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.

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

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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)

Actress Anne Hathaway, Tom Sherak Announce Oscar Nominees ©A.M.P.T.A.

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

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”

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