6:30 p.m. — Robert Pattinson and Amanda Seyfried introduced a montage of romantic moments from the movies of 2008. All well and good but was that the reason the promised opening film got cut for time? That film was created by radical.media and was described by the academy as "a celebration of the language of film and the spirit of moviemaking" and was to include "guest appearances by some of today’s moviemaking icons." While we are not sure what all that means, it was heartening to know that radical.media created the film that opened the 75th anniversary Oscarcast which celebrated all the previous winners. This new film was directed by Bennett Miller, who lost his 2005 directing bid for "Capote" to Ang Lee for "Brokeback Mountain" and has now lost another chance to shine at the Oscars.
6:21 p.m. — SJP and Bond — two fashion icons — gave the costume design Oscar to "The Duchess" designer Michael O'Connor who won the guild award last week.
6:19 p.m. — Sarah Jessica Parker and Daniel Craig presented art direction against backdrops of shots from the nominated films. The winner — the team from "Benjamin Button" which won with the guild last week. This means the film won't be shut out tonight. Helmer David Fincher got a heartfelt thank you, as did wives and parents.
6:15 p.m — "Wow, I can't believe 'Maison' won best animated short!" an academy voter just gasped to me here at the Hollywood Museum where there's a fund-raising viewing party going on for the Hollywood police. "I thought it was between 'Presto' and 'Lavatory Love Story.' But I can tell you what happened. 'Maison' was the only serious one. The other nominees were all funny. 'Maison' is surreal. It's about a man reflecting on his life in a depressing way. I thought it was terrible!"
6:12 p.m. — The set for the Oscars was designed by David Rockwell, the architect responsible for the Oscars permanent home – the Kodak Theater. Besides building, Rockwell also creates set designs for Broadway shows, including the upcoming tuner version of "Catch Me If You Can." He earned a 2003 Tony Award nomination for his work on "Hairspray" but lost to two-time Oscar winner Catherine Martin ("Moulin Rouge") for her work on her husband Baz Luhrmann's production of "La Boheme."
6:09 p.m. — "Wall-E" bested Black's "Kung Fu Panda" and Andrew Stanton delivered a wry, acceptance speech. He was a winner in 2003 for "Finding Nemo" but lost orignal screenplay then as he did tonight. He was also a 1995 nominee for his "Toy Story" script.
6:05 p.m. — Jennifer Aniston and Jack Black introduced a look back at animation. The last time we saw a cutaway of Angelina Jolie at an awards show with someone else at the podium, she was sneering at Anne Hathaway who beat her for best actress at the Critics Choice. Tonight, halleleujah, we saw her smiling when her one-time love rival was up onstage. WHy, oh why, did they not show Brad Pitt?
6:03 p.m. — Again, after a reading of a scene from each adapted screenplay, Martin and Fey announce the winner to be Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire"). Dare we suggest the Oscars are going to script as per the pundits. Beaufoy acknowledged the author of the source material, "Q &A," a novel by Vikas Swarup before thanking the cast for introducing him to India.
5:59 p.m. — Dustin Lance Black delivered an emotional acceptance speech ending with a wonderful embrace of young gays and lesbians and a promise of equal rights one day.
5:55 p.m. — Steve Martin and Tina Fey, two witty writers, prompt the audience on how to react with a huge script front and center. After a riff of jokes, they introduce the nominees by reading the directions that accompany each scene featured. What an original way to present original screenplay. The winner — Dustin Lance Black ("Milk").
5:52 p.m. — Wow, what an acceptance speech from Penelope Cruz. That was her mother she kissed. She used her extra tickets to bring her brother, sister, and her childhood friend. Her dad went with her to the Golden Globes and Baftas. She told us ahead of time in our podcast chat that she was definitely going to prepare a speech. Glad to see she was prepared. She opened with such a nice moment - "Has anyone ever fainted up here? I might be the first" and then ending with a salute to the unity of the Oscars and wrapping up in Spanish.
