The Academy Awards

Well today is one of my holidays: The Academy Awards. I know many don't like the competition aspect of this show, and I will admit I really don't care who wins the golden statue. The Academy Awards, to me, is about celebrating my favorite art form. MOVIES! (and I do kind of like seeing what people wear....) You all know I love movies and I can watch nearly anything that honors it. Usually I only watch the Golden Globes, The Independent Spirit Awards and The Oscars - but I have been known to watch The Golden Raspberry Awards, The SAG Awards, Critic's Choice Awards, and I sneak in a glimpse of MTV movie awards and The Scream Awards. Yes, I am a film junkie.

However, since I can remember I have watched every Academy Awards show, and I always stay up until the very end to see which film wins Best Picture. Usually I do not even come close to seeing every film that is nominated for an award. However, this year I think I got really close. So I thought I would list some of the nominations here for you all; and I am too antsy to watch and review a film while waiting, not so patiently, for the red-carpet festivities to begin.

And the Oscar goes to....

Up for Best Picture:
The Descendants
Hugo
Extremely Loud and Incredible Close
The Help
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
Tree of Life
The Artist
The War Horse

Up for Best Actor in a Leading Role:
George Clooney - The Descendants
Brad Pitt - Moneyball
Demain Bichir - A Better Life
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
Jean Dujardin - The Artist

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

Up for Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Nick Nolte - Warrior
Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn


Up for Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
Jessica Chastain - The Help
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
Octavia Spencer - The Help
Berenice Bejo - The Artist
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs

I do plan on seeing and review most of the films that have been nominated that I haven't seen yet.

Enjoy The Academy Awards tonight and see you all at the movies!

 Click on posters below:
 

Tired of Previews Goes to Hollywood

I won't be posting the rest of week, although, I will probably be watching a lot of movies. This week I am flying to Hollywood, CA and will have plenty of time to watch the movies I downloaded as I travel across the country. Got to love iTunes.

Why am I going to Hollywood, you wonder? You are probably thinking I am attending a film premiere or going to a movie screener like all the other movie reviewers. Nope - although that sounds fun. Someday, I hope. Well, actually, I am going because I am finalist in a screenwriting contest and I am attending the awards ceremony. This is a first for me. Never before have I had the possibility of winning an award based on something that I created. This is virgin territory for me.

The excitement I feel is almost hard to contain - not so much for the award, frankly, because I don't expect to win. Yes, it really is nice to just be nominated. However, I have always wanted to go to Tinseltown. I can't believe it has taken me this long to travel to LA; but with my recent career change it makes sense now to hop on a jet to the Entertainment Capital of the World. Interior design, my former career, never forced me across country - although Hollywood Regency style WAS all the rage a few years ago.

While I am there I must do some networking (or is it called schmoozing?) - not my forte but it is imperative. I have several meetings set up with different industry folk. In fact, part of the awards ceremony is a networking dinner. This part really has my emotions at an all time high more than the anticipation of the possibility of winning.

Now I am a relatively shy person. Sure, you see me go on and on about movies on my blog, but sit in front of me in reality and I clam up because I really don't like people looking at me. I do not like being the center of attention. Sitting in a dark room, relatively alone and silent, is my kind of perfect day. So this ceremony/dinner event has me shaking in my boots, so to speak.

However, this is my passion now, movies, and nothing is going to hold me back - nothing!

Following your passion will lead you anywhere, everywhere and places you never dreamed of because the drive to obtain these goals is unpredictable, unbelievable and unstoppable. And I, for one, am truly grateful that I am on this path now.

See you in Hollywood!