BNP held countrywide demonstrations on Saturday amid ‘police obstructions’ to protest against load shedding and the government decision to increase power tariff ‘abnormally’
The main opposition party, however, kept the cities of Dhaka and Chittagong out of the purview of the demonstrations to facilitate undisturbed Cricket World Cup matches.
The district and thana units of BNP held rallies and took out processions demanding immediate reduction of power tariff.
The police, without any provocation, charged batons to foil the demonstrations at several districts, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed told reporters at a news briefing at the party’s central office at Naya Paltan Saturday evening.
Rizvi said that at least 50 BNP leaders and activists were injured in police attacks.
He announced that BNP would hold countrywide demonstrations on February 28 to press the demand for the release of party leaders as well as to protest against Saturday’s police attacks on the opposition’s demonstrations.
On Feb 8, the authorities raised power tariffs.
Enhanced in two phases — power tariff in bulk went up on Feb 1 and the second raise would be effective from Aug 1.
The New Age correspondent in Sylhet reports: The district chapter of BNP held demonstrations to protest against increased power tariff.
Later it held a rally at Court Point in the city chaired by organising secretary M Ilias Ali. The rally was also addressed, among others, by BNP district chapter general secretary Abdul Gaffar, city unit general secretary Abdul Kaiyum Jalali Panki and former lawmaker Dildar Hossain Selim.
New Age’s Khulna correspondent reports: The Khulna unit of BNP held a rally and brought out a procession in the city under the nationwide demonstrations.
The rally in front of Khulna BNP KD Ghosh Road office in the city, chaired by city BNP president Nazrul Islam Monju MP, was addressed by former lawmakers - M Nurul Islam and Sekendar Ali Dalim, city general secretary Moniruzzaman Moni and district general secretary Shafiqul Alam Mona.
They leaders said that the country’s economic independence had been endangered by the Awami League-Jatiya Party led alliance government by handing over electricity, port and telecommunication sectors over to Indian companies.
New Age correspondent in Barisal reported that the district chapter BNP held demonstration on the streets of the divisional city in protest against increasing the power tariff.
BNP Barisal city, south and north district units held demonstrations in the morning and afternoon led by lawmaker Mezbahuddin Farhad, former public prosecutor Advocate Kamrul Ahsan Shahin.
Speakers told gatherings of protesters that the increased retail and bulk power tariffs would adversely affect the economy and the common people, already hit hard by all time high essential prices.
They demanded a reversal of the decision to raise power tariffs.
Read the original story on the New Age
Truck kills cricket fan during celebrations in Bangladesh
A man was killed and 25 were injured in a road accident at Banani in the capital early Friday. The deceased was Azad Babu, 17, a resident of Sector 8 of Uttara.
Gulshan police subinspector SM Tuhin said that a group of cricket fans, after Bangladesh’s win against Ireland in the Cricket World Cup match, were out on the road in a truck Abdullahpur area of Uttara about 1:30am celebrating Bangladesh’s first win in the event.
As the speeding truck reached Banani, it hit a road divider in which at least 25 were injured.
Azad, who was badly injured in the head, died about 2:00am in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Three of the injured were admitted to the hospital. They are Arman Ahmed, 25, Shihab Hossain, 24, and Helal Uddin. Others were admitted to different city clinics.
The police officer said that Azad had lived in a slum at Uttara and was a student of a local school. The police could not give details. The body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem examination.
The police officer also said that a general diary had been filed with Gulshan police in this regard.
Read the original story on the New Age
http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/frontpage/9621.html
Gulshan police subinspector SM Tuhin said that a group of cricket fans, after Bangladesh’s win against Ireland in the Cricket World Cup match, were out on the road in a truck Abdullahpur area of Uttara about 1:30am celebrating Bangladesh’s first win in the event.
As the speeding truck reached Banani, it hit a road divider in which at least 25 were injured.
Azad, who was badly injured in the head, died about 2:00am in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Three of the injured were admitted to the hospital. They are Arman Ahmed, 25, Shihab Hossain, 24, and Helal Uddin. Others were admitted to different city clinics.
The police officer said that Azad had lived in a slum at Uttara and was a student of a local school. The police could not give details. The body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem examination.
The police officer also said that a general diary had been filed with Gulshan police in this regard.
Read the original story on the New Age
http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/frontpage/9621.html
Bangladesh government plans seaport between Barguna, Patuakhali: PM
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has said apart from building a deep seaport in Chittagong her government has a plan to construct a seaport in between Barguna and Patuakhali to handle the growing external trade.
The prime minister said this while laying the foundation stone of Sheikh Mujib Maritime University under the ‘Enhancing Marine Academy into Maritime University’ project at a cost of Tk 260 crore on the Marine Academy premises in Chittagong Saturday.
About maritime boundary, she said Bangladesh had lodged its submission formally to the United Nations on Friday claiming an area of more than 400 NM in the seabed of the Bay of Bengal. The foreign minister, Dipu Moni, who is now in the USA, lodged the submission before the UN, she added.
The maritime university which will be established as a regional university in South Asia will start its academic activities in 2013. It is aimed to meet the growing demand of skilled marine manpower at home and abroad with the increase of maritime transportation.
Hasina said her government had taken steps to set up six more marine academies at Barisal, Khulna, Pabna, Rangpur, Narayanganj and Sylhet at a cost of nearly Tk 800 crore.
She said the government was also procuring full-mission deck bridge simulator and full-mission engine control simulator for the Marine Academy at a cost of about Tk 80 crore under another programme.
Hasina said the university would provide masters, M Phil and PhD degrees on Ship Building Engineering, shipping management, international and national maritime transportation and maritime laws.
She said her government had so far raised the number of trainee cadets in the academy to 200 from 100 and had a plan to further raise the number to 500.
She told the function with satisfaction that the International Maritime Organisation had already included Bangladesh with the Philippines, China and India as the rapidly growing and skilled marine manpower supplying country.
Referring to her meeting with IMO secretary general during her recent London visit, she said the IMO had assured Bangladesh of providing all-out cooperation on maritime education and development of maritime management.
The prime minister said her government after assuming office had been working to establish the country’s firm footing in the regional and international shipping as it is encouraging exportable marine vessel and shipbuilding industries.
In this context, she said her government had recognised ship building as a separate industry. ‘After the recognition, we all have remained cautious so that the industry could not leave any negative impact on our environment,’ she added.
The prime minister also referred her government’s programmes of carrying out capital and maintenance dredging in the major rivers to ensure their navigability and measurers to transport goods by river routes across the country.
Regarding food security, she said the present government had been working relentlessly to increase the country’s food production to feed its growing people. Besides, she said her government had also taken steps to keep prices of essentials within the reach of common people.
Shipping minister M Shahjahan Khan, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on shipping Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury, shipping secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader and Commandant of Bangladesh Marine Academy Sajid Hossain also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, the prime minister attended the Cadet Graduation Parade of 45th batch of Bangladesh Marine Academy and distributed special merit awards of the academy to the cadets for their outstanding performances.
She also inspected a spectacular march past and took salute of the graduating cadets.
On her arrival on the Marine Academy premises, the prime minister was received by the shipping minister and the commandant of the academy.
