The Weinstein Company announced today the re-release of Academy Award^®  Best Picture winner THE ARTIST nationwide this Friday, May 11, 2012. This will be the last chance for moviegoers to experience the 5 time Academy Award^® winning love letter to films in a movie theater – the way it was intended to be experienced, and it is the perfect opportunity for a Mother’s Day outing.

Said TWC President of Marketing Stephen Bruno, “As Summer approaches, we wanted to give audiences across the country one more opportunity to experience THE ARTIST in a theater where it has charmed and entertained so many this year. This is the perfect family outing for Mother’s Day weekend.”

THE ARTIST is the winner of five Academy Awards^® including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Score and Best Costume Design. It is the recipient of three Golden Globe® Awards – more than any other picture – including Best Comedy, Best Actor and Best Score. Jean Dujardin also won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor, and the film won the Directors Guild of America’s pick for Best Feature Film.

THE ARTIST stars Jean Dujardin (George Valentin) and Bérénice Bejo (Peppy Miller), and features performances by: John Goodman (Al Zimmer); James Cromwell (Clifton); Penelope Ann Miller (Doris); Malcolm McDowell (the Butler); and Uggie the dog. THE ARTIST also includes an all-star lineup of filmmakers, including: writer/director Michel Hazanavicius; producer Thomas Langmann; director of photography Guillaume Schiffman; and production designer Laurence Bennett.

Hollywood, 1927. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will sound the death knell for his career and see him fall into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), it seems the sky’s the limit – major movie stardom awaits. THE ARTIST tells the story of their interlinked destinies.

Visit the official site: http://weinsteinco.com/sites/the-artist/

Can your pet do tricks like Uggie? His trainer/owner Omar Von Muller has some pointers:

• How can I get a dog into show business? Unfortunately showbiz is not an easy business to get into with our dogs, there are a lot of very talented pooches out there that could be in pictures, the best advice that I could give to anybody would be to work with their dog as much as possible, do research on the different behaviors that are most commonly needed for studio work.  There are a lot of videos on YouTube on tricks and behaviors and tutorials on training.  Once you think that you have accomplished this, only then you will contact different animal companies that you can find on the LA411 (for example) and talk to them and send them pictures or videos of your dog.  Remember that the animal companies will push for their own animals to get the job before anybody else’s and they do have very well trained animals, so if your dog is as good or better than their dog they would love to use them.
• What are the easiest tricks to teach a dog? Besides the obedience exercises like heel, sit down, stay, come, when it comes to tricks, the easiest ones are probably to give their paw, roll over, crawl, play dead and to beg.  To teach how to give paw, it’s better if the dog is in a sitting position and it could be as simple as to hold his paw with your hand then you would lift it, give him a treat and repeat it until the dog starts lifting his paw on his own and then you keep giving treats and praises every time he does it.  Rollover, crawl and play dead are all tricks that come from the down position.  Once the dog is laying down you can manipulate the dog to do all these three tricks with your hands and give him his treats and praise when he does it.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and CIM Group announced today that the Academy Awards® will remain in Hollywood under a new 20-year deal. Concurrently, in a separate agreement, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) and CIM announced a 20-year agreement to name the Dolby Theatre™ — the iconic theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center® and home of the Academy Awards since 2002– a showcase of technology innovation.

“Our ability to swiftly conclude two significant contracts with global entertainment leaders affirms Hollywood as a thriving district, the Dolby Theatre as the ultimate entertainment showcase and Hollywood & Highland Center as a cornerstone for both the local and entertainment communities,” said Shaul Kuba, Co-Founder of CIM Group, owners of the Hollywood & Highland Center. CIM is an investor in communities throughout North America and the largest commercial real estate owner in Hollywood.  In 1998, CIM Group identified Hollywood as an emerging urban district that meets the firm’s strategic investment guidelines and is headquartered there. Since then, it has acquired and developed a portfolio of properties that include office, retail, hotel and multifamily residential properties.

Under the new contract with the Academy, the Dolby Theatre will host the Academy Awards through 2033.  The Dolby Theatre features 3,400 seats on four levels and 20 opera boxes, one of the largest stages in the United States with state-of-the-art infrastructure designed for a variety of programming including live broadcast.

“The Academy’s Board of Governors believes that the home for our awards is in Hollywood. It is where the Academy and the motion picture industry are rooted,” said Tom Sherak, Academy President. “We are pleased to have a new agreement with CIM that will continue our longstanding partnership.”

Dolby is a global brand and industry leader in creating the best entertainment experiences. During the term of the Dolby Theatre agreement, which will commence this summer, Dolby will continue to update the theatre with innovative, world-class technologies to ensure that the theatre remains state-of-the-art, beginning with the immediate installation of its recently released Dolby® Atmos™ sound technology.  Financial terms were not disclosed. The Dolby Theatre amplifies Dolby’s commitment to innovation as a leader and creator of the most realistic and immersive entertainment experiences.

“Our partnership with CIM allows the Dolby Theatre to be the world-stage for the Academy Awards, and for Dolby innovation for decades to come.  Dolby has long been an integral part of Hollywood and the entertainment industry,” said Kevin Yeaman, President and CEO of Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby is a brand recognized around the world for creating the best, most life-like entertainment sound experiences in any environment.”

For 34 consecutive years, films released with Dolby audio technologies have earned Academy Award nominations for outstanding sound quality. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.

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This past February, UNDEFEATED took home the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. The film tells the story of a feisty, focused coach determined to end the losing streak of a football team from a school that’s seen better days. The prime example of this plot would go all the way back to 1940 with KNUTE ROCKNE, ALL AMERICAN and continue through to the more recent REMEMBER THE TITANS and WE ARE MARSHALL. So it might be more than a bit familiar. And the documentary techniques are not ground-breaking. We’re basically a fly on the wall observing the start of the new season.  But what observations! There’s just as much drama and suspense here as in any big Hollywood ” based on true events” flick. You don’t have to be a pigskin fanatic to be enthralled with these people. Perhaps you may identify with one or two of the principals even if you never took to the field.