5:48 p.m. — Supporting actress began with a montage of past winners accepting with a whirlwind of emotional moments capped off by Tilda Swinton's heartfelt thank you. And then a standing O for Swinton and past winners Eva Marie Saint, Goldie Hawn, Angelica Huston, and Whoopi Goldberg. Each singled out one of the nominated performances with words of praise. Whoopi got a big laugh as she said, "its not easy being a nun" before introducing Amy Adams. Tilda Swinton revealed the winner to be Penelope Cruz ("Vicky Christina Barcelona").
5:42 p.m. — Bravo! That intro was a smart use of Hugh's top skills. Think Broadway variation on what Billy Crystal used to do musically with film clips. Best parts; Anne Hathaway's duet and Hugh belting out his grand finale: "These are the Oscars! This is my dream! I am a slumdog! I'm the reader, the wrestler. I am Wolverine!" This guy even does jokes! Telling Mickey Rourke about the new 30-second delay anticipating his next acceptance speech — what a hoot!
5:30 p.m. — Why does ABC bother doing just quickie 30-minute pre-show? The network tries to cram in so many interviews that they only have time for one or two questions, which are usually inane. Like asking Richard Jenkins, "Where you surprised to be nominated?" "Answer: "Yes." At least we got to learn that Penelope Cruz is re-wearing an old frock again! For this kind of TV journalism, all other pre-shows must unplug their rival live shows?
5:28 p.m. — Approximately 300 people work in the production office and another 350 crew members are needed for the telecast. They fill 100 trailers as well as every nook and cranny backstage at the Kodak Theatre.
5:27 p.m. — While Condon, Mark and Goodman are new to the Oscars, veteran supervising producer Michael Seligman returns for his 32nd show. Along the way, he has earned four Emmy nods for his work. Most recently, he served as producer of "Stand Up to Cancer," a one-hour commercial-free special that aired simultaneously on the ABC, CBS and NBC television networks to raise funds for cutting-edge cancer research. From that show, Seligman brought on board the Oscar bandwagon Danette Herman to wrangle talent. And with the decision to keep secret the identities of many of the presenters, Herman's job became doubly difficult. How do you convince an A-list star to skip the red carpet and enter the theatre by way of the loading dock?
5:26 p.m. — First-time exec producer Bill Condon certainly knows all about giving us the old "razzle dazzle" having adapted 2002 best picture "Chicago" from the Broadway tuner. And he directed another stage-to-screen musical — the spectacular "Dreamgirls" — in 2006 with Laurence Mark producing. Mark is handling the same job at the Oscars for the first time. Along with neophyte producers Condon and Mark, director Roger Goodman is in the control room for the first time. Goodman's background is in directing live news and sports events. He just handled ABC's coverage of the inauguration and was also responsible for overseeing the net's 24-hour live coverage of millennium eve. In addition, he has directed for both the Summer and Winter Olympics as well as the Indy 500 and the ultimate real-life horse race - the Kentucky Derby. For his efforts, Goodman has earned dozens of news and sports Emmy nominations and has won 25 Emmys from various branches.
5:07 p.m. — Robert Morton is executive producer of the 30-minute ABC pre-show from the red carpet. During his 14-year tenure with David Letterman, Morton earned 10 Emmy nominations with a 1994 win as best variety, comedy, or music series for the first season of "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS. On-air talent is "Good Morning America" co-host Robin Roberts, "Project Runway" fashion guru Tim Gunn, and Entertainment Weekly editor Jess Cagle.
5:03 p.m. — All live TV shows must shut off by 5 p.m. Pacific time so that the ABC pre-show is the only one with live-from-the-carpet reports. Others have been doing extra interviews during commercial breaks so they can air them after 5 p.m. Viewers may think those other channels are still live — they look that way — but they're not.
5:00 p.m. — Seacrest signed off with a quick chat with supporting nominee Robert Downey, Jr. ("Tropic Thunder") about his nomination as well as the upcoming "Iron Man 2."
4:59 p.m. — Seacrest had a moment with Brad Pitt ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") who said it was an honor that both he and Angelina Jolie ("Changeling") were both nominated.