Read the original story on the New Age
The prime minister said this while laying the foundation stone of Sheikh Mujib Maritime University under the ‘Enhancing Marine Academy into Maritime University’ project at a cost of Tk 260 crore on the Marine Academy premises in Chittagong Saturday.
About maritime boundary, she said Bangladesh had lodged its submission formally to the United Nations on Friday claiming an area of more than 400 NM in the seabed of the Bay of Bengal. The foreign minister, Dipu Moni, who is now in the USA, lodged the submission before the UN, she added.
The maritime university which will be established as a regional university in South Asia will start its academic activities in 2013. It is aimed to meet the growing demand of skilled marine manpower at home and abroad with the increase of maritime transportation.
Hasina said her government had taken steps to set up six more marine academies at Barisal, Khulna, Pabna, Rangpur, Narayanganj and Sylhet at a cost of nearly Tk 800 crore.
She said the government was also procuring full-mission deck bridge simulator and full-mission engine control simulator for the Marine Academy at a cost of about Tk 80 crore under another programme.
Hasina said the university would provide masters, M Phil and PhD degrees on Ship Building Engineering, shipping management, international and national maritime transportation and maritime laws.
She said her government had so far raised the number of trainee cadets in the academy to 200 from 100 and had a plan to further raise the number to 500.
She told the function with satisfaction that the International Maritime Organisation had already included Bangladesh with the Philippines, China and India as the rapidly growing and skilled marine manpower supplying country.
Referring to her meeting with IMO secretary general during her recent London visit, she said the IMO had assured Bangladesh of providing all-out cooperation on maritime education and development of maritime management.
The prime minister said her government after assuming office had been working to establish the country’s firm footing in the regional and international shipping as it is encouraging exportable marine vessel and shipbuilding industries.
In this context, she said her government had recognised ship building as a separate industry. ‘After the recognition, we all have remained cautious so that the industry could not leave any negative impact on our environment,’ she added.
The prime minister also referred her government’s programmes of carrying out capital and maintenance dredging in the major rivers to ensure their navigability and measurers to transport goods by river routes across the country.
Regarding food security, she said the present government had been working relentlessly to increase the country’s food production to feed its growing people. Besides, she said her government had also taken steps to keep prices of essentials within the reach of common people.
Shipping minister M Shahjahan Khan, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on shipping Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury, shipping secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader and Commandant of Bangladesh Marine Academy Sajid Hossain also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, the prime minister attended the Cadet Graduation Parade of 45th batch of Bangladesh Marine Academy and distributed special merit awards of the academy to the cadets for their outstanding performances.
She also inspected a spectacular march past and took salute of the graduating cadets.
On her arrival on the Marine Academy premises, the prime minister was received by the shipping minister and the commandant of the academy.
Read the original story on the New Age
MMCH intern strike enters 2nd day
The indefinite strike enforced by the interns and students of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital entered second day Saturday protesting at attack on them by some local people Thursday night.
Sources said students and intern doctors locked the administration building and hospital main gate at about 9:30am.
Boycotting classes, students staged demonstration and formed human chain on the campus demanding arrest and punishment of the attackers.
The strike caused untold sufferings to the patients of the hospital.
Earlier, intern doctors and some outsiders of nearby Charpara area were locked into an altercation over harassing a female intern doctor by a stalker on Thursday night.
Following the incident, some people of the area launched an attack on the intern doctors and at one stage they also vandalised different rooms of the hospital.
Later, the intern doctors went on indefinite strike demanding arrest and punishment of the attackers.
Read the original story on the New Age
Sources said students and intern doctors locked the administration building and hospital main gate at about 9:30am.
Boycotting classes, students staged demonstration and formed human chain on the campus demanding arrest and punishment of the attackers.
The strike caused untold sufferings to the patients of the hospital.
Earlier, intern doctors and some outsiders of nearby Charpara area were locked into an altercation over harassing a female intern doctor by a stalker on Thursday night.
Following the incident, some people of the area launched an attack on the intern doctors and at one stage they also vandalised different rooms of the hospital.
Later, the intern doctors went on indefinite strike demanding arrest and punishment of the attackers.
Read the original story on the New Age
Bangladesh government asked to make UGC autonomous
The University Grants Commission has urged the government to transform the UGC into a completely independent and autonomous organisation by changing its name following the model of other SAARC countries.
The UGC made the recommendations in its annual report recently submitted to the president, Zillur Rahman, at Bangabhaban Saturday.
The report says it is rational to change the name of the commission and rename it as ‘Higher Education Commission’ or ‘Universities’ Commission of Bangladesh’ resembling the SAARC countries aiming at transforming the UGC into a completely independent and autonomous body.
The report says organogram of the commission should also be restructured along with its manpower to be increased with proper training to build the UGC as an apex body in expanding and strengthening the higher education in the country.
It mentions that number of public and private universities has been largely increased after the four decades of the country’s independence and responsibility of the commission has also increased many times to face the emerging challenges for extension of both types of the universities.
The report says it’s essential to bring necessary amendments to the Grants Commission Act (No 10 order of the President in 1973) increasing UGC’s power, status and image to turn the commission as an effective and strong organisation.
Read the original story on the New Age
The UGC made the recommendations in its annual report recently submitted to the president, Zillur Rahman, at Bangabhaban Saturday.
The report says it is rational to change the name of the commission and rename it as ‘Higher Education Commission’ or ‘Universities’ Commission of Bangladesh’ resembling the SAARC countries aiming at transforming the UGC into a completely independent and autonomous body.
The report says organogram of the commission should also be restructured along with its manpower to be increased with proper training to build the UGC as an apex body in expanding and strengthening the higher education in the country.
It mentions that number of public and private universities has been largely increased after the four decades of the country’s independence and responsibility of the commission has also increased many times to face the emerging challenges for extension of both types of the universities.
The report says it’s essential to bring necessary amendments to the Grants Commission Act (No 10 order of the President in 1973) increasing UGC’s power, status and image to turn the commission as an effective and strong organisation.
Read the original story on the New Age
Biman Bangladesh Airlines launches Sylhet-London service
Now you need not come to Dhaka to fly to London, thanks to Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
The national flag carrier on Saturday launched first-ever direct flights between Sylhet and London.
The flights will operate every Saturday until March 26, and later four times a week — every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
The opening flight BG-017 of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, national flag carrier, left Osmani International Airport of Sylhet for London, with 223 passengers and over two tonne vegetable and fish, at 9:00am on Saturday.
The people of Sylhet had long been demanding a direct route to the UK, as a large number of locals have relocated to that country in the recent past.
Member of the parliamentary standing committee on civil aviation ministry Shafiqur Rahman greeted the passengers with flowers at the airport.
He termed the launch an ‘epoch-making’ step, which was realised due to sincere efforts of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.
‘The flight will help further strengthen the relationships between the people of Sylhet and the UK,’ Rahman hoped, adding the demand of Bangladeshi vegetables in the UK would also see an increase.
Airport manager Motahar Hossain said the standard of service offered to the passengers would gradually improve, and the travel time between Sylhet and the UK would come down substantially.
Read the original story on the New Age
The national flag carrier on Saturday launched first-ever direct flights between Sylhet and London.
