April 28, 2008

Ellen's Missed Photo Op

Ellen_7Ellen1_7Ellen DeGeneres presented Janet Jackson with the Vanguard Award during Saturday's GLAAD Media Awards at the Kodak in L.A. Before handing over the kudo to Jackson, DeGeneres joked;  “I looked up the Vanguard Award and the people who have won before are Liza Minnelli and Elizabeth Taylor, both have their picture taken with Michael Jackson. Coincidence, I don’t know, I’m just saying, I’ve never had my picture taken with Michael Jackson, and I’ve never won this award.”  photos: WireImage

February 10, 2008

Alba's Tech Support

Jessica_alba_2The Scientific and Technical Academy Awards are usually a lighthearted affair, and this year Saturday's ceremony at the BevWilshire was no exception. By tradition, the evening always kicks off with entertainment. Wags wondered beforehand what it might be: A magician? A mime? Awards administration director Rich Miller surprised by choosing Danny Cole, who is a magician and a mime. Cole's slight of hand impressed even this tech-savvy crowd.


Host Jessica Alba, very pregnant but game nonetheless, dove into the technical jargon of fluid simulation software with determination, winning applause from the crowd. Two winners used their time to appreciate their lovely host. Duncan Brinsmead, one of three honored for the Maya Fluid Effects system, said "For a computer geek like me it's really sexy to hear Jessica talk about semi-Lagrangian fluid dynamics." While Stanford professor Ron Fedkiw, who moonlights at Industrial Light & Magic working on their fluid simulation system, finished his thank-you's in less than the allotted minute, so he added "I'm going to spend the last 15 seconds noting that I'm ten feet away from the most beautiful woman on the planet. And no restraining order this time!" (D. Cohen)

February 04, 2008

Schnabel and Shriver's Salute

KennedyThe 10th annual amfAR Gotham gala attracted the film, fashion and music crowd to Cipriani, 42nd Street on Thursday. Product(RED) co-founder, Bobby Shriver, French Vogue editor-in-chief, Carine Roitfeld and Julian Schnabel were honored at the event.

Upon receiving his kudo, Shriver joked about being recognized: "My father established the Peace Corps, so I was known as Sargent Shriver's son. Then my mother started The Special Olympics so then I became Eunice Kennedy Shriver's son. Then my sister Maria got a big reporting job at CBS so I became Maria Shriver's brother, which is when my brothers and I got together and said, 'It's not that bad - it can't get any worse.' Then Maria got married. Now I will forever be known as Arnold Schwarzenegger's brother-in-law." (A. Morfoot)

January 16, 2008

Clooney's Idea of Fun

ClooneyThe events: The National Board of Review Awards


The details: Tuesday at Cipriani 42nd St. in Gotham


The guest list: George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Denzel Washington, Joel and Ethan Coen, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck


Menu_3 The menu: lamb and ratatouille


The talk: When Clooney presented Joel and Ethan Coen with the adapted screenplay prize for “No Country For Old Men,” he said: “This is gonna be the most fun for all of us tonight because these guys hate this. They are the worst I have ever seen at (accepting awards) so enjoy yourselves folks.” 

                                   (A. Morfoot)

January 08, 2008

Star Power Hits Critical Mass

Crx_3The event: The 13th annual Critics' Choice Awards


The details: Monday night at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The show was hosted by comedian D.L. Hughley and broadcast live on VH1.


ThelistThe guest list: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Katie Holmes, Sean Penn, Daniel Day-Lewis, Don Cheadle, Julian Schnabel, Brad Bird, Daniel Battsek


The menu: Skimpy chicken skewers, salmon and caprese salad.


Crx1_4 The talk: Daniel Day-Lewis: “I’ve been thinking about the work of my wonderful fellow nominees and others who gave supreme performances this year that weren’t nominated... and it’s the mystery of the work of all these people that I admire so much, the work they’ve done this year is like food and drink to me. I don’t know if I would’ve done what they've done, I don’t want to know how they did it. I’m just glad they did. And I feel more or less like a spokesman here saying we did the best that we could do this year. I owe everything to Paul Thomas Anderson, my evil twin brother.” (B.Perry)

November 27, 2007

Brooklyn Bound Gotham Awards

UmaGotham_awards1_2The event: The Gotham Awards


The details: Tuesday in Brooklyn

The guest list : Laura Linney, Uma Thurman, Ellen Page, Jeffrey Wright, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emile Hirsch

The talk
: Page, who won breakthrough actor for "Juno," admitted that she was obsessive about getting the part. "It was probably one of the only situations where (I was willing) to sleep my way to the top or break some legs," she joked.

