Pete Hammond of TheEnvelope.com obtained an email sent by one of the credited producers of the Oscar frontrunner "The Hurt Locker" slamming "Avatar" in favor of his own movie. A firestorm has erupted over this and some Oscar-watchers are now hastily changing their predictions. The Best Picture race has gotten interesting again...
Here's Pete's article (plus the link):
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/season/2010/02/with-one-week-to-go-are-oscar-campaigns-staying-on-message-by-pete-hammond.html
With just one week to go before ballots close for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards (they are due at PriceWaterhouseCoopers by 5 p.m. March 2), campaigners are pulling out all the stops trying to position their movie as the one with the gravitas that befits a best picture winner.
In addition to the usual trade and newspaper ads, TV spots and billboards, at least one "Hurt Locker" nominee apparently feels the best way may be hand-to-hand combat via e-mail. The Academy may frown at this direct attempt to contact its members, but "Hurt Locker" co-producer Nicholas Chartier, who through his Voltage Pictures was the film's key financing wizard, is making pleas to friends and friends of friends to get out the vote for "Hurt Locker" like it was some sort of political grass-roots campaign. His pitch isn't so much about the quality of the film, but rather its independent nature versus that movie with the blue people that cost so much to make. He doesn't mention "Avatar" by name. He doesn't have to. Here is the text of his e-mail, which went out to select industry-ites on Friday. (Spelling and grammatical errors were in the original text sent to me by a producer who received this):
From: "Nicolas Chartier" Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010
I hope all is well with you. I just wanted to write you and say I hope you liked Hurt Locker and if you did and want us to win, please tell (name deleted) and your friends who vote for the Oscars, tell actors, directors, crew members, art directors, special effects people, if everyone tells one or two of their friends, we will win and not a $500M film, we need independent movies to win like the movies you and I do, so if you believe The Hurt Locker is the best movie of 2010, help us!
I'm sure you know plenty of people you've worked with who are academy members whethere a publicist, a writer, a sound engineer, please take 5 minutes and contact them. Please call one or two persons, everything will help!
best regards,
Nicolas Chartier Voltage Pictures
Chartier's "Hurt Locker" bio says he has spent much of his career involved in the sales and international distribution of a range of films including "Van Wilder," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," "Crash" and the Olsen twins' TV movies. Most of them were indie projects like "Hurt Locker," and he clearly feels the passion to get his message translated into hard votes for the indie success of awards season. But considering the current solid front-running status of "Hurt Locker," it smacks a little more of desperation or panic than the air of confidence you might expect from a contender that's had a very savvy and successful campaign to date.
Meanwhile, Fox has completely retooled its trade, billboard, TV and consumer newspaper approach to emphasize that "Avatar" is not your father's kind of popcorn picture. Successive Variety covers late last week emphasized lengthy review quotes including Joe Morgenstern's Wall Street Journal review: "Special effects have been abolished in effect, since the whole thing is so special." Or The Times' Kenneth Turan, who was quoted in part as saying "... it's an anti-technology film that touts the healing powers of nature." James Cameron now proudly repeats the lists of environmental organizations that have endorsed the film and participated in a Natural Resources Defense Council fundraiser on the Fox lot Monday night.
Of course, when the film opened, the mind-blowing nature of the whole 3-D experience and technical innovation was the major part of the sell, not the "green" message.
"Inglourious Basterds" was sold as an entertaining, shoot 'em up Nazi war movie when it came out in August. Message, what message? Now that's played a little differently in an Oscar campaign that has stamped out whispers of anti-Semitism and pointedly referenced support from Jewish groups, Rabbis Marvin Heir and Abraham Cooper and the Museum Of Tolerance. Current ads also show art "inspired" by the movie that is being auctioned off to help Haitian earthquake relief with the line: "The movie that reminds you why you love movies has inspired others to create and give back." And YOU thought it was just a good ol' "guys-on-a-mission" flick, as its director Quentin Tarantino likes to say.