UNDEFEATED chronicles the Fall 2009 football season at Manassas High School of West Memphis Tennessee. The area around the school has been hit hard by the economic down-turn. The neighborhoods are filled with boarded-up, abandoned houses, piles of garbage, and drug dealers on nearly every corner. The school’s football team ( as Colbert would call them, ” the fightin’ Tigers” ) is almost in the same sad shape as those mean streets. In some recent seasons the team went without a single win. Hoping to reverse the trend is Head Varsity Football Coach Joe Courtney. He’s the owner of a big lumber company who’s had a love of the game since childhood. We see him spending the early morning hours supervising his business then zipping over to the school to roam the halls and do some on the run recruiting ( ” Got a nice jersey just for you! “). He’s a big, jovial guy ( kind of a cross between Kevin James and the much missed John Candy ) who’s often the only white face roaming the hallways. With racial issues filling the news today, the film presents a great portrait of respect and co-operation. Courtney loves his team, but feels guilt pangs over the time away from his own kids. He blows his top sometimes, but he’s always there when his players have a problem.

Speaking of players, the film focuses on three members of the Tigers. The most promising, gifted player may be the gentle giant O.C. Brown. He’s got the size to take out the competition, but unlike most husky guys, O.C. has the speed. We see him clearing a path for the running back to score and running alongside. College scouts have started to sniff around. The only thing that O.C. can’t seem to break through is his studies, particularly the all-important SAT tests. Because he and his grandmother live in such a rough part of town, no tutors will venture there, so the coach came up with a plan. O.C. will live with the family of one of the coaching staff during the school week. After class and practice, the tutors will work with him there. The opulent suburbs are a completely foreign world to the big, sweet-natured young man ( reminiscent of THE BLIND SIDE, except he’s back with Grandma’ on the weekends ).

While O.C.’s a man of few words, his team-mate Motrail ’Money” Brown, has the gift of gab. Money’s got big plans, but unfortunately he’s one of the shortest guys on the squad ( ala’ RUDY ). He spends most of the game begging to be sent in. His story might be the most affecting. He’s an easy-going, ambitious guy, who’s pals with the team’s loose cannon Chavis Daniels. We first meet Chavis as he returns to school after 15 months in a youth detention facility. He’s got an explosive temper and lashes out unexpectedly. Courtney’s got his hands full dealing with this angry young man’s blow-ups. The coach wrestles with Chavis’s behavior. How many chances does he get? Can football channel all his pent-up emotions. Or will he be swallowed up by the streets? It’s a wrenching dilemma.

What comes across in the film is a need by most of the team, including the coach, for a male authority figure. In an emotional confession Courtney talks about his father walking out of his life as a toddler. After finding some joy in football, he’d be filled with sadness watching his team mates leaving the field with their dads ( one hand on his son’s shoulders, the other carrying his boy’s helmet and pads ). We see the profiled players with mothers, aunts, and grandmothers, but rarely with male relatives. This not to say the film is full of gloom. Included are many small victories ( I won’t reveal how the season ended ), a major setback for one player, and an act of incredible kindness that may have you reaching for your hankie ( unless your veins are filled with ice water! ). As I said earlier, no ground-breaking documentary techniques here. No re-creations, no graphs, no animations. It’s similar to the format now adopted for TV sitcoms like ” The Office ” and ” Modern Family “. Except there’s very few seated confessionals or interviews here. Everyone’s always on the move, particularly Coach Courtney. I never threw on the pads and helmet at school, but I was delighted to spend some time with this team. Any teenager mentored by Coach Courtney is a winner, no matter what the scoreboard reads.

Overall Rating : 5 Out of 5 Stars

The deadlines to submit entries for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 2012 Student Academy Awards competition are Friday, March 23, 2012 (Foreign Student Film category) and Monday, April 2, 2012 (all other categories).

In the Foreign Student Film category, entries are accepted only from full-time college and university students attending schools that are members of the international film school organization known as CILECT (cilect.org), and located outside the borders of the United States.

The competition in all other categories is open to full-time college and university students at accredited U.S. institutions, whose films are made within the curricular structure of a film program or class at their respective schools. For 2012, the Academy has limited the list of accepted accreditation agencies for U.S. institutions to the following: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; New England Association of Schools and Colleges; North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; Western Association of Schools and Colleges; and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The 39th Annual Student Academy Awards  presentation will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012, at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal awards, along with cash prizes, may be presented to student filmmakers in the following categories: Alternative, Animation, Narrative, Documentary and Foreign Student Film.

Hallvar Witzø

The rules and online application forms are available at http://www.oscars.org/saa.

The Academy established the Student Academy Awards in 1972 to support and encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level. Past Student Academy Award® winners have gone on to receive 46 Oscar® nominations and have won or shared eight awards. At the 84th Academy Awards earlier this year, 2011 Student Academy Award winners Hallvar Witzø and Max Zähle were nominated in the Live Action Short Film category for “Tuba Atlantic” and “Raju,” respectively. James Spione, a Student Academy Award winner in 1987, earned a nomination in the Documentary Short Subject category for “Incident in New Baghdad.”

Max Zäehle

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AMPAS has announced key dates for next year’s Oscars. The 85th Academy Awards nominations will take place on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, and the Oscar® telecast will be presented on Sunday, February 24th.

The ceremony will take place at the Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network to more than 225 countries.

The deadlines to submit entries for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 27th annual Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition are: Thursday, March 15, 2012 (early bird); and Tuesday, May 1, 2012 (regular). An entry fee discount applies to scripts submitted by the early bird deadline.