November 20, 2007

Al Gore Adds Another Trophy to His Mantel

Intl_emmys1

The event: The 35th International Emmy Awards


The details: Nov. 19 @ The New York Hilton


Intl_emmys The star power: Elmo, Robert De Niro and Al Gore


The talk:  Upon accepting the Founders Award for co-founding Current TV Gore said: "We are trying to open up the television medium so that viewers can help to make television and join the conversation of democracy and reclaim American democracy by talking about the choices we have to make."

November 14, 2007

Totally Tisch Toasts Thesps

Tisch_3On Monday, the annual Totally Tisch Gala at the Town Hall played host to a number of celebs and notables, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, thesps Ethan Hawke, Billy Crudup and Alec Baldwin, and tennis legend Billie Jean King. For the NYU arts school, though, the big news was $1.5 million raised towards the theater they’re planning to build.

Broadway’s recent strike also gave the gala a monopoly on another set of stars: the cast of “Spring Awakening.” With Local 1 shirts over their formal attire, the performers, including a number of Tisch alums, sang a medley of the show’s songs, covering their mouths during the swear words as they did during this year’s Tonys broadcast. The gala feted the “Awakening” cast as well as Crudup, and Carla Roney and David Liu, creators of internet wedding site theknot.com. Contributor Richard Vague and school namesake Joan Tisch also received plaudits: the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus serenaded Tisch with a rendition of “My Best Girl” that filled the Hall. (S. Thielman)

November 06, 2007

Colbert Gets Glam

Stephen_colbertThe words Stephen Colbert and Glamour may not always go hand in hand but they did Monday night in Gotham when Colbert arrived at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center to present House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with her kudo at mag's Women of the Year awards.

"I'm so honored to be here tonight to honor all these honorable honorees. I'm sorry, my writers are on strike, my stuff is usually better. Since my writers are on strike, I’d like to thank Glamour magazine for giving me someplace to perform tonight," said Colbert.

November 02, 2007

BAFTA's Bawdy Bash

Bafta_7Bafta1_2At the BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards Thursday in Century City, everyone was relaxed in the knowledge as emcee Michael Sheen put it, “that no one will go home a loser who didn’t come here a loser.”

Bill Nighy presented kudos to helmer Richard Curtis and thanked him for, “changing my professional career when he put me in Lycra in 'Love Actually.'”

In accepting the award Curtis said, “It’s sort of a nightmare situation. At last you win an award in front of girls you want to sleep with, but it’s for being a goody good and so of course they won’t want to even if they are going to anyway.” While giving a pitch for more aid in Africa from the audience, Curtis talked about the people who helped him, like Sacha Baron Cohen and how Curtis had to reassure donors that Cohen was kidding when told them, “£5 will buy a bra for a poor woman in Africa and £500 will buy her a boob job.”

Bafta_6 New Line toppers Michael Lynne and Bob Shaye talked about the films that drew them to Britain. For Lynne, “The ‘Carry on’ films inspired my interest in British films.” While Shaye’s included a long list of movies that clearly predated many in the audience, but he got a laugh with, “We want to make films in Britain again as soon as the pound’s weaker.”

Reese Witherspoon, who introduced Kate Winslet, said she had plenty of stories about the honoree but, “all the stories about Kate and me are all bawdy, tawdry and too drunken to tell.” (S. Dore)

October 16, 2007

Lauren Bacall Steals the Show

LaurenbacallSeveral leading ladies were honored Monday night at the Four Seasons Hotel during the Elle Magazine Women in Hollywood Awards dinner — Scarlett Johansson, Kate Bosworth, Jennifer Connelly, Diane Lane, Amy Adams — but it was Lauren Bacall who stole the show. Bacall received a standing ovation upon accepting her award and immediately had the crowd laughing when she began by saying, "I am very thrilled to be here because it proves that I am still breathing." Bacall continued with a story of mistaken identity. "I was in Sur La Table the other day and there was a man staring at me and I said, 'do you want something?' and he said, 'Well, you are Katharine Hepburn aren't you?'" On a more serious note, Bacall thanked her daughter and fellow honorees, before ending her speech the same way it began "I just can't believe it myself that I am actually upright."  (M. McNiece)

September 10, 2007

MTV Awards Roll Into Vegas

AliciaMTV brought the world of music to Las Vegas on Sunday for their annual Music Awards where Alicia Keys, Kayne West and Britney Spears performed as well as Justin Timberlake who took home four moon-men kudos, including male artist of the year.

