

Harvey Weinstein, Executive Producer

Dan Cutforth, Executive Producer

Jane Lipsitz, Executive Producer

Heidi Klum, Executive Producer

Jane Cha, Executive Producer

Desiree Gruber, Executive Producer

Rich Bye, Executive Producer

Rich Buhrman, Co-Executive Producer

Barbara Schneeweiss, Producer

Andrew Cohen, Executive Producer

Shari Levine, Executive Producer

Casey Kriley, Co-Executive Producer

Andrew Wallace, Supervising Producer

Michael Rucker, Supervising Producer

Ben Mack, Senior Producer

Steve Lichtenstein, Producer

 

Top Chef • Bravo • Magical Elves, Bravo

Dan Cutforth, Executive Producer

Jane Lipsitz, Executive Producer

Shauna Minoprio, Executive Producer

Frances Berwick, Executive Producer

Andrew Cohen, Executive Producer

Dave Serwatka, Executive Producer

Rich Buhrman, Co-Executive Producer

Gaylen Gawlowski, Supervising Producer

Nan Strait, Supervising Producer

Scott Shatsky, Supervising Producer

Andrew Wallace, Supervising Producer

Liz Cook, Supervising Producer

 

John Adams • HBO • Playtone in association with HBO Films

Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson

 

John Adams • HBO • Playtone in association with HBO Films

Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin

 

Recount • HBO • Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

Denis Leary as Michael Whouley

 

Recount • HBO • Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

Bob Balaban as Ben Ginsberg

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

 

Pushing Daisies • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook

 

Samantha Who? • ABC • ABC Studios

Jean Smart as Regina Newly                                                                                   

 

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video

Amy Poehler, Performer

 

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper

 

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios

Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

 

Boston Legal • ABC • David E. Kelley Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television

Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt

 

Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios

Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Walker-Whedon

 

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios

Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey

 

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios

Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang

 

In Treatment • HBO • Sheleg, Closest To The Hole Productions and Leverage in association with HBO Entertainment

Dianne Wiest as Dr. Gina Toll

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie

 

Cranford (Masterpiece) • PBS • A BBC and WGBH/Boston co-production

Dame Eileen Atkins as Miss Deborah Jenkyns

 

Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale • HBO • BBC and HBO Entertainment

Ashley Jensen as Maggie Jacobs

 

Pictures Of Hollis Woods (Hallmark Hall Of Fame Presentation) • CBS • Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Inc.

Alfre Woodard as Edna Reilly

 

A Raisin In The Sun • ABC • Storyline Entertainment and Bad Boy World Wide Entertainment Group in association with Sony Pictures Television

Audra McDonald as Ruth Younger

 

Recount • HBO • Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

Laura Dern as Katherine Harris

 

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

 

Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO • HBO Entertainment

Shelley Berman as Nat David

 

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger Inc., in association with Universal Media Studios

Rip Torn as Don Geiss                       

 

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger Inc., in association with Universal Media Studios

Will Arnett as Devin Banks

 

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger Inc., in association with Universal Media Studios

Steve Buscemi as Len

                                                           

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger Inc., in association with Universal Media Studios

Tim Conway as Bucky Bright

 

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series

 

ER • NBC • Constant c Productions, Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Television

Stanley Tucci as Dr. Kevin Moretti

 

In Treatment • HBO • Sheleg, Closest To The Hole Productions and Leverage in association with HBO Entertainment

Glynn Turman as Alex Sr.

 

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal Media Studios

Robin Williams as Merritt Rook

 

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper

 

Nip/Tuck • FX Networks • The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television Productions,

Inc.

Oliver Platt as Freddie Prune

 

Rescue Me • FX Networks • Produced by Apostle, the Cloudland Company and DreamWorks Television in association with Sony Pictures Television

Charles Durning as John Gavin, Sr.

 

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

 

Desperate Housewives • ABC • ABC Studios

Polly Bergen as Stella Wingfield

 

Desperate Housewives • ABC • ABC Studios

Kathryn Joosten as Karen McCluskey

 

Monk • USA • NBC Universal Television Studios in association with Mandeville Films and Touchstone Television

Sarah Silverman as Marci Maven

 

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger Inc., in association with Universal Media Studios

Carrie Fisher as Rosemary Howard

 

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger Inc., in association with Universal Media Studios

Edie Falco as Celeste “C.C.” Cunningham

 

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger Inc., in association with Universal Media Studios

Elaine Stritch as Colleen Donaghy

 

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

 

Big Love • HBO • Anima Sola and Playtone in association with HBO Entertainment

Ellen Burstyn as Nancy Dutton

 

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios

Diahann Carroll as Jane Burke

 

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal Media Studios

Cynthia Nixon as Janis Donovan

 

Medium • NBC • CBS Paramount Network Television, Grammnet, Picturemaker Productions

Anjelica Huston as Cynthia Keener

                                                           

Nip/Tuck • FX Networks • The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television Productions, Inc.

Sharon Gless as Colleen Rose