The Nicholl competition is open to any individual who has not earned more than $5,000 from the sale or option of a screenplay or teleplay, or received a fellowship or prize of more than $5,000 that includes a “first look” clause, an option or any other quid pro quo involving the writer’s work. To enter, writers must submit a completed online application, upload one PDF copy of their original screenplay in English and pay the entry fee US$35 before 11:59 p.m. PT on March 15, or US$52 before 11:59 p.m. PT on May 1.

Entry scripts must be feature length and the original work of a sole author or of exactly two collaborative authors. The scripts must have been written originally in English. Adaptations and translated scripts are not eligible. The Academy presents up to five $35,000 fellowships each year.

For additional information, the complete rules and the online application, visit www.oscars.org/nicholl.

Fellowships are awarded with the understanding that the recipients will each complete a feature-length screenplay during their fellowship year. The Academy acquires no rights to the works of Nicholl fellows and does not involve itself commercially in any way with their completed scripts.

Last year’s competition drew a record 6,730 entries. Since the program’s inception in 1985, 123 fellowships have been awarded. Among the recent achievements by Nicholl fellows: Destin Daniel Cretton wrote and directed “I Am Not a Hipster,” which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival; Andrew Marlowe created and executive produces and Terri Miller serves as a writer-producer on the ABC series “Castle”; Susannah Grant created and executive produces the CBS series “A Gifted Man”; and Jeffrey Eugenides’ third novel, The Marriage Plot, was a 2012 National Book Critics Circle award nominee.

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Crowded House said it best in the lyrics “Hey now, hey now, don’t dream its over.” Yes, the awards season officialy came to an end tonight at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, CA. Tears, jubilation, substance and style were all memorable moments at the 84th Academy Awards hosted by Billy Crystal. With Sacha Baron Cohen’s shenanigans earlier on the red carpet and no huge upsets, Cirque du Soleil’s performance was the highlight of the evening.

The Oscar for Best Motion Picture of the Year went to “The Artist” produced by Thomas Langmann and Michel Hazanavicius won for Achievement in Directing. The movie becomes the first silent film to take the gold since the original Oscar ceremony 83 years ago when WINGS won.

Christopher Plummer was the winner for a Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in “Beginners”; Octavia Spencer, was the winner for a Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in “The Help”; Meryl Streep, was the winner for Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her role in “The Iron Lady” and Jean Dujardin was the winner for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his role in “The Artist”.

Complete List of Winners:

Actor in a Leading Role

• Demián Bichir in “A Better Life”
• George Clooney in “The Descendants”
• Jean Dujardin in “The Artist”
• Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
• Brad Pitt in “Moneyball

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn”
• Jonah Hill in “Moneyball”
• Nick Nolte in “Warrior”
• Christopher Plummer in “Beginners”
• Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Actress in a Leading Role

• Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs”
• Viola Davis in “The Help”
• Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
• Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady”
• Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist”
• Jessica Chastain in “The Help”
• Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”
• Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs”
• Octavia Spencer in “The Help

Animated Feature Film

• “A Cat in Paris” Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
• “Chico & Rita” Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
• “Kung Fu Panda 2″ Jennifer Yuh Nelson
• “Puss in Boots” Chris Miller
• “Rango” Gore Verbinski

Art Direction

• “The Artist”
  Production Design: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2“
  Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
• “Hugo”
  Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
• “Midnight in Paris”
  Production Design: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
• “War Horse”
  Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Cinematography

• “The Artist” Guillaume Schiffman
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Jeff Cronenweth
• “Hugo” Robert Richardson
• “The Tree of Life” Emmanuel Lubezki
• “War Horse” Janusz Kaminski

Costume Design

• “Anonymous” Lisy Christl
• “The Artist” Mark Bridges
• “Hugo” Sandy Powell
• “Jane Eyre” Michael O’Connor
• “W.E.” Arianne Phillips

Directing

• “The Artist” Michel Hazanavicius
• “The Descendants” Alexander Payne
• “Hugo” Martin Scorsese
• “Midnight in Paris” Woody Allen
• “The Tree of Life” Terrence Malick

Documentary (Feature)

• “Hell and Back Again”
  Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
• “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front”
  Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
• “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”
  Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
• “Pina”
  Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
• “Undefeated”
  TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Rich Middlemas

Documentary (Short Subject)

• “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement”
  Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
• “God Is the Bigger Elvis”
  Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
• “Incident in New Baghdad”
  James Spione
• “Saving Face”
  Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
• “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”
  Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Film Editing

• “The Artist” Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
• “The Descendants” Kevin Tent
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
• “Hugo” Thelma Schoonmaker
• “Moneyball” Christopher Tellefsen

Foreign Language Film

• “Bullhead” Belgium
• “Footnote” Israel
• “In Darkness” Poland
• “Monsieur Lazhar” Canada
• “A Separation” Iran

Makeup

• “Albert Nobbs”
  Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
  Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
• “The Iron Lady”
  Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

Music (Original Score)

• “The Adventures of Tintin” John Williams
• “The Artist” Ludovic Bource
• “Hugo” Howard Shore
• “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Alberto Iglesias
• “War Horse” John Williams

Music (Original Song)

• “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets”
  Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
• “Real in Rio” from “Rio”
  Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown; Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Best Picture

• “The Artist” Thomas Langmann, Producer
• “The Descendants” Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
• “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” Scott Rudin, Producer
• “The Help” Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
• “Hugo” Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
• “Midnight in Paris” Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
• “Moneyball” Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
• “The Tree of Life” Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Dede Gardner and Grant Hill, Producers
• “War Horse” Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Short Film (Animated)

• “Dimanche/Sunday” Patrick Doyon
• “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
• “La Luna” Enrico Casarosa
• “A Morning Stroll” Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
• “Wild Life” Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Short Film (Live Action)

• “Pentecost” Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
• “Raju” Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
• “The Shore” Terry George and Oorlagh George
• “Time Freak” Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
• “Tuba Atlantic” Hallvar Witzø

Sound Editing

• “Drive” Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Ren Klyce
• “Hugo” Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
• “War Horse” Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

Sound Mixing

• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
  David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
• “Hugo”
  Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
• “Moneyball”
  Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, David Giammarco and Ed Novick
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
  Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
• “War Horse”
  Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson

Visual Effects

• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
  Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
• “Hugo”
  Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossmann and Alex Henning
• “Real Steel”
  Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
• “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
  Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
  Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• “The Descendants” Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
• “Hugo” Screenplay by John Logan
• “The Ides of March” Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
• “Moneyball” Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin; Story by Stan Chervin
• “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

Writing (Original Screenplay)

• “The Artist” Written by Michel Hazanavicius
• “Bridesmaids” Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
• “Margin Call” Written by J.C. Chandor
• “Midnight in Paris” Written by Woody Allen
• “A Separation” Written by Asghar Farhadi

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All photos Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.