Cannon_3Garner_2Nick Cannon popped over to the Tao Hospitality suite to snag some swag while "The Kingdom" stars Jennifer Garner and Jamie Foxx hosted a private party at the Palms Resort.

Ludacris_quincy_bday_photo_shot_5Meanwhile, rapper Ludacris proved you can have your cakes and eat it too after he was surprised with five different cakes for his birthday celebration at an XM Satellite Radio bash held at the Rio in Las Vegas. Guests Quincy Jones and Chingy joined in on the celebration and enjoyed a lavish meal by chef Steve Martorano followed by hours of non-stop dancing. (K.Hunt)

August 27, 2007

Surf's Up for Efron and Hudgens

TeenchoiceWhile hip celebs like Fergie and “Superbad” trio Michael Cera, Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse turned up at the Gibson Amphitheater for the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, the cast of “High School Musical 2” were the evening’s most lauded click, winning best TV movie, choice hottie for Zac Efron and breakout music artist for Vanessa Hudgens. Even best comedian winner Dane Cook sarcastically thanked them for his award during his acceptance speech. “I’m going to melt this down and make costume jewelry out of it to sell on QVC,” quipped Cook about his Teen Choice surf board trophy. (A. D'Alessandro)

July 13, 2007

Kimmel and LeBron Team Up For ESPY

LebronJimmy Kimmel and LeBron James brought the worlds of comedy and sports together as they co-hosted the 15th Annual ESPY Awards Wednesday night at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

Kimmel tailored his jokes for the L.A. crowd saying, “Congratulations to all the athletes who had babies. And the Lakers still have Kobe Bryant.” The show’s highlight was James’ dance number, a reinterpretation of Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative.” The energetic routine redeemed James after an ill-advised gag where he pretended to dunk his own baby through a basketball hoop.

Other famous faces on hand to present awards included;  Shaquille O’Neal, Carmen Electra, Josh Duhamel, Ashley Judd, Dane Cook, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson. ESPN will air the event on Sunday at 9:00pm ET. (J. Young)

June 15, 2007

Keaton's Biggest Fan

MeyersWhen accepting her award at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Thursday night, director Nancy Meyers used her time at the podium to discuss today's women in trouble. “What about the women in Hollywood who started giving women a bad name? The ones who think it is ok to drink and drive and don’t wear underwear. I understand burning your bra, but I do not understand not wearing underpants," she said. But one woman who definitely has Meyers admiration is Diane Keaton who presented the Dorothy Arzner Award to the outspoken helmer. "The great thing about Diane is that she really did redefine the female movie star," said Meyers. "I think she single-handedly made being unique, complicated and funny, sexy."

June 14, 2007

Walters Gets A Star

Babs_3Sure she has been able to get Boris Yeltsin, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Clinton and Fidel Castro to open up during her many interviews but if it wasn't for Ms. Nickyhilton_2Walters the world would never know that Paris Hilton has actually been "acting dumb" all these years. Hilton recently admitted during a phone call from jail to Walters that she has been hiding her inner genius. After uncovering this revealing revelation Walters definitely deserves the Star on the Walk of Fame she received Thursday afternoon. And who was among the crowd watching the honor? Well besides her View co-hosts Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, none other than Paris' mother Kathy and sister Nicky.

June 13, 2007

Wonder Gives His Best

Stevie_2Stevie Wonder received a standing ovation as he accepted the American Society of Young Musicians' Living Legend Award Thursday night at the orgs Spring benefit concert in Hollywood.

Upon receiving the kudos from ASYM's Prexy Jarvee E. Hutcherson, Wonder told the crowd, "For as long as I live, you have my commitment to give you the best that I've got." Other honorees at the ceremony included Hip Hop artist Young Jeezy, Evanescence and Avril Lavigne.