And Chartier's personal approach aside, "Hurt Locker" has been busy beefing up it's antiwar credentials after criticism in some quarters that it didn't have a point of view.
When it was released in late June, any movie with a connection to the Iraq war was considered box office poison. Distributor Summit Entertainment ran far from positioning the movie as anything but an exciting, nail-biting war thriller. Diffusing criticism that the film doesn't take a position, director Kathryn Bigelow often makes a point of saying in interviews that she believes war is futile and hopes her movie will open a path for peace. Writer Mark Boal always accepts awards now by calling his movie "an unpopular story about an unpopular war." On Wednesday evening at the Arclight movie theater, Bigelow and Boal are scheduled to further their Oscar season activism by joining in a panel with veteran Air Force and Army officers for the Truman National Security Project program loftily titled "From the Front Lines to the Silver Screen: How 'The Hurt Locker' Brings Home the Human Cost of the Iraq War and the Stark Reality of 21st Century Combat."
Trying pitching that kind of publicity-op at the original marketing meeting.
Selling your movie to Academy voters is a lot different that selling it to the public. The latter's all about making money. The former's about making room for Oscars.
May the best message win.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Vote for Filipino designer in OSCARs Designer Challenge 2010!
Listen up, kids! Acclaimed Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino is among a few selected designers whose original designs made the shortlist of this year's Oscars Designers Challenge.
He needs our votes.
Here's how you do it:
1) Go to: http://www.oscar.com/
2) Click on box: Oscars Designer Challenge 2010
3) Select Oliver Tolentino gown, and
4) VOTE
Join/Register email address for vote to be counted
Winning gown will be worn on the stage at the 82nd Academy Awards. It would be the first time that piña fabric will be worn on the Oscar stage!
One vote for every email address daily so vote every day through March 1st!
Here's a related press release:
********** FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE *********
DESIGNER OLIVER TOLENTINO FINALIST IN “OSCARS DESIGNER GOWN CHALLENGE”
Filipino fashion designer OLIVER TOLENTINO has been selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences as a finalist to compete in “Oscars Designer Challenge 2010.” (The Academy awards Oscars® every spring in Hollywood.)
Oliver was chosen from among applicants who submitted design sketches from all across the United States. Only nine designers were selected to create one gown for possible appearance on the 2010 Oscar® telecast on March 7. The winner of the challenge will receive two tickets to attend the show and witness his/her gown being worn on the stage by one of the “trophy girls” who brings the Oscar statuettes to the presenters.
At a press conference and fashion show held today at the Academy’s Beverly Hills headquarters, the nine designers presented their one-of-a-kind gowns before hundreds of members of the international press. Today at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time), the gowns and fashion show video were posted on www.oscar.com the Academy’s official website. The winner will be determined by the gown that receives the most public votes between February 23 and March 1 (voting is restricted to one vote per registered email address per day). The winning gown will be announced on the Oscar pre-show immediately before the 82nd Academy Awards® telecast.
Oliver created an elegant off-white, “green” eco-friendly mermaid gown out of his home country’s native piña (pineapple fabric) and abaca fabrics. The bodice is asymmetrical layered strips of piña accented with Philippine freshwater pearls all over the neckline. Pearls line the plunging back and extend in an asymmetrical swirl around the waist. The long piña skirt is covered with piña & abaca rosette hand-cutouts, broken up by two concentric strips of accordion-like piña fabric.
Oliver explains why he used piña. “I am really trying to promote my home country’s native fabrics wherever I go. It promotes an entire industry that employs so many talented, skilled workers. I feel it’s my duty, but fortunately it’s also my pleasure and honor to work with piña. I love it and I love seeing the reaction of Westerners when I tell them that piña is pineapple fiber. They are in awe when they hear that and see what elegant gowns can be made from it. It makes me so proud,” beams Oliver.