Tomorrow is the day where the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences celebrates the movies. We’ve waited all year and its finally here. By the time host Billy Crystal delivers his last punchline and concludes the 84th Academy Awards, the evening will have seen many celebrity-presenters appear on the Oscar stage at the Kodak Theatre.

Here’s my predictions for Hollywood’s big night.

Actor in a Leading Role
Demián Bichir in “A Better Life”
George Clooney in “The Descendants”
Jean Dujardin in “The Artist”
Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”

Clooney’s performance was like none other he’s given before and with SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, Natalie Portman (BLACK SWAN) and Jeff Bridges (CRAZY HEART), Fox Searchlight is on a roll. However, THE ARTIST’s Dujardin will take home his first Academy Award.

Possible upset – Brad Pitt is an all around good guy and it would be nice to see him win.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn”
Jonah Hill in “Moneyball”
Nick Nolte in “Warrior”
Christopher Plummer in “Beginners”
Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Captain Von Trapp will win the gold – he’s won every award leading up to the big night.

Possible upset – Max Von Sydow

Actress in a Leading Role
Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis in “The Help”
Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady”
Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn”

While this may be Streep’s 17th nomination, Viola Davis has the win based on the pre-awards and all her campaigning.

Possible upset – I’ll play the Adrien Brody card and say Streep and Davis split the vote and Close finally wins an Oscar!

Actress in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain in “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer in “The Help”

She won everything else up to this point, so Spencer for the win. Spoilers need not apply

Animated Feature Film
“A Cat in Paris” Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
“Chico & Rita” Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
“Kung Fu Panda 2″ Jennifer Yuh Nelson
“Puss in Boots” Chris Miller
“Rango” Gore Verbinski

Easy race to call – pretty much a lock and so different than anything we’ve seen in animation.

Possible upset – I have to put my support with first time nominee Nelson – an upset in this category and the first woman to win would make for a special evening.

Art Direction
“The Artist” Production Design: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
“Hugo” Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
“Midnight in Paris” Production Design: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
“War Horse” Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

In case of a technical sweep by HUGO, this will be one of many wins over the evening.

Possible upset – THE ARTIST

Cinematography
“The Artist” Guillaume Schiffman
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Jeff Cronenweth
“Hugo” Robert Richardson
“The Tree of Life” Emmanuel Lubezki
“War Horse” Janusz Kaminski

The Academy’s way of acknowledging Malick’s film.

Possible upset – HUGO or THE ARTIST – they both have about an equal chance of an upset.

Costume Design
“Anonymous” Lisy Christl
“The Artist” Mark Bridges
“Hugo” Sandy Powell
“Jane Eyre” Michael O’Connor
“W.E.” Arianne Phillips

Having won 3 previous times, Sandy Powell is another lock.

Possible upset – period piece THE ARTIST and because it has 10 nominations

Directing
“The Artist” Michel Hazanavicius
“The Descendants” Alexander Payne
“Hugo” Martin Scorsese
“Midnight in Paris” Woody Allen
“The Tree of Life” Terrence Malick

Michel Hazanavicius; win will go part and parcel with the DGA award.

Possible upset – Payne pulls a Roman Polanski surprise win.

Documentary (Feature)
“Hell and Back Again” (Docurama Films) A Roast Beef Limited Production, Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
“If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” (Oscilloscope Laboratories) A Marshall Curry Production, Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
“Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory” An @radical.media Production, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
“Pina” (Sundance Selects) A Neue Road Movies Production, Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
“Undefeated” (The Weinstein Company) A Spitfire Pictures Production, TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory wins as it was the Cause Celebre of late.

Possible spoiler – PINA. The first 3D film nominated in this category dances its way home with the gold statuette.

Documentary (Short Subject)
“The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement” Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
“God Is the Bigger Elvis” Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
“Incident in New Baghdad”James Spione
“Saving Face” Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
“The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

SAVING FACE for its intense look at women being defaced in Pakistan.

Possible upset – “God Is the Bigger Elvis” for its Hollywood story/connection.

Film Editing
“The Artist” Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
“The Descendants” Kevin Tent
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
“Hugo” Thelma Schoonmaker
“Moneyball” Christopher Tellefsen

The way THE ARTIST was put together makes up for the lack of dialogue.

Possible upset – Consolation prize goes to either HUGO or THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO.

Foreign Language Film
“Bullhead” Belgium
“Footnote” Israel
“In Darkness” Poland
“Monsieur Lazhar” Canada
“A Separation” Iran

A SEPARATION is the frontrunner…however…

Possible upset – The Holocaust based IN DARKNESS might pull off the win. This category always has some big surprise like when BIUTIFUL lost. You thought it had the edge but A BETTER WORLD won. Another example was when presumed winners WALTZ WITH BASHIR (2009), WHITE RIBBON (2010) lost to DEPARTURES and SECRET IN THEIR EYES.

Makeup
“Albert Nobbs” (Roadside Attractions) Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (Warner Bros.) Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
“The Iron Lady” (The Weinstein Company) Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

THE IRON LADY has the frontrunner status for Meryl Streep’s transformation as Lady Thatcher.

Possible upset – The gender bending ALBERT NOBBS.