June 08, 2007

Pacino's Big Question

Pacino_2It was a sea of love for Al Pacino Thursday night when he was honored with the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Friends, co-stars and admireres including Sean Connery, Chris O'Donnell, Winona Ryder, Samuel L. Jackson and Sean Penn, paid tribute to the thesp. The three-hour event featured famous film clips from Pacino's movies such as "The Godfather," "Scarface," "Serpico" and "Scent of a Woman," as well as a plethora of praise from the likes of Kirk Douglas, Andy Garica, Robin Williams and Oliver Stone. After many jokes at his expense, Pacino finally got a chance to get a laugh when he took the stage to accept his award saying, "Seeing my life in the movies, I have one question. And that is: Why aren't I in rehab?"

- posted by Mia Sulpor

May 10, 2007

Saturns Ring Genre Belles

Saturn_2 "I'm proud to be here with all you outcasts like me," said "Masters of Horror" showrunner Mick Garris to the aud at the 33rd annual Saturn Awards Thursday night. "If you were on the football team, you're not here tonight." The crowd at the Universal Hilton was certainly peppered with self-identified geeks (Geek Monthly mag was a sponsor of the after-party.) but also included "Heroes'" Masi Oka, "Battlestar Galactica's Edward James Olmost and Katee Sackhoff, original Ghostbuster Ernie Hudson and such behind-the-camera luminaries as Richard Donner, Tom Mankiewicz and Bryan Singer.

Before the show, in front of an array of replica robots including Gort, Robby and the ECR from "Lost in Space," Olmos said that the next season of "Battlestar Galactica" (honored by the Saturns as top cable/syndication show) will be the last. "I find it to be the best usage of television I've ever been a part of" Olmos told Variety, saluting the show's writers. Meanwhile Sackhoff said she had grown up a big fan of the original "Star Trek," especially William Shatner's Captain James Tiberius Kirk. "He was so hot," said Sackhoff. (D. Cohen)

May 04, 2007

Fisher Catches Kudos

FisherIt's no Oscar, but thesps Isla Fisher, Emilie De Ravin and helmer Greg McLean took home the Golden Boomerang at the Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards held at the Beverly Hills' Avalon Hotel on Thursday. "I'm going to put this on my mantelpiece in front of Sacha's Golden Globe," Fisher joked referring to fiancé Sacha Baron Cohen's recent trophy for "Borat." Also on hand was Little Miss Sunshine's Abigail Breslin who presented Fisher, her "Definitely, Maybe" costar, with the award. Fisher got her start on the Aussie soap "Home and Away" and has admitted that when auditioning for her role as Gloria in "Wedding Crashers," her accent was a bit of a concern for her.

"It was definitely nerve-racking because obviously you go into the room with an American accent and then you pray that they don't start talking to you because you prepared the lines in the accent. But then when it comes to something about your personal life or what the weather was like or where you came from today, then it's a little more difficult. But it went really well and I did the scene and got out."

- posted by Mia Sulpor

May 02, 2007

Hats Off To You

Amy_fine_5Mary_4Ladies who lunch did just that on Wednesday at the Central Park Conservatory Garden in Gotham for the annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards luncheon. The event lures the whos who of Park Ave to help raise money for Central Park restoration but really, who can focus on anything but the objects on each attendees head? Nicknamed the "Hat Luncheon" it appears the women, including Katie Couric, tried awfully hard to out do each other with the most outrageous looking hat. My vote in the category of 'Is that thing on your head still alive?' goes to designer Mary McFaden (photo on the left) but writer Amy Fine Collins (photo on the right) is a close second. Well, at least it's for a good cause.