The flights will operate every Saturday until March 26, and later four times a week — every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
The opening flight BG-017 of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, national flag carrier, left Osmani International Airport of Sylhet for London, with 223 passengers and over two tonne vegetable and fish, at 9:00am on Saturday.
The people of Sylhet had long been demanding a direct route to the UK, as a large number of locals have relocated to that country in the recent past.
Member of the parliamentary standing committee on civil aviation ministry Shafiqur Rahman greeted the passengers with flowers at the airport.
He termed the launch an ‘epoch-making’ step, which was realised due to sincere efforts of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.
‘The flight will help further strengthen the relationships between the people of Sylhet and the UK,’ Rahman hoped, adding the demand of Bangladeshi vegetables in the UK would also see an increase.
Airport manager Motahar Hossain said the standard of service offered to the passengers would gradually improve, and the travel time between Sylhet and the UK would come down substantially.
Read the original story on the New Age
Stars rock the Kodak at Oscar's music rehearsals
AP, LOS ANGELES: The Kodak Theatre was rocking as Gwyneth Paltrow, Mandy Moore, Celine Dion and other musicians ran through the numbers they'll perform on Sunday's Academy Awards.
Moore dueted with Zachary Levi on "I See the Light," the nominated song from Disney's "Tangled," as composer and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken backed them on piano. Paltrow continued to show her musical side, singing "Coming Home" from her recent film "Country Strong." Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and indie rocker Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine performed a haunting rendition of "If I Rise" from "127 Hours." Dion sang "Smile" as the In Memoriam packaged played on a big screen above her.
But an energetic group of 10-year-olds stole the show from all those stars.
The 64 fifth graders who make up the chorus at New York's Public School 22 in Staten Island arrived at the Kodak Theatre Friday to rehearse their performance of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." They'd flown in earlier that morning, many of them on their first-ever airplane trip. Wearing green or blue T-shirts that declared them to be an alto or soprano, they filled the theater with elementary-school enthusiasm.
"Justin Timberlake, oh my God!" one girl said when she saw the star's seat-saving placard. "When I'm up there, my eyes will be right here."
Then they tromped onto the Oscar stage and sang with such conviction and heart that they choked up an audience of Hollywood veterans.
Guided by stage managers and their teacher, Gregg Breinberg, the students practiced getting on and off stage and memorized their spots for the night. They marveled at the names they recognized in the audience. Sandra Bullock! Nicole Kidman! They looked around the big theater and had to be reminded to pay attention. But when they sang, it was clear they knew exactly what they were doing. They swayed and moved to the beat. They closed their eyes and gestured with their hands. They felt it.
"You're in this song. You're inside of it," Breinberg told them. "You're going to blow everybody away."
Moments later, the kids were the ones blown away when show hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco surprised them on stage. The actors hugged and high-fived them, then posed for a photo.
"Way to go," Hathaway told the group. "I love your dance moves."
Next up for PS 22? They're going to Disneyland Saturday, where they're set to perform in front of the famous Magic Castle.
"We didn't think we could beat the Oscars, but Disneyland is coming damn close," Oscar producer Bruce Cohen said.
Then on Sunday, the fifth-grade singers will walk the red carpet before making their Academy Awards debut.
Moore dueted with Zachary Levi on "I See the Light," the nominated song from Disney's "Tangled," as composer and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken backed them on piano. Paltrow continued to show her musical side, singing "Coming Home" from her recent film "Country Strong." Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and indie rocker Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine performed a haunting rendition of "If I Rise" from "127 Hours." Dion sang "Smile" as the In Memoriam packaged played on a big screen above her.
But an energetic group of 10-year-olds stole the show from all those stars.
The 64 fifth graders who make up the chorus at New York's Public School 22 in Staten Island arrived at the Kodak Theatre Friday to rehearse their performance of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." They'd flown in earlier that morning, many of them on their first-ever airplane trip. Wearing green or blue T-shirts that declared them to be an alto or soprano, they filled the theater with elementary-school enthusiasm.
"Justin Timberlake, oh my God!" one girl said when she saw the star's seat-saving placard. "When I'm up there, my eyes will be right here."
Then they tromped onto the Oscar stage and sang with such conviction and heart that they choked up an audience of Hollywood veterans.
Guided by stage managers and their teacher, Gregg Breinberg, the students practiced getting on and off stage and memorized their spots for the night. They marveled at the names they recognized in the audience. Sandra Bullock! Nicole Kidman! They looked around the big theater and had to be reminded to pay attention. But when they sang, it was clear they knew exactly what they were doing. They swayed and moved to the beat. They closed their eyes and gestured with their hands. They felt it.
"You're in this song. You're inside of it," Breinberg told them. "You're going to blow everybody away."
Moments later, the kids were the ones blown away when show hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco surprised them on stage. The actors hugged and high-fived them, then posed for a photo.
"Way to go," Hathaway told the group. "I love your dance moves."
Next up for PS 22? They're going to Disneyland Saturday, where they're set to perform in front of the famous Magic Castle.
"We didn't think we could beat the Oscars, but Disneyland is coming damn close," Oscar producer Bruce Cohen said.
Then on Sunday, the fifth-grade singers will walk the red carpet before making their Academy Awards debut.
Report: Rocker Vince Neil released from Vegas jail
AP, LAS VEGAS: Motley Crue singer Vince Neil has been released from jail after serving 10 days of a 15-day sentence for a drunken driving conviction.
The Las Vegas Sun reports the 50-year-old rocker got out of the Clark County Detention Center Friday.
Neil pleaded guilty in January to driving drunk last summer near the Las Vegas Strip. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail and 15 days on house arrest under a plea deal that spared him a trial. He was also fined $585.
Neil could have faced up to six months in jail if convicted.
Las Vegas police said he was stopped in his black Lamborghini sports car June 27 after leaving the Las Vegas Hilton resort.
The jail and police didn't immediately return calls from The Associated Press
The Las Vegas Sun reports the 50-year-old rocker got out of the Clark County Detention Center Friday.
Neil pleaded guilty in January to driving drunk last summer near the Las Vegas Strip. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail and 15 days on house arrest under a plea deal that spared him a trial. He was also fined $585.
Neil could have faced up to six months in jail if convicted.
Las Vegas police said he was stopped in his black Lamborghini sports car June 27 after leaving the Las Vegas Hilton resort.
The jail and police didn't immediately return calls from The Associated Press
Foreign films navigate rough waters to reach Oscars
Reuters, BEVERLY HILLS, California: Acclaimed Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez-Inarritu knew he was in a bad way when the film critics who loved his drama "Biutiful" kept calling it bleak, dark and depressing.]
Those adjectives scared off distributors, particularly in the United States, where the director said "everyone was really afraid of the film" about a dying man played by Javier Bardem.
It took four months to find a U.S. distributor, but now "Biutiful" is playing in major cities and is a front-runner
for best foreign language film at Sunday's Oscars, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Bardem, the Spanish Oscar winner, is nominated for best actor.
But the director of "Babel and "21 Grams" still said it was "very tough."
Gonzalez-Inarritu is the most well known of the five directors who met Saturday for a pre-Oscar symposium, but like his fellow nominees he suffers the stresses of making films far from the comforts of the Hollywood studio system.
