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Tag Archives | Oscars

Selma movie poster

Students offered free tickets to see Oscar-nominated “Selma”

By on Wednesday, January 28, 2015

A movement offering more than 300, 000 free tickets to the Oscar-nominated film, “Selma,” is sweeping the country.  The first of its kind program started in New York City with some African American business leaders creating a fund to send 27,000 students to see the critically acclaimed drama. The demand was so great that the fund grew to support 75,000 students.Then, the fund seriously ballooned as the movement spread to cities like Boston, Washington, D.C., Nashville, New Orleans, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco and now the Los Angeles-Long Beach area,... Read More →

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coffee mug "Cowboy Reun" by Ron Howard

Director Ron Howard designs doodle mugs

By on Saturday, March 22, 2014

Academy Award winning director, Ron Howard, is showing his artistic side in a new way.  Howard has designed a collection of  colorful mugs to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which are for sale on Amazon.com . The art work for “Cowboy Rerun,” “Bar Scene, “Dragon Fly,” and “Highway USA” began as doodles Howard does while on the phone. On Amazon, he described the process: “I scribble three random lines on the back of a production memo card and then while concentrating on my conversation,... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis/MediaCityG -- Ellen Degeneres host of the 86th Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood March 2, 2014

2014 Oscars hit high ratings as “12 Years a Slave” wins Best Picture

By on Monday, March 3, 2014

A lot of viewers tuned into see the Ellen Degeneres hosted 86th Academy Awards ceremony last night. The ratings are out today and they show 43 million watched the kudocast. It got a 12.9 rating among the most valued 18-to-49 demographic. This Oscar broadcast drew three million more viewers than the last time Degeneres handled the hosting duties in 2007, according to Variety. A lot of chatter today about the pizza giveaway, the celebrity group selfie, Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” dance,  and Pink’s wonderful rendition of “Somewhere Over the... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis/MediaCityG -- Lupita Nyong'o wins best supporting actress Oscar in Hollywood March 2, 2014

Actress Lupita Nyong’o sparkled at the 2014 Oscars

By on Monday, March 3, 2014

First time nominee, Lupita Nyong’o, was one of the big winners at the 86th Academy Awards last night in Hollywood. The “12 Years a Slave” actress stunned on the red carpet in a powder blue custom Prada gown with flowing pleated skirt and plunging back and front, which many praised for having a Disney Cinderella like quality. The 31-year-old Kenyan has been a sharp dresser throughout the award season, frequently receiving props from the tough fashion critics for gowns and appearance. Nyong’o used her time in the spotlight... Read More →

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Oscars big night clip art

The best and worst Best Picture Oscar winners

By on Sunday, March 2, 2014

Sure, a lot of chatter about the possibility of rain on the red carpet at the 86th Academy Awards today, but most of the talk is about which picture will win the tight race for the Best Picture Oscar. Will it be one of the leading contenders”12 Years a Slave,” or “American Hustle,” or “Gravity,” or maybe one of the other nominees: “Captain Phillips,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Her,” “Nebraska,” “Philomena,” “The Wolf of Wall Street?” Each year, the Academy voters have a number of choices for this major... Read More →

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Oscars big night clip art

Oscar ballot deadline today

By on Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Oscar’s big night of glitz and glamour is less than a week away. Today is the deadline for members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cast their ballots in the race for Oscar. The balloting, both paper and online, officially opened on Friday, February 14. All ballots must be in by 5 p.m. Pacific Time today. Then the accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers will  go to work counting the ballots and determining the winners. Not all of the nominees will take home a gold... Read More →

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Photo courtesy http://www.pinkspage.com/us/photos

Pink to perform at the Oscars 2014

By on Friday, February 21, 2014

Pink has been added to the roster of performers for the 86th Academy Awards ceremony set for a week from this Sunday. This Oscars broadcast is apparently putting a heavy emphasis on entertainment with Bette Midler, U2, and Pharrell Williams already signed on to appear. “We are very excited to welcome Pink to the Oscar stage for the very first time,” said show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron in a statement. “She is regarded as one of the greatest voices in pop music and one of the... Read More →

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Web Buzz: Wednesday February 19, 2014

By on Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Social media giant, Facebook, just announced an amazing deal. It’s buying popular messaging mobile startup, WhatsApp, for $16-19 billion. Yes, that’s billion with a “b.”  More on this huge Internet purchase and the two WhatsApp owners who are now billionaires on Forbes. Jada Pinkett Smith has snagged a major part in the new Fox drama, “Gotham.” Smith will play tough sadistic gangster boss, Fish Mooney.  This is a Batman prequel with many of the villains and heroes made famous in the comics.... Read More →

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hollywood_sign_lights

Final Oscar voting officially begins today — did some vote sooner?

By on Friday, February 14, 2014

  Hollywood is getting ready for its biggest awards affair — the Academy Awards. Officially, the final voting for the 86th Academy Awards began today for online as well as paper balloting. Some voters may have been able to jump the gun. Some members of the Motion Picture Academy Arts and Sciences reportedly got their ballots in the mail earlier in the week, according to Deadline. It may not matter when voters got their ballots, but when they return them. All votes must be... Read More →

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Photo of Reba Merrill courtesy Studio 10 Online

Guest Blogger: The secrets behind winning an Oscar

By on Tuesday, January 28, 2014

You might be surprised to know that to win an Oscar takes much more than talent. It takes a strategic campaign. Let me translate.  Outrageous budgets go towards lavish lunch and dinner parties to win the favor of Oscar voters.  Big publicity budgets go towards new 30 second TV spots, and self-congratulatory magazine and newspaper ads.  Does this sound familiar? Could it be that the studios are running a political campaign? Why all the hoopla?  Well, every Oscar win is money in the pockets of the releasing studio and let’s... Read More →

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Gravity movie poster

DGA Award for best feature film director goes to “Gravity”

By on Sunday, January 26, 2014

The race for Oscars is turning into a real, ah, horse race. Last night at the DGA Awards, “Gravity” took away the top honor — Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film. Director, Alfonso Cuarón, picked up the award for what many consider a cinematic masterpiece. “Gravity” is about two astronauts, played by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, struggling to survive a shuttle disaster out in space. The sci-fi thriller is one of the front-runners for Oscars, along with “12 Years a Slave” and “American Hustle.” There is chatter... Read More →

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American Hustle movie poster

“American Hustle” and “Gravity” got the most Oscar nominations today

By on Thursday, January 16, 2014

                  “American Hustle” and “Gravity” were the 2013 movies mentioned the most today when the nominations for the 86th Academy Awards were revealed. Both got 10 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. The big winner at last Sunday’s Golden Globes for Best Movie Drama, “12 Years a Slave,” came in second with 9 nominations, followed by “Captain Phillips” and “Nebraska” with 6, and “The Wolf of Wall Street with 5. Films nominated for best picture “American Hustle”... Read More →

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