Music (Original Score)
“The Adventures of Tintin” John Williams
“The Artist” Ludovic Bource
“Hugo” Howard Shore
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Alberto Iglesias
“War Horse” John Williams

Easy one to call. It’s such a big part of the story.

Possible upset – THE WAR HORSE himself, John Williams.

Music (Original Song)
“Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
“Real in Rio” from “Rio” Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Something is broken in this category and I still don’t know what’s going on in this group. Not exactly the most memorable of songs from THE MUPPETS, so I’ll go with Sergio Mendes’ catchy tune.

Best Picture
“The Artist” Thomas Langmann, Producer
“The Descendants” Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” Scott Rudin, Producer
“The Help” Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
“Hugo” Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
“Midnight in Paris” Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
“Moneyball” Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
“The Tree of Life”
“War Horse” Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

The Weinstein Company’s THE ARTIST wins and becomes the 2nd silent movie to win Best Picture.

Possible upset – THE DESCENDANTS. It also has editing, directing, writing and the all important acting nods.

Short Film (Animated)
“Dimanche/Sunday” Patrick Doyon
“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
“La Luna” Enrico Casarosa
“A Morning Stroll” Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
“Wild Life” Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” was one of the sweetest and uplifting movies of 2011. And technically impressive.

Possible upset – With the family angle, LA LUNA.

Short Film (Live Action)
“Pentecost” Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
“Raju” Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
“The Shore” Terry George and Oorlagh George
“Time Freak” Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
“Tuba Atlantic” Hallvar Witzø

Possible upset – RAJU.

Sound Editing
“Drive” Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Ren Klyce
“Hugo” Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
“War Horse” Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

Possible upset – TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON.

Sound Mixing
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
“Hugo” Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
“Moneyball” Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
“War Horse” Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson

Unlike the rest of the pack, I’ll go with TRANSFORMERS for the upset.

Visual Effects
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
“Hugo” Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
“Real Steel” Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier

The Academy’s way to acknowledge the work of Andy Serkis and one of the best reviewed films of 2011.

Possible upset – When a movie is nominated for both Best Picture and Visual Effects, the film wins. HUGO.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
“The Descendants” Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
“Hugo” Screenplay by John Logan
“The Ides of March” Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
“Moneyball” Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Story by Stan Chervin
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

Possible upset – If MONEYBALL wins anything, it will be here.

Writing (Original Screenplay)
“The Artist” Written by Michel Hazanavicius
“Bridesmaids” Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
“Margin Call” Written by J.C. Chandor
“Midnight in Paris” Written by Woody Allen
“A Separation” Written by Asghar Farhadi

Possible upset – It’s harder to tell a story without any words. THE ARTIST.

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The Academy’s Oscar Week culminated in a sold-out public event at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater celebrating the achievement of the nominees in the Hair and Makeup category hosted by Branch Governor Leonard Engelman. This is one of my favorite symposiums of Oscar Week and AMPAS really outdid themselves this year when they surprised the audience with the appearances of Meryl Streep and Glenn Close. Met with standing ovations, the actresses spent a lot of time on Saturday in support of the Hair and Makeup nominees behind THE IRON LADY and ALBERT NOBBS. Close, Streep and the teams discussed the colloborative processes and presented film clips, photographs and models of their work.

To watch the event in its entirety, click HERE (http://www.oscars.org/events-exhibitions/events/2012/02/makeup.html)

On the ALBERT NOBBS team, Glenn Close graciously said, “When it looked like we were going to make the movie, I had to convince myself that we could create this other person. The moment I looked up and it wasn’t me – I realized it would be possible. I realized what that face could do. I can’t tell you how excited I am that they’re sitting here today being recognized with a nomination. I wouldn’t have done it without them.”

(From left to right) Oscar winning actress Meryl Streep, with Make Up Artists J. Roy Helland and Mark Coulier, “The Iron Lady”, at the Make Up symposium for the 84th Academy Awards held in the Grand Lobby of the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, CA.

Meryl Streep was just as effluent with her praise of THE IRON LADY nominees. “The secret and balance and successfulness of how much and how little they did, creates the similarity to Margaret Thatcher and is a true testament to their work. To live through the makeup really helped … mostly with the other actors. There was never a hesistation. In 20 years I’ve never been able to walk in London as myself, but I could walk straight down the street with no notice. I’m so grateful to all their masterful work.”

THE 2011 NOMINEES ARE:

Makeup

• “Albert Nobbs” – Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ – Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
• “The Iron Lady” – Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

(From left to right) Make Up Artists Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle, “Albert Nobbs” at a Make Up symposium for the 84th Academy Awards held in the Grand Lobby of the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, CA.

(From left to right) Make Up Artists Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland, “The Iron Lady” at a Make Up symposium for the 84th Academy Awards held in the Grand Lobby of the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, CA.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements in 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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All photos: Copyright© A.M.P.A.S

On a sunny Friday morning, members of the press from across the globe gathered at the Red Carpet Arrivals Tent. The purpose was to meet and talk with the directors of 4 of the 5 Oscar®-nominated films in the Foreign Language Film Award category for the 84th Academy Award.

Michel Roskam, “Bullhead”, Joseph Cedar, “Footnote”, Agnieszka Holland, “In Darkness”, and Philippe Falardeau, “Monsieur Lazhar” were very eager to speak about their films, the process from page to screen and how thrilled they were with the acknowlegement by the Academy. Even though director Asghar Farhadi (A SEPARATION) is already in Los Angeles, the filmmaker was not feeling well enough to come to today’s red carpet event.

All the directors, actors and producers on hand were so gratified by the nominations and to be representing their respective countries on Oscar Sunday, February 26. The one common theme mentioned over and over were the emotional journeys taken by crew and actors in the making of these fine motion pictures. If these undeniably powerful Foreign Language Films find their way to your city or town, go and experience them at your local cinemas.

