Oscars...tongue-tied actors coached on speech-making!

 

Didn't 'ya want to slap sense into Paltrow?

If you're ever found the Oscars to be a big yawn - and you've been inclined to channel surf away from the segments Hitchcock might refer to as the "boring bits" - you may want to stay glued to the glam broadcast this year to ensure you don't miss any memorable moments.

After all, the glitzy show-biz extravaganza is expected to zip along this year - in part, due - to the cheeky efforts of the producers.

At a tony luncheon yesterday in Beverly Hills to honor the nominees, actors were coached on the fine art of speech-making to help 'em along at the exciting proceedings this year at the Kodak Theatre (except for actor Colin Firth, of course, who is ably prepared in the event he has to scramble up to the podium to accept a coveted Golden Statuette).

Tips were offered up on how to deliver a touching heart-warming thank-you speech - within the forty-five second time limit - without fumbling and coming off like a amateurish jerk-off before the teaming masses around the globe come February 27th.

For example, producers cautioned performers about facilitating a scrap of paper to recall a laundry list rife with names of folks to thank (or using the palm of their hand for cheat notes).

Strictly taboo!

Just ask Sarah Palin.

To prompt the prime Grade A cattle along, a state-of-the-art indicator has also been installed on the front of the camera - to initiate a countdown - so unsuspecting thespians don't end up being yanked off stage with a hook (or cut off in the event irate sponsors cut to a commercial break).

For those who aren't a quick study, an instruction DVD was provided, for future reference.

So, if a handful of the speeches sound alike - or lack spontaneity or spark - you'll be able to fathom why.

You can't teach an old ham new tricks, after all!

http://www.thetattler.biz/



Cameron was "King of the World"

(in his own mind anyway!)



Geraldo Rivera...accuses Inglorious Basterds producers of causing "Hurt Locker" controversy!

Tonight Geraldo Rivera accused the producers of the Oscar-nominated film - "Inglorious Basterds" - of starting up one of the controversies surrounding the war drama "The Hurt Locker" which hit the fan on the eve of the Academy race.

"The timing was suspicious," he snorted in so many words from his anchor desk.

When a guest pooh-poohed the notion, Geraldo roundly asserted that a big-shot producer in New York confirmed that it was so.

The entertainment reporter admitted to Geraldo that producers of "Inglorious Basterds" were a bit "colorful" but came short of pointing a finger.

Of course, this was another pain in the butt for the film's director (Kathryn Bigelow) and her creative team.

The Geraldo bombshell came on the heels of a headlining twist to the ongoing "Hurt Locker" saga which unfolded earlier this week.

Just after the balloting deadline was reached on Tuesday March 2nd - a solider in an elite bomb squad (the one depicted in the feature film) - issued a press release to inform frenzied media types that a lawsuit had been filed against the producers of "Hurt Locker" for recovery of damages.

In a cause of action filed with the court, the plaintiff alleged that the script for the Oscar-nominated film, was inspired by his own experiences in war-torn territories overseas.

In sum, the disgruntled soldier has asserted in his pleadings, that the producers lifted his story - bastardized it - then failed to negotiate profits due in consideration of his cooperation with the film production company.

In response to queries from the press corps, the angry litigant confirmed for the record that he held off filing the  lawsuit until the voting for the coveted award was complete (to ensure his actions did not adversely affect the film's chances at the winning the Oscar).

Smart boy!

Meanwhile, Geraldo's guest blamed the "media" for fanning the flames.

Bottom line, though, he admitted it was a good story.

"That's why the editors at the New York Times, Newsweek, and Los Angeles times went with it."

The film has had its share of headaches.

In addition to the newly-filed legal proceeding, producer Nicolas Chartier was banned from the Oscar celebration tomorrow night for instigating a negative campaign against Avatar (the major competition in the Oscar race) in violation of Academy rules.

I reported on the controversy this past week.