Born in the small town of Orani in the province of Bataan, Philippines, Oliver started his career in the 90s in Manila and recently became the first ever Philippines-based fashion designer to expand into the United States when he opened a Los Angeles boutique in July 2009.
Prior to opening his Melrose Avenue shop, Oliver already had secured a reputation in his native country by designing gowns for the elite, including socialites, celebrities, and government officials at the highest levels. Just last year, he created the gown former First Lady Imelda Marcos wore to her 80th birthday gala celebration. Oliver often has been called the Philippines’ own Valentino.
Over the past few years, Oliver has created dramatic gowns for the Philippines’ biggest concert stars, including the four “divas” of the Philippines (Kuh Ledesma, Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Pops Fernandez). Oliver has also dressed Filipina songbird Lani Misalucha for the stage in her running show in Las Vegas.
Just this January in Switzerland, Oliver was the only designer to represent the Philippines at the United Nations’ Palais des Nations for EcoChic Geneva. The event celebrated sustainable fashion and accessories to mark the UN International Year of Biodiversity and was organized by the UN Conference on Trade and Development and Hong Kong’s charity group, Green2Greener. Over 40 designers presented 1 eco-friendly look, including Diane von Furstenberg (Belgium), Thakoon (Thailand), and John Rocha (Ireland). Oliver created a dramatic gown, also made of his native piña (something the eco-friendly organizers had never heard of), based on his country’s folklore of Maria Makiling. His entry was selected as the show’s finale.
With the Designer Challenge, Oliver says he’s already a winner. “I know people always say this, especially at the Oscars, but just to be selected as one of the nine designers after only opening my boutique 8 months ago, I already feel like I’ve won so much,” Oliver confesses. “Of course, I’d be so honored to win, but more because a Filipino would be winning. But all of that will be up to the public vote. I hope people will vote for my gown if they like it and are proud of it.”
Look for Oliver Tolentino gowns on the red carpet and beyond in 2010. In the meantime, Oliver will anxiously await the outcome of Oscars® Designer Challenge 2010 on March 7.
He needs our votes.
Here's how you do it:
1) Go to: http://www.oscar.com/
2) Click on box: Oscars Designer Challenge 2010
3) Select Oliver Tolentino gown, and
4) VOTE
Join/Register email address for vote to be counted
Winning gown will be worn on the stage at the 82nd Academy Awards. It would be the first time that piña fabric will be worn on the Oscar stage!
One vote for every email address daily so vote every day through March 1st!
Here's a related press release:
********** FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE *********
DESIGNER OLIVER TOLENTINO FINALIST IN “OSCARS DESIGNER GOWN CHALLENGE”
Filipino fashion designer OLIVER TOLENTINO has been selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences as a finalist to compete in “Oscars Designer Challenge 2010.” (The Academy awards Oscars® every spring in Hollywood.)
Oliver was chosen from among applicants who submitted design sketches from all across the United States. Only nine designers were selected to create one gown for possible appearance on the 2010 Oscar® telecast on March 7. The winner of the challenge will receive two tickets to attend the show and witness his/her gown being worn on the stage by one of the “trophy girls” who brings the Oscar statuettes to the presenters.
At a press conference and fashion show held today at the Academy’s Beverly Hills headquarters, the nine designers presented their one-of-a-kind gowns before hundreds of members of the international press. Today at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time), the gowns and fashion show video were posted on www.oscar.com the Academy’s official website. The winner will be determined by the gown that receives the most public votes between February 23 and March 1 (voting is restricted to one vote per registered email address per day). The winning gown will be announced on the Oscar pre-show immediately before the 82nd Academy Awards® telecast.