THE 2011 NOMINEES ARE:

Foreign Language Film

• “Bullhead” Belgium (Directed by Michaël R. Roskam)
• “Footnote” Israel (Directed by Joseph Cedar)
• “In Darkness” Poland (Directed by Agnieszka Holland)
• “Monsieur Lazhar” Canada (Directed by Philippe Falardeau)
• “A Separation” Iran (Directed by Asghar Farhadi)

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements in 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide

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In a continuation of the Oscar Week, I sat in Thursday evening on the Animated Feature Symposium which celebrates the work of the 2011 Oscar nominees in the Animated Feature Film category. The nominees discussed their films’ development and their creative processes as well as presented clips illustrating their techniques. The symposium was hosted by actor-comedian Patton Oswalt.

In attendance at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills were Academy Governor Bill Kroyer, animated filmmakers Javier Mariscal, CHICO AND RITA, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, KUNG FU PANDA 2, Alain Gagnol, A CAT IN PARIS, Fernando Trueba, CHICO AND RITA  and Jean-Loup Felicioli, A CAT IN PARIS.

The director I was most interested in speaking with was director Jennifer Yuh Nelson. With KUNG FU PANDA 2′s huge box office numbers, Nelson became the highest-grossing female director ever when it reached $645M globally in September. Prior to directing KUNG FU PANDA 2, Jennifer Yuh Nelson served as head of story and “dream sequence director” on 2008′s KUNG FU PANDA, which remains one of the top ten animated movies of all time. Before that, Nelson served as story artists on DreamWorks Animation’s MADAGASCAR, head of story on SINBAD: LEGEND OF THE SEVEN SEAS and story artist on Spirit: Stallion of the CIMARRON. Prior to joining DreamWorks Animation, she served as director, story artist and character designer at HBO Animation. Nelson’s animation career has spanned several countries, including Korea, Japan and Australia, and she has also published several independent comic books.

In what would be a major upset in the category, Nelson could become the first woman to win the Academy Award for Animated Feature Film on Sunday. The filmmakers of KUNG FU PANDA 2 took a few minutes to talk about another adventure with Po, the villainous Master Shen and Women in Animation.

THE 2011 NOMINEES ARE:

Animated Feature Film

• “A Cat in Paris” Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
• “Chico & Rita” Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
• “Kung Fu Panda 2″ Jennifer Yuh Nelson
• “Puss in Boots” Chris Miller
• “Rango” Gore Verbinski

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements in 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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For the 18th consecutive year, master chef Wolfgang Puck has been selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to create the menu for the Governors Ballon Oscar® Sunday, February 26, 2012. On Thursday morning, Puck gave the press a glimpse into what the winners can expect to feast on immediately following the 84th Academy Awards® hosted by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - at The Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center.

This year, instead of tables with place-settings or buffets, an army of servers will bring the food around on trays with small plates. The band will be in the center on a raised, rotating stage. The first set of bleachers are out on Hollywood Blvd. and rain coverings are installed along the route to the ball. The ballroom is completely transformed in a different way each year including the elaborate ceiling installations and hanging fixtures. The room will sparkle with 1400 strands of Swarovski Crystal.

“We are so excited to help create a new energy for the Governors Ball this year,” said Puck. “With fantastic California ingredients, a few luxuries, and some favorite comfort foods, there will truly be something for everyone, and inspiration for anyone hosting a party at home. We are happy to celebrate Hollywood’s brightest stars and most accomplished artists with our culinary artistry.”

Wolfgang Puck Catering will serve the Academy’s 1,500 Ball guests, including Oscar winners, nominees, presenters and telecast participants.

The 2012 menu created by Puck and Chef Matt Bencivenga embraces the social arrangement of this year’s Ball; it features more than fifty dishes, from one-bite hors d’oeuvres to small-plate entrees that will be passed throughout the evening. With visual artistry and eclectic flavors, signature favorites such as smoked salmon Oscars®, chicken pot pie with shaved black truffles, and Pastry Chef Sherry Yard’s gold-dusted chocolate Oscars will appear alongside inventive presentations such as lobster tacos with tomato and pickled Shallots, and beet salad with pistachio butter, burrata and citrus balsamic. The menu incorporates local produce and sustainable seafood, and its surprise sweets pay homage to the future of Oscar in 3D.

All unused prepared food will be donated to Angel Harvest.

Wolfgang Puck Catering sets the standard for gracious hospitality and expert service in more than 45 exclusive venues nationwide. The Wolfgang Puck Companies - which comprise 21 fine dining restaurants, premium catering services, and quality kitchen and food merchandise – together express Puck’s passion for cooking and living well.

Fun Facts:

• 5000 Mini Chocolate Oscars
• 6500 Wood Fired Oscar Shaped Flat Bread
• 1,000 bottles of Moét & Chandon Champagne
• 20,000 pieces of California Grown Micro Greens
• 7,500 individual US shrimp
• 1,450 pounds Maine lobster
• 5,000 cage free eggs

Marc Friedland has been selected to design envelopes and announcement cards bearing the names of Oscar® winners at the 84th and 85th Academy Awards. Last year was the first year Friedland was selected marking the first-ever specially designed envelope and winners’ cards.

Friesland’s custom-designed envelope is handcrafted from a high-gloss, iridescent metallic gold paper stock, with a red-lacquered lining featuring the Oscar statuette hand-stamped in satin gold leaf.

The outside of the envelope and flap is an Art Deco-inspired satin gold foil frame with an ecru inset panel bearing the name of the award category in a rich charcoal ink. The envelope will contain a heavyweight ecru card featuring gold foil accents and a gold leaf-embossed Oscar statuette along with the phrase, “And the Oscar goes to.” The winner’s name is printed in charcoal ink and mounted onto a matching, red lacquer hand-wrapped frame. The back of the card will be printed with the award category.

Friedland will produce an announcement card for each of the year’s nominees. After final tabulation of the ballots, Brad Oltmanns and Rick Rosas, the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) partners, will insert the appropriate announcement cards and fasten the envelope with a red double-faced satin ribbon and a red-lacquered and gold-embossed seal featuring the PwC logo.