Whether it is hard-to-digest subject matter or shoestring budgets, these directors fought some epic battles on their way to Hollywood's biggest night.
The Greek director of bizarre family drama "Dogtooth," Yorgos Lanthimos, works on a laughably low budget but now can't get state financing because of Greece's debt crisis.
Algeria's Rachid Bouchareb of "Outside the Law" had to fight to get his film screened at Cannes due to political opposition in France to his depiction of the Algerian fight for independence.
Susanne Bier, the Danish director of "In a Better World," about young boys battling bullies and split families, used her financial limitations to get a sharper focus on the boys.
Canada's Denis Villeneuve, director of the dark drama "Incendies" filmed partly in the Middle East, edited before he shot to reduce waste on the cutting room floor.
PARTICULARLY GRIM YEAR
Every year, the Oscars briefly shine their spotlight on the exotic world of foreign-language films, which often provide a departure from mainstream commercial movies and the widely palatable productions of the United States.
This year is no different. The foreign-language films up for Oscar contention are indeed bleak, dark and depressing.
In fact, of the 66 films submitted to the Academy, only one was a comedy. The day Sweden's "Simple Simon" screened for the selection committee, it was met with loud cheering, but no nomination, alas.
"What really struck me this year was what we saw in 66 movies ... a seriousness, a grimness and even bleakness that I don't remember in our recent past," said Hollywood producer Mark Johnson, chairman of the foreign language film award committee.
For Johnson, the lack of relief in these films reflects both the minds of the filmmakers and the state of the world.
On Gonzalez-Inarritu's mind was the last 75 days of a human being. He was lucky to get financial backing for the $20 million "Biutiful" when the economy was still somewhat rosy.
"I started shooting one month before the economic collapse in 2008," he said. "This film would never be financed again. A guy who is dying? It's just impossible."
(Editing by Todd Eastham)
Those adjectives scared off distributors, particularly in the United States, where the director said "everyone was really afraid of the film" about a dying man played by Javier Bardem.
It took four months to find a U.S. distributor, but now "Biutiful" is playing in major cities and is a front-runner
for best foreign language film at Sunday's Oscars, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Bardem, the Spanish Oscar winner, is nominated for best actor.
But the director of "Babel and "21 Grams" still said it was "very tough."
Gonzalez-Inarritu is the most well known of the five directors who met Saturday for a pre-Oscar symposium, but like his fellow nominees he suffers the stresses of making films far from the comforts of the Hollywood studio system.
Whether it is hard-to-digest subject matter or shoestring budgets, these directors fought some epic battles on their way to Hollywood's biggest night.
The Greek director of bizarre family drama "Dogtooth," Yorgos Lanthimos, works on a laughably low budget but now can't get state financing because of Greece's debt crisis.
Algeria's Rachid Bouchareb of "Outside the Law" had to fight to get his film screened at Cannes due to political opposition in France to his depiction of the Algerian fight for independence.
Susanne Bier, the Danish director of "In a Better World," about young boys battling bullies and split families, used her financial limitations to get a sharper focus on the boys.
Canada's Denis Villeneuve, director of the dark drama "Incendies" filmed partly in the Middle East, edited before he shot to reduce waste on the cutting room floor.
PARTICULARLY GRIM YEAR
Every year, the Oscars briefly shine their spotlight on the exotic world of foreign-language films, which often provide a departure from mainstream commercial movies and the widely palatable productions of the United States.
This year is no different. The foreign-language films up for Oscar contention are indeed bleak, dark and depressing.
In fact, of the 66 films submitted to the Academy, only one was a comedy. The day Sweden's "Simple Simon" screened for the selection committee, it was met with loud cheering, but no nomination, alas.
"What really struck me this year was what we saw in 66 movies ... a seriousness, a grimness and even bleakness that I don't remember in our recent past," said Hollywood producer Mark Johnson, chairman of the foreign language film award committee.
For Johnson, the lack of relief in these films reflects both the minds of the filmmakers and the state of the world.
On Gonzalez-Inarritu's mind was the last 75 days of a human being. He was lucky to get financial backing for the $20 million "Biutiful" when the economy was still somewhat rosy.
"I started shooting one month before the economic collapse in 2008," he said. "This film would never be financed again. A guy who is dying? It's just impossible."
(Editing by Todd Eastham)
Oscar winners' dilemma: To list or not to list?
AP, LOS ANGELES: You can forgive George VI, the central figure in "The King's Speech," for painfully picking through his syllables when he steps up to the microphone. Like all stammerers, the guy lived in terror of public speaking.
But don't we deserve some speechifying for the ages from the Hollywood elite that win Academy Awards on Sunday? They're paid millions for their creative talents, so why do they often bore the stuffing out of TV audiences with droning thank-you lists?
The problem, said "King's Speech" screenwriter David Seidler, expected to win the Oscar for original screenplay, is that if recipients fail to deliver a monotonous litany of thanks, they hurt a lot of feelings in a town of big, fragile egos.
"You're stuck. If you don't thank a long list of people, you have a long list of people very upset, and if you do thank a long list of people, you have a billion people out in the audience bored stupid," Seidler said.
And if he wins? "I'm not quite sure what to do," he said.
Oscar overseers know what they'd like winners to do, though. They're making their usual exhortations to nominees that should they win, don't lull the world to sleep by thanking their agents, managers, hairstylists and latte fetchers. Say something remarkable.
"Leave your list in your pocket," Oscar producer Bruce Cohen advised contenders at their annual nominees luncheon three weeks before the show. "Nothing is more deadly than a winner reading a list of names."
"If you are lucky enough to get up there, tell us how you feel about being up there. What is this moment in your life like? Speak from the heart," said fellow Oscar producer Don Mischer. "When winners pull out a list on a piece of paper, we lose viewers by the hundreds of thousands."
At the end of "The King's Speech," which leads Oscar contenders with 12 nominations and is favored to win best picture, Colin Firth as George VI muddles through with a rousing radio address to inspire his nation as World War II approaches.
The king overcame his stammer with help from an unconventional speech therapist, Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush), who coached, counseled and cajoled that grand oration from his patient.
"King's Speech" director Tom Hooper said winners at Sunday's Oscars would "do well being coached by Lionel Logue. ... He teaches the king a lot about the importance of being relaxed and in the moment. That key idea, which is very central to broadcasting, is: 'Don't say it to the millions of people watching, say it as if you are saying it to one person. Say it as if you are saying it to a friend.' That is his advice to the king, and it remains great broadcasting advice today."
Being in the moment has resulted in some of the most memorable occasions, good and bad, in Oscar history.
Jack Palance did one-armed push-ups on stage when he won for "City Slickers." Adrien Brody won for "The Pianist" and planted a wet, sloppy kiss on Halle Berry, who presented his award. Roberto Benigni climbed the furniture like a kid on a swing-set and declared he wanted to "make love to everybody" after winning for "Life Is Beautiful."
"Titanic" creator James Cameron proclaimed himself "king of the world," "Bowling for Columbine" director Michael Moore castigated President George W. Bush for going to war in Iraq, "Moonstruck" acting winner Olympia Dukakis gave a shout out to her cousin, Michael Dukakis, who was then running for president.