  - posted by Mia Sulpor

April 30, 2007

Bono Reaches New Heights

LoureedJust when exactly did Bono start looking like Robin Williams? And, someone please tell us, when did he start wearing platform shoes? “They might be therapeutic shoes for his back, he’s got a really bad back,” said one source we asked after Bono dined recently with David Bowie, Lou Reed and wife Laurie Anderson at Gotham’s W Hotel Union Square to celebrate Reed’s Arents Award, Syracuse University’s highest alumni honor. But Bono was absolutely rocking the four-inchers onstage as he delivered a few words. "Lou asked me earlier what that strange sound was," said Bono. "I told him that’s people ‘Lou-ing,’ not booing." The Pride of Dublin continued, comparing Reed to James Joyce. "Lou Reed is to New York City what James Joyce was to Dublin. Joyce turned the streets of Dublin into the Dirty Boulevard." And while Reed appeared to shed a few tears when he heard a recording of a poem recited by his late mentor, teacher and poet Delmore Schwartz, his cool remained in tact. "He could be the coolest SU grad I know," said fellow alumni Martin Bandier. "He was cool back then and he’s cool now.” Oh, and as for Bono looking like Williams? Who knows? But it’s funny how you never see them together in the same room. (J. Clarke Jr.)

April 27, 2007

Lauds for Lee and Lauer

Lauer “Today” co-anchor Matt Lauer and BET topper Barbara Lee were honored for their achievement in television by the Museum of the Moving Image Thursday night at the St. Regis Hotel in Gotham.

Lee was introduced by Star Jones and BET Entertainment prexy Reginald Hudlin. Lee, basking in the approving glow of Viacom CEO Phillippe Daumann, was presented by museum chair Herb Schlosser with a signed first-edition copy of Langston Hughes’ autobiography, “The Big Sea.” In a nod to her co-honoree, Lee said she watches NBC’s “Today” every morning. “I used to turn on CBS … Phillippe, I don’t have to lie anymore, do I? I usually do turn them on at 7:30 just to make sure they’re still on the air,” she quipped.

Supporting Lauer were NBC U chieftain Jeff Zucker, NBC News prexy Steve Capus, senior veep Phil Griffin and co-anchor Meredith Vieira. All were looking forward to an increasingly bleary Friday morning as the dinner dragged on. Lauer said he was reluctant to accept the award, given the implication that you haven’t got a lot of life left, or, as Bryant Gumbel told him, “you’re playing the back nine.” Nevertheless, he said, he agreed to be honored, and he told the story of his first day at NBC, 15 years ago. That day, he said, he flooded the men’s bathroom on the 3rd floor of 30 Rock, soaking Tom Brokaw’s penny loafers. (M. Learmonth)

April 24, 2007

Clinton, The Edge - Prove They 'Can Do'

The_edge_and_clintonThe world of politics, music and movies collided Monday night at the Chelsea Piers in Gotham where U2's The Edge was honored at the annual 'Can-Do' Awards Gala. The evening benefited the Food Bank for New York City which provides 250,000 meals a day for New Yorkers in need. Proving that Bono isn't the only member of U2 trying to make the world a better place, The Edge happily took to the podium to accept his award in front of close to 700 guests which included fellow honoree, Jimmy Fallon and honorary dinner chair Bill Clinton.  Unfortunately, the guitarist had some technical difficulty when it came to his speech: "I actually thought I’d be really smart and write my speech on my Blackberry. I’m into technology, I’m The Edge," he said. "But I forgot to charge the battery. So I’ll just have to wing it."

April 23, 2007

Rosie Sounds Off

WaltersRosie O'Donnell used her post as host of the annual Matrix Awards in Gotham on Monday to take one more stab at Donald Trump. During the luncheon, which recognizes women who have established themselves in communications fields, O'Donnell had a few fighting words for Trump. "I have been dieting for two weeks ever since Trump called me fat," O'Donnell told the audience. "I was shocked and stunned (when he said that). It had been my goal for many years to give a bald, billionaire a boner." O’Donnell also took a few jabs at presenters Rupert Murdoch and Danny Meyer, who were on hand to award Cindy Adams and Pamela Fiori with their respective kudos. "This is celebration of women who changed the world and no one can understand why (Murdoch and Meyer) are here... While (Murdoch) seems to have a lot of power he couldn't keep Sanjaya on 'American Idol.'"  The kudofest also honored Meredith Vieira, Arianna Huffington, Joan Didion, Lisa Caputo, Susan Lyne and Thelma Golden while Hillary Rodham Clinton, Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters, Nora Ephron, Joy Behar and Deavere Smith were among the event's other presenters. (A. Morfoot)

April 18, 2007

The Other Cohen Brothers

Erron_2Sascha No, the photo on the left is not yet another character played by Sacha Baron Cohen, it's actually a whole other Cohen. Borat's brother, composer, Erran Baron Cohen, attended Tuesday night's ASCAP awards held at the Kodak Theater. The evening paid special tribute to composer, Marc Shaiman, who was presented with the Henry Mancini Award. Besides the Cohen brothers, the kudos fest honoring the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, brought out Billy Crystal, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Rob Reiner.