Post:  03/03/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/03/hurt-lockerproducer-banned-from-oscars.html

Although "Hurt Locker" has been recognized as a front-runner to nab the gold, armchair critics are quick to point out that in spite of the plaudits coming Kathryn Bigelow's way, the gritty war picture has only managed to rustle up 13 million at the box office.

A disaster by Hollywood standards.

Today, a news report acknowledged that "Hurt Locker" has been fairing much better in DVD rentals and sales in recent weeks since the product began to appear on marketplace shelves.

Hopefully, there will be a profit margin down the road somewhere.

Otherwise, the plaintiff in the suit may end up with an empty bag (even if he wins favor with the court and obtains a money judgment).

A hollow victory?

How ironic, when you ponder the notion that the Iraq War will face a similar end scenario, for a myriad of complex political reasons.

Meanwhile, the Oscar celebrations march on unphased!

Bigelow & Cameron fought to to be top!

(between-the-sheets)

http://www.thetattler.biz

Avatar...stale plot but stunning images wow! Cameron King of Pandora's Box...

In Avator, James Cameron has imaginatively conjured up a race of aliens with ancestral roots and a religious perspective that is downright fascinating.

Likewise, the skilled director has weaved and executed his intriguing tale - which is set on the planet "Pandora" - with such seamless skill that the filmmgoer is thrust headlong into the visually-stunning fantasy world for the long haul without much resistance.

Unforunately, the underlying plot line is a stale one which doesn't provoke much thought.

Essentially, Cameron's "baby" mirrors the same old time-honored themes exalted by the suits in Hollywood in recent decades, which pop up ad nauseam in the action-adventure Sci-fi genre perennially.

Imperialist-prone humans - with their eye on a motherlode of valuable resources in a "foreign land' - launch an attack to snatch and grab when negotiations fall flat to mine the precious commodity with the alien's blessing.

But, along the way, Avator is still a thrill ride nonetheless (that is worth taking in).

Filmgoers will marvel at the futuristic technology Cameron (Titantic &  Aliens) dredged up, for instance, which totally absorbs and is a nifty sight to behold by virtue of the state-of-the-art imagery techniques facilitated (which give a lot of bang for the buck).

The scripted dialogue is well-written and believable; fortunately, otherwise  audiences may start losing interest when the Avatar saga wears thin about half-way through.

Otherwise, discerning movie-goers may be inclined to stay glued to the boob tube at home surfing music videos on MTV.

Die-hard film buffs can not survive on seductive eye-catching visuals alone

In one profound moment, though, Camera manages to cut to the heartbeat of the film.

When one of the human warriors bows to the ancient deity and prays for assistance to defeat mankind's vicious attack on the tribe, one of their spiritual leaders points out that their God doesn't take sides.

She only acts to preserve the balance of life, the alien stresses, in so many cautionary words.

Once the commander launches the attack - and a myriad of species face imminent death - their  instinct for survival responds with a primal scream.

Yes, there are a few nuggets of wisdom in Avatar, but the audience has to pan through a lot of fool's gold to ferret them out, to the movie's detriment.

3 stars!

Cameron coaches Linda Hamilton in on Terminator set!

http://www.julianayrs.com/

MUSE Lavender Faire...the 3rd Annual Crafts & Arts event @ Malibu Bluffs park! June 7th

The MUSE Lavender Faire makes a festive entrance once again on the local Arts scene on Sunday June 7th at the Malibu Bluffs park.

The much-anticipated annual celebration is slated to delight guests with eclectic live music performances, local organic gourmet caterers on-hand selling their wares, and arts & crafts geared for both children and adults alike.

In addition, conservationists and environmentalists alike will be thrilled to learn once they saunter through the gate, that the Lavender Faire amounts to a local, global, and green marketplace with widespread ongoing appeal.

In fact, all vendors on site will be offering up organic, all-natural, sustainable, holistic, ecological or fair trade items, ever-mindful of the changing consciousness on the planet.