When Julia Roberts won for "Erin Brockovich," she thumbed her nose at the 45-second time limit for acceptance speeches, declaring "I may never be here again" and speaking giddily for about three minutes. Greer Garson went on about twice that long when she won for "Mrs. Miniver," while Joe Pesci, who later confided he had not expected to win for "Goodfellas," took the stage and simply said, "It was my privilege. Thank you."
When she won her second Oscar, for "Million Dollar Baby," Hilary Swank started off memorably with the line, "I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream," then lapsed into list mode, thanking sparring partners, cinematographers, editors, her publicist.
At the nominees luncheon, producers Cohen and Mischer advised contenders to save their laundry list of names for backstage, where they can gush thanks to as many people as they want in front of a camera whose video goes online.
Academy president Tom Sherak joked Friday that steps have been taken to prevent list reading: "They have done away with the metal detectors, and they are going to have paper detectors," he quipped. "So before (winners) come up, they're going to walk through a scan that will make sure they have no paper in their pockets."
David O. Russell, a best-director nominee for "The Fighter," said the producers "gave all the nominees a speech-therapy session, which was badly needed. Because you need to finally produce the show like films are produced: Keep it real, keep it short, keep it entertaining. You wouldn't do that in your film, why do you want to do it on television?"
One of those most likely to land a speaking role at the Oscars is Firth, the guy who plays King George. Firth has been the best-actor front-runner throughout awards season, and he's a witty, expressive speaker himself.
"He is funny and articulate and eloquent," said Helena Bonham Carter, who plays his devoted wife, Queen Elizabeth, in the film. "It is a good job that Colin is going to win, because he is going to give a good speech."
But don't we deserve some speechifying for the ages from the Hollywood elite that win Academy Awards on Sunday? They're paid millions for their creative talents, so why do they often bore the stuffing out of TV audiences with droning thank-you lists?
The problem, said "King's Speech" screenwriter David Seidler, expected to win the Oscar for original screenplay, is that if recipients fail to deliver a monotonous litany of thanks, they hurt a lot of feelings in a town of big, fragile egos.
"You're stuck. If you don't thank a long list of people, you have a long list of people very upset, and if you do thank a long list of people, you have a billion people out in the audience bored stupid," Seidler said.
And if he wins? "I'm not quite sure what to do," he said.
Oscar overseers know what they'd like winners to do, though. They're making their usual exhortations to nominees that should they win, don't lull the world to sleep by thanking their agents, managers, hairstylists and latte fetchers. Say something remarkable.
"Leave your list in your pocket," Oscar producer Bruce Cohen advised contenders at their annual nominees luncheon three weeks before the show. "Nothing is more deadly than a winner reading a list of names."
"If you are lucky enough to get up there, tell us how you feel about being up there. What is this moment in your life like? Speak from the heart," said fellow Oscar producer Don Mischer. "When winners pull out a list on a piece of paper, we lose viewers by the hundreds of thousands."
At the end of "The King's Speech," which leads Oscar contenders with 12 nominations and is favored to win best picture, Colin Firth as George VI muddles through with a rousing radio address to inspire his nation as World War II approaches.
The king overcame his stammer with help from an unconventional speech therapist, Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush), who coached, counseled and cajoled that grand oration from his patient.
"King's Speech" director Tom Hooper said winners at Sunday's Oscars would "do well being coached by Lionel Logue. ... He teaches the king a lot about the importance of being relaxed and in the moment. That key idea, which is very central to broadcasting, is: 'Don't say it to the millions of people watching, say it as if you are saying it to one person. Say it as if you are saying it to a friend.' That is his advice to the king, and it remains great broadcasting advice today."
Being in the moment has resulted in some of the most memorable occasions, good and bad, in Oscar history.
Jack Palance did one-armed push-ups on stage when he won for "City Slickers." Adrien Brody won for "The Pianist" and planted a wet, sloppy kiss on Halle Berry, who presented his award. Roberto Benigni climbed the furniture like a kid on a swing-set and declared he wanted to "make love to everybody" after winning for "Life Is Beautiful."
"Titanic" creator James Cameron proclaimed himself "king of the world," "Bowling for Columbine" director Michael Moore castigated President George W. Bush for going to war in Iraq, "Moonstruck" acting winner Olympia Dukakis gave a shout out to her cousin, Michael Dukakis, who was then running for president.
When Julia Roberts won for "Erin Brockovich," she thumbed her nose at the 45-second time limit for acceptance speeches, declaring "I may never be here again" and speaking giddily for about three minutes. Greer Garson went on about twice that long when she won for "Mrs. Miniver," while Joe Pesci, who later confided he had not expected to win for "Goodfellas," took the stage and simply said, "It was my privilege. Thank you."
When she won her second Oscar, for "Million Dollar Baby," Hilary Swank started off memorably with the line, "I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream," then lapsed into list mode, thanking sparring partners, cinematographers, editors, her publicist.
At the nominees luncheon, producers Cohen and Mischer advised contenders to save their laundry list of names for backstage, where they can gush thanks to as many people as they want in front of a camera whose video goes online.
Academy president Tom Sherak joked Friday that steps have been taken to prevent list reading: "They have done away with the metal detectors, and they are going to have paper detectors," he quipped. "So before (winners) come up, they're going to walk through a scan that will make sure they have no paper in their pockets."
David O. Russell, a best-director nominee for "The Fighter," said the producers "gave all the nominees a speech-therapy session, which was badly needed. Because you need to finally produce the show like films are produced: Keep it real, keep it short, keep it entertaining. You wouldn't do that in your film, why do you want to do it on television?"
One of those most likely to land a speaking role at the Oscars is Firth, the guy who plays King George. Firth has been the best-actor front-runner throughout awards season, and he's a witty, expressive speaker himself.
"He is funny and articulate and eloquent," said Helena Bonham Carter, who plays his devoted wife, Queen Elizabeth, in the film. "It is a good job that Colin is going to win, because he is going to give a good speech."
Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows
AP, WASHINGTON: Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows:
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ABC's "This Week" — Live from Tripoli, Libya; from Washington, Govs. Jan Brewer, R-Ariz.; Deval Patrick, D-Mass.; John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.; and Nikki Haley, R-S.C.
___
NBC's "Meet the Press" — Govs. Scott Walker, R-Wis., and Haley Barbour, R-Miss; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo.; Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO president.
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CBS' "Face the Nation" — Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J.
___
CNN's "State of the Union" — McCain; Sens. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut independent, and Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; Govs. Dannel Malloy, D-Conn., and Rick Scott, R-Fla.
___
"Fox News Sunday" — Gov. Mitch Daniels, R-Ind.; former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark.
___
ABC's "This Week" — Live from Tripoli, Libya; from Washington, Govs. Jan Brewer, R-Ariz.; Deval Patrick, D-Mass.; John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.; and Nikki Haley, R-S.C.
___
NBC's "Meet the Press" — Govs. Scott Walker, R-Wis., and Haley Barbour, R-Miss; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo.; Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO president.
___
CBS' "Face the Nation" — Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J.
___
CNN's "State of the Union" — McCain; Sens. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut independent, and Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; Govs. Dannel Malloy, D-Conn., and Rick Scott, R-Fla.