- posted by Mia Sulpor

April 16, 2007

GLAAD's Lauds and Laughs

AnistonThe GLAAD Media Awards at the Kodak Theater on Saturday night may have started off on serious note as T.R. Knight took the stage proclaiming “I’m angry, very angry at the inequality we face everyday and hopefully I can turn my anger into action, starting with being here tonight."

But things soon loosened up when Garry Marshall gave a history lesson, noting, “When ‘The Odd Couple’ first aired, they kept saying ‘We’re going to cancel the show because it’s about gay people,’ now they cancel the show if there’s no gay characters.”  Tennis great Martina Navratilova also lightened the mood by poking fun at America’s favorite “Idol” after a film tribute of her career highs and hair lows, “That video, those hairstyles. Sanjaya has nothing on me. At least I can play tennis,” the Stephen F. Kolzak winner gasped. Jake Gyllenhaal also had the aud laughing when he presented the Vanguard Award to Jennifer Aniston noting:  "People say actors are brave for taking certain roles. I say, 'No!' What's truly brave is picking out an outfit to wear in front of this crowd." (L. Repstad)

Ripa Takes Flight

Ripa_2Kelly Ripa took hosting duties to a new level when she flew in to the TV Land Awards on Saturday at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, dressed as The Flying Nun. In preperation for the show, Ripa formed her own blog where she shares her deep thoughts on topics such as who had the most beautiful braces on TV:

"Marcia Brady’s, without a doubt. Tootie’s were cute, and they were a nice, glittery distraction from the glaring absence of her roller skates in season 2. But what could be nicer than a set of braces that you only have to wear for a day? Because that’s how long Marcia had hers. Most braces involve at least two years of painful tooth shifting, unflattering railroad smile, and stubbornly lodged bits of bagel – followed by a series of retainers accidentally discarded on cafeteria trays. But not Marcia’s braces. All hers required were a single episode of emotional adjustment – and then they were never seen or spoken of again. She didn’t even need night gear. That’s what I call beautiful braces."

Also on hand was Carol Burnett who bestowed the Legacy of Laughter Award on Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. on behalf of their mother, Lucille Ball.

- posted by Mia Sulpor

April 11, 2007

Congrats! Here's a brick

Sarandon_5It seems like they have handed out everything when it comes to awards - Oscar's golden statue, MTV's moonman, Nickelodeon's surfboards and most recently, a good ol' brick. Yes, the Brick Awards took place in New York Tuesday night at the Nokia Theater and attracted Susan Sarandon, Mandy Moore, Fran Drescher and Petra Nemcova who were on hand to honor 12 young winners (ages 11 to 25) for helping to make the world a better place. The awards will air on the CW Network on Thursday.  Now, all those youngsters have to do is figure out where to display their shiny new brick. Perhaps, they will follow Sarandon's lead and put it in the bathroom where she keeps her Oscar. See where other winners have stashed their statue.

-posted by Mia Sulpor

April 10, 2007

Kudos for Keaton

Dkeaton_2The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Monday night Tribute to Diane Keaton seemed more like a Comedy Central roast. “(When I first met) Keaton two words went through my mind - Eve Harrington,” Woody Allen remembered. The director was one of the honoree’s many colleagues, which included Steve Martin, Meryl Streep, Sarah Jessica Parker and Martin Short, who took the stage at Avery Fisher Hall to salute Keaton. “Every film that I did with Keaton I always wrote all the good jokes and all the good scenes for me,” Allen said. “Then when the picture would come she got all the laughs and reviews. It was infuriating.” Allen, who skipped the dinner following the gala, went on to joke about Keaton's decision to be honored. “Somehow I knew (Keaton) would like (this). You get bathed in obsequious adulation all night long. So I told her ‘Yes I can think about nice things to say about you. (She is) punctual, thrifty and has wonderful handwriting. She was also always beautiful. Interestingly she is not beautiful in the conventional sense of the word beauty. In the conventional sense I mean pleasing to the eye.” Streep, who had the difficult task of following crowd pleasing Allen, also teased the honoree. “I love you Diane, even though you never call me!” (A. Morfoot)

March 23, 2007

Partying For A Purpose

TomThursday night's LA's Promise Gala in honor of Tom Cruise had all the makings of a box office hit – huge stars, great performances and a touching ending.