All of the remaining nominee cards will then be destroyed. “I wanted to create an envelope that matched the iconic stature of the Oscars® as an event known and watched around the world,” said Friedland. “So few people actually ever hold these envelopes, but I want everyone to see how special they really are. As with the statuette itself, the envelope and cards will never change.”

Friedland, the designer of the Academy Award winners’ envelope has designed the first-ever collection of Academy sanctioned invitations for Oscar Sunday viewing parties, which is now immediately available to download exclusively on Evite Postmark, announced Hans Woolley, President of Evite and Marc Friedland, Founder and Creative Director of Marc Friedland Couture Communications. Ten unique premium Oscar party invitation designs are being made available online complimentary for party hosts to personalize and have digitally delivered as a way for Friedland and Evite to announce their association and preview Evite’s new premium site Evite Postmark www.Postmark.com. Direct links to Evite Postmark will also be available at www.Oscar.com and www.marcfriedlandinc.com.

The Oscar Collection by Marc Friedland has something for everyone, from classic golden age of Hollywood to modern, fun takes on Oscar as well. There’s the nod to glitz and glam (complete with Swarovski studded Oscar) to mid-60′s inspired chic. Each design begins as an individually handcrafted original, and then is magically transformed to be digitally delivered on Evite Postmark, making this the online debut of Friedland’s high-end signature craftsmanship work.

Each invitation in the collection has a matching designed envelope, custom stamp, and features the never before available Oscar statuette, use of Academy archival photos and images, and the use the of the “official” Academy Awards title.

Tony Bennett will perform at the Governors Ball, the celebration that will follow the 84th Academy Awards® presentation on Oscar Sunday, February 26, Academy President Tom Sherak announced today. “Tony Bennett is that rare artist who truly reaches across generations,” said Sherak. “Welcoming him to the Ball is an honor and privilege.”

Bennett, who recently celebrated his 85th birthday, made music history last September when his “Duets II” album debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, distinguishing him as the oldest artist to achieve the top position. Earlier this month he won his 16th and 17th Grammy® Awards: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for “Duets II” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Body and Soul,” recorded with the late Amy Winehouse. Bennett earned his first Grammy in 1962 for “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

Bennett also is a two-time Emmy® Award winner, a Kennedy Center Honoree and an NEA Jazz Master. His dozens of albums have sold millions of copies worldwide. Bennett will perform for the Ball’s 1,500 guests, which will include Oscar winners and nominees, show presenters and performers, and other luminaries. The Ball will be held in the Grand Ballroom on the top level of the Hollywood & Highland Center

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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The four Oscar®-winning actors from the 83rd Academy Awards – Christian Bale, Colin Firth, Melissa Leo and Natalie Portman – will present at the 84th Academy Awards, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today.

Both Bale and Leo received Oscars® for their supporting roles in “The Fighter.” It was Bale’s first nomination and Leo’s second. Two-time nominees Firth and Portman took home Academy Awards for their lead performances in “The King’s Speech” and “Black Swan,” respectively.

Bale, Firth, Leo and Portman join a stellar list of previously announced Oscar presenters, including Halle Berry, Rose Byrne, Bradley Cooper, Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Michael Douglas, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Zach Galifianakis, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Milla Jovovich, Ellie Kemper, Jennifer Lopez, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Maya Rudolph, Emma Stone, Meryl Streep and Kristen Wiig.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, from the Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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On Wednesday of Oscar Week, the third annual “Docs!” night spotlighted the work of the nominated filmmakers in the Documentary Short Subject and Documentary Feature categories. The program included film clips from all of the nominated documentaries in both categories, followed a panel discussion with each group of nominees. On hand was program host Michael Moore - Oscar-winning director and Documentary Branch governor.

In his intro to the various clips, Moore remarked that nothing compares to watching a film with other fellow Americans in a theater and something that should be experienced together collectively. According to the director, “the public has turned to the documentary genre recently to learn the truth.” I was pleased with his enthusiastic acknowlegement of the Documentary Women filmmakers. “There are more women in the documentary branch than any other branches.”

My personal favorite of the group is GOD IS BIGGER THAN ELVIS – in 1963 actress Delores Hart, best known for her roles opposite Elvis Presley, chose to leave Hollywood behind and become a Benedictine nun. Oscar nominated Documentary Short filmmakers Julie Anderson and Rebecca Camissa said Sister Dolores will be coming to the Academy Awards. Moore’s funny response was that he’d like to see Hart and Sacha Baron Cohen’s THE DICTATOR on the red carpet together. It’s been previously reported that Cohen may appear Sunday night in character for his upcoming film.

The Oscar nominated Documentary Short filmmakers (from left to right): Kira Carstensen, “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”, Lucy Walker, “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”, Shareen Obaid-Chinoy, “Saving Face”, Dan Junge, “Saving Face”, James Spione, “Incident in New Baghdad”, Julie Anderson, “God is the Bigger Elvis”, Rebecca Camissa, “God is the Bigger Elvis” and Robin Fryday, “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement”; during the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “DOCS!” event on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

THE 2011 NOMINEES ARE:

Documentary (Feature)

• “Hell and Back Again” - Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
• “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” - Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
• “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory” - Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
• “Pina” - Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
• “Undefeated” - TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Rich Middlemas

Documentary (Short Subject)

• “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement” - Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
• “God Is the Bigger Elvis” - Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
• “Incident in New Baghdad” – James Spione
• “Saving Face” - Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
• “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” - Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements in 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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Two-time Academy Award®-winning actress Meryl Streep will present at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today.