___
"Fox News Sunday" — Gov. Mitch Daniels, R-Ind.; former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark.
Banksy, Franco's singing among Oscar mysteries
AP, LOS ANGELES: To the movie industry, the Oscars are an awards ceremony. For the rest of us, they're a show.
So while we couldn't recall last year's best picture on a bet (Cameron's blue-aliens movie? No, wait, it was "Hurt Locker" from his ex!), we savor the memory of Billy Crystal's great opening bits and Jack Palance's one-armed push-ups and brave Christopher Reeve onstage, alone, in a wheelchair.
So, Academy Awards, what are you going to do for us in the three-hour-and-then-some ABC broadcast starting at 8 p.m. EST Sunday?
Nobody's complaining about seeing the likes of nominees Natalie Portman, Amy Adams or Colin Firth in their designer duds and with a potential winner's aura (and, in Portman's case, the unbeatable glow of pregnancy).
But in a year with so many apparent dead-certs — including Portman as best actress for "Black Swan," Firth as best actor for "The King's Speech" and Melissa Leo and Christian Bale of "The Fighter" for the supporting-actor prizes — we need more bells and whistles.
First, there's the all-important theme for the Kodak Theatre event. This year: "You're invited."
OK. We accept.
Moving on, it's going to be cold, at least by L.A. standards, with temperatures dipping into the 40s at showtime. So during the red-carpet parade, look for loyal publicists earnestly guiding starlets out of the chill because why cover a designer gown with a coat?
The show's hosts are a key element and, this year, relatively daring: Anne Hathaway and James Franco, two fine, handsome actors but lacking the standard credentials of their predecessors, whether a seasoned emcee (Johnny Carson), comedian (Chris Rock) or song-and-dance man (Hugh Jackman).
ABC's promotional spots, including one in which Franco puts Hathaway's bathroom-break quickness to the stopwatch test, are a good sign that clever comedy is afoot. So is the approval of Alec Baldwin, who was a hit last year with co-host Steve Martin.
"She's a very smart and talented and gorgeous and funny woman, and he's a very charming and polished leading man," Baldwin said Friday. "They are great symbols of young Hollywood. The show is very well served by having them."
Any hosting advice for Hathaway, who was a best-actress nominee for 2008's "Rachel Getting Married," and Franco, who's up for best-actor honors for "127 Hours"?
"Just go with your instincts, because your instincts are what got you there in the first place," Baldwin counseled.
Hathaway, at 28 the youngest host ever, and Franco, 32, are expected to make a little music together. Hathaway sparkled in a 2008 Oscar duet with Jackman, while Franco practically demanded the chance to sing Sunday, said producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer.
More tunes are on tap with the return of the best-song showcases. The four nominated numbers will be performed by Gwyneth Paltrow ("Coming Home" from the film "Country Strong"); Randy Newman (his "Toy Story 3" song, "We Belong Together"); Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi and composer Alan Menken ("I See the Light" from "Tangled") and Florence Welch and composer A.R. Rahman ("If I Rise" from "127 Hours").
The producers have secrets in store, including something they've termed "scenic transitions," with music and images that will take viewers to different points in film history for presentation of the more technical awards.
The best surprises, of course, are the unplanned emotional peaks. One could come courtesy of Annette Bening, 52, nominated three times before without winning, finally earning her trophy for "The Kids Are All Right." Or it could be provided by 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld emerging as the underdog winner for her film debut in "True Grit."
Then there's presenter Sandra Bullock, returning to the stage where she triumphantly claimed her best-actress trophy last year for "The Blind Side" and then, within days, saw cheating allegations surface against her now-ex-husband, Jesse James.
Suspense over winners and losers is obviously a staple of the night. But there's a twist this year thanks to Banksy, the elusive British bad-boy street artist and nominee for best documentary feature for his directing debut, "Exit Through the Gift Shop."
Will the artist who prefers to hide his face from public view suddenly turn ham and appear in front of a half-billion viewers? As the movie academy would put it, you're invited to find out.
So while we couldn't recall last year's best picture on a bet (Cameron's blue-aliens movie? No, wait, it was "Hurt Locker" from his ex!), we savor the memory of Billy Crystal's great opening bits and Jack Palance's one-armed push-ups and brave Christopher Reeve onstage, alone, in a wheelchair.
So, Academy Awards, what are you going to do for us in the three-hour-and-then-some ABC broadcast starting at 8 p.m. EST Sunday?
Nobody's complaining about seeing the likes of nominees Natalie Portman, Amy Adams or Colin Firth in their designer duds and with a potential winner's aura (and, in Portman's case, the unbeatable glow of pregnancy).
But in a year with so many apparent dead-certs — including Portman as best actress for "Black Swan," Firth as best actor for "The King's Speech" and Melissa Leo and Christian Bale of "The Fighter" for the supporting-actor prizes — we need more bells and whistles.
First, there's the all-important theme for the Kodak Theatre event. This year: "You're invited."
OK. We accept.
Moving on, it's going to be cold, at least by L.A. standards, with temperatures dipping into the 40s at showtime. So during the red-carpet parade, look for loyal publicists earnestly guiding starlets out of the chill because why cover a designer gown with a coat?
The show's hosts are a key element and, this year, relatively daring: Anne Hathaway and James Franco, two fine, handsome actors but lacking the standard credentials of their predecessors, whether a seasoned emcee (Johnny Carson), comedian (Chris Rock) or song-and-dance man (Hugh Jackman).
ABC's promotional spots, including one in which Franco puts Hathaway's bathroom-break quickness to the stopwatch test, are a good sign that clever comedy is afoot. So is the approval of Alec Baldwin, who was a hit last year with co-host Steve Martin.
"She's a very smart and talented and gorgeous and funny woman, and he's a very charming and polished leading man," Baldwin said Friday. "They are great symbols of young Hollywood. The show is very well served by having them."
Any hosting advice for Hathaway, who was a best-actress nominee for 2008's "Rachel Getting Married," and Franco, who's up for best-actor honors for "127 Hours"?
"Just go with your instincts, because your instincts are what got you there in the first place," Baldwin counseled.
Hathaway, at 28 the youngest host ever, and Franco, 32, are expected to make a little music together. Hathaway sparkled in a 2008 Oscar duet with Jackman, while Franco practically demanded the chance to sing Sunday, said producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer.
More tunes are on tap with the return of the best-song showcases. The four nominated numbers will be performed by Gwyneth Paltrow ("Coming Home" from the film "Country Strong"); Randy Newman (his "Toy Story 3" song, "We Belong Together"); Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi and composer Alan Menken ("I See the Light" from "Tangled") and Florence Welch and composer A.R. Rahman ("If I Rise" from "127 Hours").
The producers have secrets in store, including something they've termed "scenic transitions," with music and images that will take viewers to different points in film history for presentation of the more technical awards.
The best surprises, of course, are the unplanned emotional peaks. One could come courtesy of Annette Bening, 52, nominated three times before without winning, finally earning her trophy for "The Kids Are All Right." Or it could be provided by 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld emerging as the underdog winner for her film debut in "True Grit."
Then there's presenter Sandra Bullock, returning to the stage where she triumphantly claimed her best-actress trophy last year for "The Blind Side" and then, within days, saw cheating allegations surface against her now-ex-husband, Jesse James.