Oliver created an elegant off-white, “green” eco-friendly mermaid gown out of his home country’s native piña (pineapple fabric) and abaca fabrics. The bodice is asymmetrical layered strips of piña accented with Philippine freshwater pearls all over the neckline. Pearls line the plunging back and extend in an asymmetrical swirl around the waist. The long piña skirt is covered with piña & abaca rosette hand-cutouts, broken up by two concentric strips of accordion-like piña fabric.
Oliver explains why he used piña. “I am really trying to promote my home country’s native fabrics wherever I go. It promotes an entire industry that employs so many talented, skilled workers. I feel it’s my duty, but fortunately it’s also my pleasure and honor to work with piña. I love it and I love seeing the reaction of Westerners when I tell them that piña is pineapple fiber. They are in awe when they hear that and see what elegant gowns can be made from it. It makes me so proud,” beams Oliver.
Born in the small town of Orani in the province of Bataan, Philippines, Oliver started his career in the 90s in Manila and recently became the first ever Philippines-based fashion designer to expand into the United States when he opened a Los Angeles boutique in July 2009.
Prior to opening his Melrose Avenue shop, Oliver already had secured a reputation in his native country by designing gowns for the elite, including socialites, celebrities, and government officials at the highest levels. Just last year, he created the gown former First Lady Imelda Marcos wore to her 80th birthday gala celebration. Oliver often has been called the Philippines’ own Valentino.
Over the past few years, Oliver has created dramatic gowns for the Philippines’ biggest concert stars, including the four “divas” of the Philippines (Kuh Ledesma, Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Pops Fernandez). Oliver has also dressed Filipina songbird Lani Misalucha for the stage in her running show in Las Vegas.
Just this January in Switzerland, Oliver was the only designer to represent the Philippines at the United Nations’ Palais des Nations for EcoChic Geneva. The event celebrated sustainable fashion and accessories to mark the UN International Year of Biodiversity and was organized by the UN Conference on Trade and Development and Hong Kong’s charity group, Green2Greener. Over 40 designers presented 1 eco-friendly look, including Diane von Furstenberg (Belgium), Thakoon (Thailand), and John Rocha (Ireland). Oliver created a dramatic gown, also made of his native piña (something the eco-friendly organizers had never heard of), based on his country’s folklore of Maria Makiling. His entry was selected as the show’s finale.
With the Designer Challenge, Oliver says he’s already a winner. “I know people always say this, especially at the Oscars, but just to be selected as one of the nine designers after only opening my boutique 8 months ago, I already feel like I’ve won so much,” Oliver confesses. “Of course, I’d be so honored to win, but more because a Filipino would be winning. But all of that will be up to the public vote. I hope people will vote for my gown if they like it and are proud of it.”
Look for Oliver Tolentino gowns on the red carpet and beyond in 2010. In the meantime, Oliver will anxiously await the outcome of Oscars® Designer Challenge 2010 on March 7.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
2009 Oscar class pictures!
Photos courtesy of Oscar.com
Best Actor nominees: (From left) Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman, Jeff Bridges, Jeremy Renner and George Clooney
Meryl Streep and Colin Firth
Best supporting actress nominees Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga and Maggie Gyllenhaa with Carey Mulligan and Gabourey Sidibe, both best actress contenders
Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock, best actor and best actress frontrunners, respectively
Best director contenders: Quentin Tarantino, Lee Daniels, Kathryn Bigelow, Jason Reitman and James Cameron
Jeff Bridges, Jeremy Renner, George Clooney and Morgan Freeman
All 120+ nominees
Best Actor nominees: (From left) Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman, Jeff Bridges, Jeremy Renner and George Clooney 
Meryl Streep and Colin Firth
Best supporting actress nominees Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga and Maggie Gyllenhaa with Carey Mulligan and Gabourey Sidibe, both best actress contenders 
Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock, best actor and best actress frontrunners, respectively
Best director contenders: Quentin Tarantino, Lee Daniels, Kathryn Bigelow, Jason Reitman and James Cameron
Jeff Bridges, Jeremy Renner, George Clooney and Morgan Freeman
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