For the first time, that I’ve noticed anyway, oscars.org is streaming live the Nominees Luncheon. I just tuned in a little while ago and they’re holding a press conference with various nominees.
Woody Harrelson was talking when I first tuned in, then Carey Mulligan, Jeff Bridges, Katheryn Bigelow, and now Jeremy Renner. I don’t know who I missed before I found out.
OH, I left it on while I was talking to my husband, and they’re going to replay it. The press conference should be starting shortly.
After the press conference the Academy President addresses the nominees with a rah-rah speech, then they gather the nominees together for a group picture, which I’ve seen the results of before but had never seen the process.
Then something I loved, they called each nominee to the stage to receive their nomination certificate and have a picture taken. A lot of people would find that part boring, but I thought it was fascinating. I’m one of those who finds the “lesser” (in some people’s eyes) categories just as exciting as the major categories, and I loved seeing what these people looked like. It was fun seeing how thrilled the sound guy on The Hurt Locker was, or the director of a documentary short, or an Art Director. It’s these people’s moment to shine and to mingle with other nominees where everyone is equal, movie stars and visual effects people and animated short folks. People who make millions per picture and people who maxed out their credit cards to make their short, and people like Gabourey Sidibe, who was a receptionist prior to Precious and doesn’t own a car yet. People who are famous and people no one has heard of. Equal, getting along, having fun and being a community.
After that, the Producers of the show spoke to the nominees and gave them tips about their acceptance speeches (“45 seconds, no more, make it count”). I enjoyed that part too. I’m such an Oscar geek.