Cruise was honored by, Mentor LA, a non-profit dedicated to revitalizing schools and neighborhoods in the city. Jerry Bruckheimer felt it was a deserving award for Cruise and said of the star, “He has a good heart and is a caring individual who wants to help kids.”

Kanye West got the party started on the Twentieth Century Fox lot with a lively performance that had Cruise and the crowd dancing to his hit song, 'Gold Digger.' This was followed by a sit down dinner of pan roasted wild stripped bass, which was enjoyed by guests such as J.J. Abrams, Orlando Bloom, Cameron Crowe with wife Nancy Wilson, Ron Meyer, Terry Semel, Paula Wagner, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher.

Bloom_3 Stevie Wonder then took the stage and got everyone singing with his five song medley. “It felt like an after hours set,” said Crowe. “It was mind blowing.” Bloom echoed the sentiment saying, “I have been the biggest Stevie Wonder fan my whole life. This was like having Stevie in your living room.”

The spotlight then turned back on Cruise as he took the stage, following a ten-minute movie reel of all his work, to accept his award. After the applause died down, Cruise used his moment at the podium to thank the evening’s performers as well as his mother who he called, “my first mentor,” and his wife saying, “Katie, I love you so much. This has been an extraordinary evening for me. Thank you all so much.” (M. Sulpor)

March 07, 2007

Lauds and Laughs

Poster_3Entertainers, diplomats and Israeli film aficionados rubbed elbows on Tuesday night at the BevHilton’s gala dinner for the 22nd annual Israel Film Fest.

Among those honored was Sacha Baron Cohen, widely known for his fictional anti-semitic Kazakhstanian character, Borat, whose DVD, “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” was also released Tuesday.

Upon accepting his Achievement in Film nod, the British comedian, who usually arrives to industry events in character, announced that Borat “couldn’t be here tonight because he too is being honored for achievement in filmmaking at the Hezbollah Film Festival.”

Amy_pascal_1Other honorees included actor, Gila Almagor, who was feted with the fest’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, who was lauded with the Visionary Award.

Featured guests included Consul General of Israel Ehud Danoch, Dustin Hoffman, Jeff Goldblum and Adam Sandler who presented the evening’s honors.

Hoffman handed Cohen his award saying that he too would like to do a nude scene with him (a lá “Borat” co-star, Ken Davitian), to which Cohen quipped, “Dustin, it would be an honor to have your balls rest on my chin.” (D. Seif)

February 25, 2007

Liveblogging the Oscars: In which we take it from the top

Hudson

(At right: Jennifer and the Official Unfortunate Jacket of the 2007 Academy Awards)

10:25 So that's all, folks. It's been a long night and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. Me? I'm already thinking about next year: How can I get the Academy to issue jumpsuits to the press? Make them prison orange, I don't care. But this business of wearing chiffon and schlepping a laptop has gotta stop.

10:19 So I finally asked a question of Graham King, the producer of best picture winner "The Departed:" What did he think about the Brad Grey controversy, the fact that the Paramount Pictures head was denied a producing credit? "I think he deserved the credit on the picture, but I don't make the rules." No, he doesn't, but as the sole credited producer, he did give the speech at the Kodak -- and Brad Grey wasn't in it.   

10:09 Scott Rosenberg is a menace to society. His fawning, self-referential questions cause the NYT's David Halbfinger's head to pitch forward, nearly deleting his story.

10:04 Lotsa applause for Marty. Are his glasses getting bigger? And does he dye his eyebrows? After eight hours in this room those are my burning questions, but I don't think they would be appreciated.

9:55 Yeah, that Helen Mirren's a hottie. And she's drinking a Rose's Lime vodka gimlet. I am jealous.

9:46 Hours later, his Oscar win growing cold, we get Alan Arkin. He's talking about the futility of declaring better/best films. "I don't keep score." Yes, especially when "The Departed" won. But at least he's honest: "Everyone thinks I'm gonna keel over." For those keeping track: Arkin had to wait a long, long time between good movies. "Slums of Beverly Hills" was in 1998.