4:53 p.m. — Lead actress nominee Kate Winslet ("The Reader") admits she is very nervous this evening. And as for the speech, her daughter said she should be emotional while her son says she should thank everyone for helping her get there - ahhh.
4:45 p.m. — Last year's lead actress winner Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose") talks glowingly about her "Nine" co-star Penelope Cruz as well as Johnny Depp in the upcoming "Public Enemies."
4:43 p.m. — Supporting actress nominee Penelope Cruz ("Vicky Christina Barcelona") says she was grateful not to have to play this tough character for more than four weeks. While she says the shoot was gruelling, it was all worth it. And she talks about "Nine" which could well be an Oscar contender next year.
4:39 p.m. — Will the Oscars be gone with the wind? It might be appropriate considering that movie won best picture of 1939, but now there's a mighty wind whipping up the Oscar scene. Up on the bridge over the red carpet, wind is so fierce that TV tech guys are scrambling to secure the overhung lights swaying back and forth, screwing up TV shots anchored here where E!, Access Hollywood, CNN, KTLA and others small skybox locations.
4:37 p.m. — Peter Gabriel says they went for a medley only three to four minutes and thought that he could not do his "Wall-E" song justice in such a short time.
4:35 p.m. — Director nominee Ron Howard ("Frost/Nixon") tells Seacrest of meeting Richard Nixon back in the 1980s: "He had no idea who I was." Howard said he wanted to make the movie as he was watching the play. Howard explains that he likes lots of takes because "you have the opportunity to make excellence; that is not the time to be lazy, to take shortcuts." And he is hopeful for an "Arrested Development" movie.
4:33 p.m. — Queen Latifah says she will be singing a song during the "In Memoriam" segment. And she says she is so proud of Jennifer Hudson for performing in front of the world and reminding us all of what a talent she is
4:31 p.m. — Supporting actor contender Josh Brolin ("Milk") admits he was surprised to find out he was nominated after waking up forty-five minutes after he thought the names were announced but discovering that, as he was in Utah, he was actually fifteen minutes early for the news.
4:29 p.m. — Lead actor contender Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler") is telling Seacrest how much he misses his beloved dog Loki who died just days ago. He says he is not sure what he will say if he wins but says he will clap his a** off if Sean Penn wins.
4:27 p.m. — Supporting actress nominee Marisa Tomei ("The Wrestler") had to correct Seacrest about the last time she was nominated for an Oscar. Uh, that would be "In the Bedroom" in 2001. She said she was grateful that the gruelling shoot for "The Wrestler" was short.
4:25 p.m. — Look up at the tops of buildings you see on any pre-show you're watching on TV and you'll spy the sniper cops poised with rifles aimed down at the crowd, constantly at the ready in case needed to snuff out a problem. They try not to show them on TV, but sometimes you can spot them if you're looking. Overhead, helicopters are roaring to police the scene too. Everybody must pass through metal detectors nearby — even the public kept behind high, canvas-covered fences blocking the Oscar scene from them. The whole neighborhood is ringed by metal detectors, not just the area immediately around the Kodak Theatre. To get to the red carpet area, you must pass through two or three detectors at various locations — and whatever you're carrying gets searched again and again.
4:23 p.m. — When asked, Seth Rogen tells Seacrest he lost weight for a role but is not sure if he will keep the pounds off.
4:21 p.m. — Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick are holding hands, dispelling rumors of marital discord. SJP says she is in "barely mint" and corrects Matthew who is wearing "midnight blue." She says she is very excited about the prospect of the "SATC" sequel but knows nothing about it.
4:19 p.m. — Robert Pattinson talks to Seacrest about dealing with fame and being asked to be part of the Oscars: "I was laughing in the car on the way over here. It is completely ridiculous." He readily admits he can never hope to be as charming as his "Twilight" character. And he says his rehearsal for tonight was "catastrophic."
4:15 p.m. — Supporting actress nominee Amy Adams ("Doubt") is just so poised. She was so eloquent when talking about working with acting icons Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman and invoked the doubt she felt as a viewer watching the film.