Streep, who is nominated for her lead performance in “The Iron Lady,” has been nominated a total of 17 times - the most for any performer in Oscar history. She won a Supporting Actress Oscar in 1979 for her role in “Kramer vs. Kramer” and the Best Actress award in 1982 for her role in “Sophie’s Choice.” Her other film credits include “It’s Complicated,” “Julie & Julia,” “Doubt,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Adaptation,” “The Hours,” “Music of the Heart,” “The Bridges of Madison County,” “The River Wild,” “Ironweed” and “Silkwood.” Streep will be seen next in “Great Hope Springs.”

Streep joins a stellar list of previously announced Oscar presenters, including Halle Berry, Rose Byrne, Bradley Cooper, Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Michael Douglas, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Zach Galifianakis, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Milla Jovovich, Ellie Kemper, Jennifer Lopez, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Maya Rudolph, Emma Stone and Kristen Wiig.

Have you ever wondered what this year’s nominees favorite movie moments are?

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, from the Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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Hollywood’s night to shine is just a few days away, but who will take home the coveted Oscar? Before all that can happen the red carpet was rolled out and preparations continued for the 84th Academy Awards at the Hollywood & Highland Center.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements in 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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Oscar week for the 84th Academy Awards began Tuesday evening with “Shorts!,” featuring screenings of all the Oscar-nominated films in the Animated and Live Action Short Film categories, plus an onstage discussion with the filmmakers. This popular event began in 1997 and has sold out every year since then.

Calling the annual Oscars a celebration of film and the art, the event was hosted by director, writer, animator and two-time Oscar winner Brad Bird (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL, IRON GIANT, RATATOUILLE).

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences screened all 10 of the Oscar-nominated animated and live-action short films on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The shorts theatrical release is growing every year – grosses rise about 30% annually and are available on iTunes and VOD.

Nominees for the 84th Academy Awards

Short Film (Animated)

• “Dimanche/Sunday” Patrick Doyon
• “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
• “La Luna” Enrico Casarosa
• “A Morning Stroll” Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
• “Wild Life” Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Short Film (Live Action)

• “Pentecost” Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
• “Raju” Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
• “The Shore” Terry George and Oorlagh George
• “Time Freak” Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
• “Tuba Atlantic” Hallvar Witzø

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements in 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis will present at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today. Ferrell and Galifianakis recently wrapped shooting for “The Campaign.”

Galifianakis, who was recently seen in “The Muppets,” will be making his first Oscar show appearance. His other film credits include “Puss in Boots,” “Due Date,” “Dinner for Schmucks,” “Up in the Air,” “What Happens in Vegas,” “Into the Wild” and the two “Hangover” films.

Ferrell’s film credits include “Everything Must Go,” “Blades of Glory,” “Stranger Than Fiction,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” “The Producers,” “Bewitched,” “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” “Elf” and “Old School.”

Ferrell and Galifianakis join a stellar list of previously announced Oscar presenters, including Halle Berry, Rose Byrne, Bradley Cooper, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Michael Douglas, Tina Fey, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Milla Jovovich, Ellie Kemper, Jennifer Lopez, Melissa McCarthy, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph, Ben Stiller, Emma Stone and Kristen Wiig.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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 Oscar® fans in New York City will be the first to see the actual Oscars that will be presented to the Best Actor and Best Actress winners at the 84th Academy Awards® on Oscar Sunday, February 26. The statuettes will be part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “Meet the Oscars, Grand Central” exhibition at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. The exhibition will open on Wednesday, February 22 at 10 a.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by 2010 Academy Award®-winning actress Melissa Leo (“The Fighter”).

Public viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, February 23, through Sunday, February 26.

Admission is free.

“Meet the Oscars, Grand Central” will give movie fans the opportunity to have their photo taken holding an actual Oscar statuette. Visitors also will be able to view the Actor in a Leading Role Oscar won by Michael Douglas for “Wall Street” (1987) as well as a display of statuettes in various stages of completion, as manufactured each year by R.S. Owens & Company in Chicago.

On Saturday, February 25, the Oscars designated for this year’s Best Actor and Best Actress winners will make their way back to Hollywood, where they will be reunited with the rest of the statuettes to be presented on Oscar Night®.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements in 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide

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Photo: Michael Yada / ©A.M.P.A.S

Two-time Academy Award® winner Michael Douglas will present at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today.

Douglas won an Oscar for his lead performance in “Wall Street” (1987) and a Best Picture award as a producer of “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975). His film credits include “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” “Solitary Man,” “You, Me and Dupree,” “Traffic,” “Wonder Boys,” “Falling Down,” “Fatal Attraction” and “The China Syndrome.”

Douglas joins a stellar list of previously announced Oscar presenters, including Halle Berry, Rose Byrne, Bradley Cooper, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Tina Fey, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Milla Jovovich, Ellie Kemper, Jennifer Lopez, Melissa McCarthy, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph, Ben Stiller, Emma Stone and Kristen Wiig.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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With just about a week until the 84th Academy Awards, the fan bleachers are going up and the red carpet pre-show stages are being set for Oscar Sunday, February 26th. For those of you in the area, here’s a list of the Academy’s street closure plans around the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood.

• Hollywood Boulevard will be closed between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive beginning at 10 p.m. on Sunday, February 19, and remain closed until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28.
• MTA subway trains will bypass the Hollywood & Highland station after the last regularly scheduled train on Saturday, February 25, until 6 a.m. Monday, February 27. Service at the station will resume with the first scheduled train after 6 a.m.
• Between Sunday, February 19, and Oscar Sunday, February 26, additional streets and sidewalks will be closed for varying periods.

Details of the closures and maps of affected areas are available from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the Sixth and the Thirteenth District City Council field offices, at www.navigatehollywood.com, and on the Academy’s website at www.oscars.org/closures.

Viola Davis, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep…in this video movie fans share who they’re excited to see during the show. What stars are you hoping to catch a glimpse of on Oscar Sunday?

Check out this year’s lineup of presenters at the Oscars HERE.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
www.oscars.org
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www.youtube.com/Oscars
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Download the official 2012 Oscars App