Suspense over winners and losers is obviously a staple of the night. But there's a twist this year thanks to Banksy, the elusive British bad-boy street artist and nominee for best documentary feature for his directing debut, "Exit Through the Gift Shop."
Will the artist who prefers to hide his face from public view suddenly turn ham and appear in front of a half-billion viewers? As the movie academy would put it, you're invited to find out.
Kathleen Parker out of CNN's "Parker Spitzer" show
Reuters, LOS ANGELES: Journalist Kathleen Parker is leaving CNN talk show "Parker Spitzer," and the prime-time program will be revamped with former New York governor Eliot Spitzer remaining, alongside others, CNN said on Friday.
CNN said Parker, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist was leaving to focus on her writing. The "Parker Spitzer" talk show debuted in October to disappointing ratings, and critics said the pair lacked chemistry as a duo.
Spitzer has sometimes been appearing solo in recent weeks, chairing a more hard news-oriented show about politics and the upheavals in Arab states.
"We have been pleased with how the 8 p.m. hour has become a centerpiece of substantive, policy-oriented conversation, and we are looking forward to building on that with this new format, " CNN executive vice president Ken Jautz said in a statement.
Jautz said the new program would be called "In the Arena" and it will adopt an ensemble format with several newsmakers, guests and contributors joining Spitzer each night. On a regular basis, Spitzer will co-host the show alongside news anchor E.D. Hill and conservative columnist Will Cain.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
CNN said Parker, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist was leaving to focus on her writing. The "Parker Spitzer" talk show debuted in October to disappointing ratings, and critics said the pair lacked chemistry as a duo.
Spitzer has sometimes been appearing solo in recent weeks, chairing a more hard news-oriented show about politics and the upheavals in Arab states.
"We have been pleased with how the 8 p.m. hour has become a centerpiece of substantive, policy-oriented conversation, and we are looking forward to building on that with this new format, " CNN executive vice president Ken Jautz said in a statement.
Jautz said the new program would be called "In the Arena" and it will adopt an ensemble format with several newsmakers, guests and contributors joining Spitzer each night. On a regular basis, Spitzer will co-host the show alongside news anchor E.D. Hill and conservative columnist Will Cain.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
John Lasseter wins lifetime achievement award
AP, WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif: John Lasseter's pair of Oscars have a new friend: a lifetime achievement trophy. The Pixar and Disney animation chief received the award Friday night for his dedication to the 40-minutes-or-less medium from Shorts International, an entertainment organization which promotes, distributes, broadcasts and produces short films.
"It feels fantastic because I love short films," said Lasseter. "I love the art form and what it did for me as a filmmaker. I learned so much from making short films. They're these little gems, these fantastic little ideas that are not meant to be a feature film. They're perfect unto themselves. A great short film leaves you smiling and thinking about it."
Lasseter won the animated short film Oscar in 1988 for "Tin Toy," as well as a special achievement award in 1995 for "Toy Story," the first feature-length computer-generated film. The lifetime achievement award from Shorts International may not be his only prize this weekend. He's nominated with the other "Toy Story 3" filmmakers for best adapted screenplay.
"Toy Story 3" is also competing in the sound editing, original song, animated feature and best picture categories. Lasseter is hopeful about it's chances for the top prize, even though the motion picture academy has never bestowed an animated film with the best picture honor. "Toy Story 3" is only the third animated film to be nominated in that category.
"I do believe we will one day see an animated film win the best picture Oscar, and I hope it's on Sunday," said Lasseter. "I think that over time, more and more of Hollywood and the Academy has gotten to know animation. It's exactly the same as live action filmmaking. We tell great stories. We use great actors. We just use a different camera."
Other honorees Friday included director Kenneth Branagh and actresses June Foray and Melissa Leo, who commended short films for keeping her "going many a time when things were quite blue." This year's crop of live action, documentary and animated short film nominees were also recognized during the swanky affair at Soho House overlooking the Sunset Strip.
"It feels fantastic because I love short films," said Lasseter. "I love the art form and what it did for me as a filmmaker. I learned so much from making short films. They're these little gems, these fantastic little ideas that are not meant to be a feature film. They're perfect unto themselves. A great short film leaves you smiling and thinking about it."
Lasseter won the animated short film Oscar in 1988 for "Tin Toy," as well as a special achievement award in 1995 for "Toy Story," the first feature-length computer-generated film. The lifetime achievement award from Shorts International may not be his only prize this weekend. He's nominated with the other "Toy Story 3" filmmakers for best adapted screenplay.
"Toy Story 3" is also competing in the sound editing, original song, animated feature and best picture categories. Lasseter is hopeful about it's chances for the top prize, even though the motion picture academy has never bestowed an animated film with the best picture honor. "Toy Story 3" is only the third animated film to be nominated in that category.
"I do believe we will one day see an animated film win the best picture Oscar, and I hope it's on Sunday," said Lasseter. "I think that over time, more and more of Hollywood and the Academy has gotten to know animation. It's exactly the same as live action filmmaking. We tell great stories. We use great actors. We just use a different camera."
Other honorees Friday included director Kenneth Branagh and actresses June Foray and Melissa Leo, who commended short films for keeping her "going many a time when things were quite blue." This year's crop of live action, documentary and animated short film nominees were also recognized during the swanky affair at Soho House overlooking the Sunset Strip.
Oscar winners' dilemma: To list or not to list?
AP, LOS ANGELES: You can forgive George VI, the central figure in "The King's Speech," for painfully picking through his syllables when he steps up to the microphone. Like all stammerers, the guy lived in terror of public speaking.
But don't we deserve some speechifying for the ages from the Hollywood elite that win Academy Awards on Sunday? They're paid millions for their creative talents, so why do they often bore the stuffing out of TV audiences with droning thank-you lists?
The problem, said "King's Speech" screenwriter David Seidler, expected to win the Oscar for original screenplay, is that if recipients fail to deliver a monotonous litany of thanks, they hurt a lot of feelings in a town of big, fragile egos.
"You're stuck. If you don't thank a long list of people, you have a long list of people very upset, and if you do thank a long list of people, you have a billion people out in the audience bored stupid," Seidler said.
And if he wins? "I'm not quite sure what to do," he said.
Oscar overseers know what they'd like winners to do, though. They're making their usual exhortations to nominees that should they win, don't lull the world to sleep by thanking their agents, managers, hairstylists and latte fetchers. Say something remarkable.
"Leave your list in your pocket," Oscar producer Bruce Cohen advised contenders at their annual nominees luncheon three weeks before the show. "Nothing is more deadly than a winner reading a list of names."
"If you are lucky enough to get up there, tell us how you feel about being up there. What is this moment in your life like? Speak from the heart," said fellow Oscar producer Don Mischer. "When winners pull out a list on a piece of paper, we lose viewers by the hundreds of thousands."
At the end of "The King's Speech," which leads Oscar contenders with 12 nominations and is favored to win best picture, Colin Firth as George VI muddles through with a rousing radio address to inspire his nation as World War II approaches.
The king overcame his stammer with help from an unconventional speech therapist, Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush), who coached, counseled and cajoled that grand oration from his patient.