4:12 p.m. — Lead actor nominee Richard Jenkins ("The Visitor") is truly just happy to be there.
4:10 p.m. — Michael Sheen ("Frost/Nixon") told Seacrest he will be sitting next to David Frost during the ceremony. And he didn't mind all those takes that director Ron Howard likes so much. "It is like swimming with dolphins; it is good for the soul."
4:03 p.m. — The supporting nominees keep coming. First Seacrest chatted with Taraji P. Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") and put his foot in it when he mentioned her father as her inspiration only to be told he died several years ago. Then Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road") came along and deftly side-stepped Seacrest's obligatory Leo/Kate/"Titanic" question.
4:00 p.m. — Supporting actress nominee Viola Davis told Seacrest about going 15 rounds with Meryl Streep (who she referred to as the "500 pound gorilla of acting") and just not stinking. Seacrest remains unsure as to why the film is called "Doubt."
3:59 p.m. — "Slumdog" director Danny Boyle credits his daughter for pointing him in the direction of Dev Patel who was starring in a Brit teen drama called "Skins"
3:57 p.m. — Lead actress nominee Melissa Leo ( "Frozen River") told Seacrest she had a "delightful day" getting ready. She is giving Seacrest a geography lesson as to where Plattsburgh, New York — the film's main location — is.
3:55 p.m. — "Slumdog Millionaire" stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto just had their interview with Seacrest ambushed by co-star Anil Kapoor as they denied being a real-life romantic couple. But at least they got to meet John Legend who then touted their film to Seacrest.
3:50 p.m. — Up here on the bridge over the red carpet while doing KTLA's pre-show, you get a dramatic reminder that there are really two red carpets. Notice the velvet rope down the center? When guests arrive, the stars are ushered to the left, the nobodies shuttled off to the right. Funniest part of watching the scene in action is seeing the faces of arrivees being told, "'Yo, dude! Wrong way! Go to the right!"
3:47 p.m. — Ryan Seacrest is struggling to interview the two sets of children who appeared as the younger versions of the lead trio in "Slumdog Millionaire."
3:45 p.m. — Pity those poor women shivering in their sleeveless gowns on the red carpet. This year marks the earliest Oscars ever. Four of the last five Oscars were also in late February as were the Oscars held in 1935 and 1939 to 1942.
3:40 p.m. — 1988 supporting actor winner Kevin Kline ("A Fish Called Wanda") and wife Phoebe Cates (niece of long-time Oscar producer Gil Cates) are chatting to Ryan Seacrest about "American Idol" as well as whether or not Kline will be presenting. Hmmm ... looks more and more likely that past winners are reuniting to present this year's awards.
3:35 p.m. — Ryan Seacrest is now grilling Zac Efron about this much-talked about but little-known musical number. Efron says he liked all the movies out this year. Vanessa Hudgens is wearing a dress designed by Harvey Weinstein's wife — smart girl!
3:25 p.m. — Ryan Seacrest chatted with "Mamma Mia!" young love interest Dominic Cooper who will be appearing in a musical number on the Oscarcast tonight. Dressed in a tux today, he looks far different than the pink lycra he donned for the closing number of that smash movie musical. Rumor has it he and his on-screen love interest Amanda Seyfried will be part of a song and dance fest along with "High School Musical" sweethearts Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens and "Twilight" stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
The above blogging is from LA Times blog. ( http://goldderby.latimes.com/ )
And I have so recently been informed that New moon will be released on November 20, 2009!! And Eclipse will be released in theaters on June 30, 2010!!! Thats so awesome! New moon comes out one day less than a year after Twilight!!!
Robert has restyled The Hair. (lolz) OMG it looks amazing! Just like before, but a little shorter and a lot cleaner!!! *swoon* --->
Anyways.... Taylor Lautner has a six pack, and gained 26 pounds!! New moon will start filming in March.
And on a depressing note, in 12 hours I will be in math... GREAT... Toodles!!
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