Admission:

$5 adults / $3 children (two years & under free)

FREE PARKING & SHUTTLE

*Every 15 minutes
*3011 Malibu Canyon Road

Info: 310-317-0797

email: fsandoval@museelementary.org

Funds Raised:

Proceeds from the event will benefit - MUSE Elementary - the nonprofit and organic-focused school in Topanga founded by Suzy Amis-Cameron and James Cameron (Titantic) and MUSE Global (International Outreach Program).

http://www.julianayrs.com

Sally Field...awards jinx

Years ago when Sally Field rushed up to the podium to accept an OSCAR for her award-winning performance in "Norma Rae", an unadulterated moment of joy overcame her and she blurted out to the jaded Tinseltown power-players in the plush auditorium,

"You like me! You really like me!"

How could they not love a flying Nun, for heaven's sake?

Notwithstanding, that brief misstep has gone down in Showbiz annals as one of the most embarrassing moments in Oscar History.

Of course, many others run a close second.

For example, when winning for best supporting actress in "Julia", Vanessa Redgrave thanked Hollywood for having,

"...refused to be intimidated by the threats of a small bunch of Zionist hoodlums...whose behavior is an insult to the stature of Jews all over the world and to their great and heroic record of struggle against fascism and oppression."

Um, I thought this was an Oscar celebration, not a political segment on Sixty Minutes, Ms. Redgrave.

Then there was the outrageous, zesty moment when Cuba Gooding Jr., best supporting actor for "Jerry Maguire", bellowed out to the startled masses viewing from their idiot boxes at home,

"I love you Tom Cruise! I love you, brother! I love you, man! Everybody, I love you. I love you all. Cameron Crowe! James L. Brooks! James L. Brooks, I love you. Everybody who's involved with this, I love you. I love you. Everybody involved."

And who could forget the stunning moment when Sacheen Littlefeather sashayed on stage in Marlon Brando's stead when he won for best actor for "The Godfather"?

On his behalf, she mumbled to an astonished crowd,

"...awards in this country at this time are inappropriate to be received or given until the condition of the American Indian is drastically altered. If we are not our brother's keeper, at least let us not be his executioner."

Say what?

Then, there was James Cameron's ego-inspired,

"I am King of the World".

So, last night everyone held their collective breath as Ms. Field stepped lively to the stage to accept her EMMY Award for best performance in the Television Drama "Brothers & Sisters".

As she began to ramble, the audience started to mutter, "...there she goes again".

When the producers pulled the plug on the talented actress near the end of her speech, some thought it was due to her unfortunate political remarks about the War.

However, Fox issued a terse statement noting that the action was taken due to the fact Field spoke the words "God" and "Damn" in unison; for this reason alone, they asserted, the cameras zoomed elsewhere - leaving her in a lurch.

Oh yes, on occasions such as these, it is difficult to remember that Fox is actually a family network, with an ongoing mandate to provide wholesome, family entertainment to the American people.

Notwithstanding, it is difficult to fathom sometimes how it is that an actor - oftentimes paid millions of dollars to emote on camera, or on the celebrated boards in The Big Apple - more-often-than-not - has to struggle to make sense of a two-minute acceptance speech without p**ing their pants!

On this occasion, Ms. Field was unwittingly humbled by the elusive award ceremony "jinx" - known to unexpectedly descend without warning or sympathy - when an actor boldly stumbles up on stage with the bright idea to seize the auspicious moment to promote a social or political cause.

Most assuredly, as demonstrated over time immemorial, the ominous spirit of the jinx intervenes at that fateful moment, if only to ensure that said performer puts foot squarely in mouth.

It happens to the best of 'em, Ms. Field!

A piece of advice?

Next time, take a cue from Elizabeth Taylor.

When she approached the podium to accept an Oscar for her performance in "Butterfield 8" a number of years ago, she clutched her Golden Statuette graciously, then eloquently uttered two simple words: Thank you!

Now, that's class...