"King's Speech" director Tom Hooper said winners at Sunday's Oscars would "do well being coached by Lionel Logue. ... He teaches the king a lot about the importance of being relaxed and in the moment. That key idea, which is very central to broadcasting, is: 'Don't say it to the millions of people watching, say it as if you are saying it to one person. Say it as if you are saying it to a friend.' That is his advice to the king, and it remains great broadcasting advice today."
Being in the moment has resulted in some of the most memorable occasions, good and bad, in Oscar history.
Jack Palance did one-armed push-ups on stage when he won for "City Slickers." Adrien Brody won for "The Pianist" and planted a wet, sloppy kiss on Halle Berry, who presented his award. Roberto Benigni climbed the furniture like a kid on a swing-set and declared he wanted to "make love to everybody" after winning for "Life Is Beautiful."
"Titanic" creator James Cameron proclaimed himself "king of the world," "Bowling for Columbine" director Michael Moore castigated President George W. Bush for going to war in Iraq, "Moonstruck" acting winner Olympia Dukakis gave a shout out to her cousin, Michael Dukakis, who was then running for president.
When Julia Roberts won for "Erin Brockovich," she thumbed her nose at the 45-second time limit for acceptance speeches, declaring "I may never be here again" and speaking giddily for about three minutes. Greer Garson went on about twice that long when she won for "Mrs. Miniver," while Joe Pesci, who later confided he had not expected to win for "Goodfellas," took the stage and simply said, "It was my privilege. Thank you."
When she won her second Oscar, for "Million Dollar Baby," Hilary Swank started off memorably with the line, "I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream," then lapsed into list mode, thanking sparring partners, cinematographers, editors, her publicist.
At the nominees luncheon, producers Cohen and Mischer advised contenders to save their laundry list of names for backstage, where they can gush thanks to as many people as they want in front of a camera whose video goes online.
Academy president Tom Sherak joked Friday that steps have been taken to prevent list reading: "They have done away with the metal detectors, and they are going to have paper detectors," he quipped. "So before (winners) come up, they're going to walk through a scan that will make sure they have no paper in their pockets."
David O. Russell, a best-director nominee for "The Fighter," said the producers "gave all the nominees a speech-therapy session, which was badly needed. Because you need to finally produce the show like films are produced: Keep it real, keep it short, keep it entertaining. You wouldn't do that in your film, why do you want to do it on television?"
One of those most likely to land a speaking role at the Oscars is Firth, the guy who plays King George. Firth has been the best-actor front-runner throughout awards season, and he's a witty, expressive speaker himself.
"He is funny and articulate and eloquent," said Helena Bonham Carter, who plays his devoted wife, Queen Elizabeth, in the film. "It is a good job that Colin is going to win, because he is going to give a good speech."
___
AP entertainment writers Sandy Cohen and Mike Cidoni contributed to this report.
But don't we deserve some speechifying for the ages from the Hollywood elite that win Academy Awards on Sunday? They're paid millions for their creative talents, so why do they often bore the stuffing out of TV audiences with droning thank-you lists?
The problem, said "King's Speech" screenwriter David Seidler, expected to win the Oscar for original screenplay, is that if recipients fail to deliver a monotonous litany of thanks, they hurt a lot of feelings in a town of big, fragile egos.
"You're stuck. If you don't thank a long list of people, you have a long list of people very upset, and if you do thank a long list of people, you have a billion people out in the audience bored stupid," Seidler said.
And if he wins? "I'm not quite sure what to do," he said.
Oscar overseers know what they'd like winners to do, though. They're making their usual exhortations to nominees that should they win, don't lull the world to sleep by thanking their agents, managers, hairstylists and latte fetchers. Say something remarkable.
"Leave your list in your pocket," Oscar producer Bruce Cohen advised contenders at their annual nominees luncheon three weeks before the show. "Nothing is more deadly than a winner reading a list of names."
"If you are lucky enough to get up there, tell us how you feel about being up there. What is this moment in your life like? Speak from the heart," said fellow Oscar producer Don Mischer. "When winners pull out a list on a piece of paper, we lose viewers by the hundreds of thousands."
At the end of "The King's Speech," which leads Oscar contenders with 12 nominations and is favored to win best picture, Colin Firth as George VI muddles through with a rousing radio address to inspire his nation as World War II approaches.
The king overcame his stammer with help from an unconventional speech therapist, Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush), who coached, counseled and cajoled that grand oration from his patient.
"King's Speech" director Tom Hooper said winners at Sunday's Oscars would "do well being coached by Lionel Logue. ... He teaches the king a lot about the importance of being relaxed and in the moment. That key idea, which is very central to broadcasting, is: 'Don't say it to the millions of people watching, say it as if you are saying it to one person. Say it as if you are saying it to a friend.' That is his advice to the king, and it remains great broadcasting advice today."
Being in the moment has resulted in some of the most memorable occasions, good and bad, in Oscar history.
Jack Palance did one-armed push-ups on stage when he won for "City Slickers." Adrien Brody won for "The Pianist" and planted a wet, sloppy kiss on Halle Berry, who presented his award. Roberto Benigni climbed the furniture like a kid on a swing-set and declared he wanted to "make love to everybody" after winning for "Life Is Beautiful."
"Titanic" creator James Cameron proclaimed himself "king of the world," "Bowling for Columbine" director Michael Moore castigated President George W. Bush for going to war in Iraq, "Moonstruck" acting winner Olympia Dukakis gave a shout out to her cousin, Michael Dukakis, who was then running for president.
When Julia Roberts won for "Erin Brockovich," she thumbed her nose at the 45-second time limit for acceptance speeches, declaring "I may never be here again" and speaking giddily for about three minutes. Greer Garson went on about twice that long when she won for "Mrs. Miniver," while Joe Pesci, who later confided he had not expected to win for "Goodfellas," took the stage and simply said, "It was my privilege. Thank you."
When she won her second Oscar, for "Million Dollar Baby," Hilary Swank started off memorably with the line, "I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream," then lapsed into list mode, thanking sparring partners, cinematographers, editors, her publicist.
At the nominees luncheon, producers Cohen and Mischer advised contenders to save their laundry list of names for backstage, where they can gush thanks to as many people as they want in front of a camera whose video goes online.
Academy president Tom Sherak joked Friday that steps have been taken to prevent list reading: "They have done away with the metal detectors, and they are going to have paper detectors," he quipped. "So before (winners) come up, they're going to walk through a scan that will make sure they have no paper in their pockets."
David O. Russell, a best-director nominee for "The Fighter," said the producers "gave all the nominees a speech-therapy session, which was badly needed. Because you need to finally produce the show like films are produced: Keep it real, keep it short, keep it entertaining. You wouldn't do that in your film, why do you want to do it on television?"
One of those most likely to land a speaking role at the Oscars is Firth, the guy who plays King George. Firth has been the best-actor front-runner throughout awards season, and he's a witty, expressive speaker himself.
"He is funny and articulate and eloquent," said Helena Bonham Carter, who plays his devoted wife, Queen Elizabeth, in the film. "It is a good job that Colin is going to win, because he is going to give a good speech."
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AP entertainment writers Sandy Cohen and Mike Cidoni contributed to this report.
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