9:41 Forest came back! And for questions like, "What's it been like, the journey, your acting?" But what the hell, he just won an Oscar, so he'll play along.

9:29 We're in the home stretch now: The show's over, but we're still waiting for the good ones back here. Forest Whitaker's talking about finding the humanity in Idi Amin. But could we ask for a ban on the press prefacing their questions with "Congratulations?" After four hours, it starts to sound like "Gesundheit."

9:18 Hudson's still up there, but at least she's not talking about herself in the third person. She was struggling with that at some of the pre-Oscar parties.

9:13 Best picture at last. It's "The Departed." Damn. Never thought in a million years. Graham King's up there at the mike, by himself. And yep, he's got a little list.

9:11 It's Jennifer Hudson, in yet another dress, this one without the OUJ. And this brings on the onslaught of goofball questions. How will you stay the same sweet girl? What will you do to celebrate?

9:07 A Three Amigos joke, ho ho ho, it's Lucas/Coppola/Spielberg. Lucas calls Stephen Frears "Fears." Scorsese, please? This is his only shot... YES! Sorry, forgot myself. Press room goes nuts. Scorsese corrects the Academy with the source of "Infernal Affairs" -- it's Hong Kong.

9:02 Waiting for Forest.; Waiiting, waiting... and yep, there it is. And he's got a little list, he's got a little list! And for once, it's for a good cause, although the NYT's David Carr is not amused.

9:01 I don't know how Reese Witherspoon takes her chin through airport security.

8:57 Melissa Etheridege: "The Oscars are kind of like a gay holiday." and "This is the only naked man that will ever be in my bedroom."

8:56 Gun tumblers! This is messing with my head.

8:55 Best Comment Award goes to Pam Teagarden, who asked: "Where was Anna Nicole in the memorium?  Didn't she star in a movie about blonde aliens?" Indeed she did: Look for "Illegal Aliens" coming to a DVD box near you. However, more noteworthy is "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." I might recommend the organization of a formal protest if it weren't for the fact that she died two weeks ago -- I think the Oscars include only those who died in the prior calendar year. However, if she's not up there nexy year, you'll see me at the barricades.

8:52 Hey, it's Phillip Seymour Hoffman! Looking like he combed his hair with a mackerel! But's that's OK, because it's time for the Helen Mirren Wins An Oscar category, which means our long national nightmare is almost over.

8:49 Michael Arndt plays the modesty card: "It hasn't really been that successful," he says of "Little Miss Sunshine." "It's only made $60 million."

8:45 Yep, time for the official Oscar Deathmarch. I always like this bit -- there's always someone I've forgotten. This time, it's Maureen Stapleton and Jack Palance.

8:42 Best film editing goes to Thelma Schoonmaker for "The Departed." I fear it's another psychological sop for Scorsese -- best pic's gonna go to "Sunshine."

8:35 Will Smith is up - what's he introducing? Morricone's still talking. It's something political aand well meaning, only now there's clips from Superman and Talledega Nights. Truly baffling. Turns out to be Michael Mann's view of America.

8:30 Biggest press room applause of the night goes to Morricone.

8:28 And does all that hard work pay off? Nope - it's Melissa Etheridge, who found a way to rhyme "Inconvenient Truth." Al Gore and Davis Guggenheim watch her acceptance from backstage, their arms around each others's shoulders. Jennifer and Beyonce call off their BFF truce.

8:27 Damn, the "Dreamgirls" songfest is still going. Cate Blanchett's beginning to look a bit twitchy.

8:24 Gore fires off a contender for the night's best quote: "William Hung was a rock star; I just have a slide show."

8:21 Our girl is singing and then Beyonce rises from the floor. There's no hard feelings, especially since she gets to take the lead on the second song.

8:12 OK, original screenplay. "Little Miss Sunshine," right? "Pan's" doesn't have a chance, which is too bad; Tobey Maguire did a great job with the script reading. Yep, it's "Sunshine," but I don't care because Team "Inconvenient" is back here. And there's six of them, including someone I know, Scott Burns. In fact, he's holding the Oscar while Al's talking. That's a little weird. Al's still not wooden, either, although people keep calling him "Mr. President." He's talking about how the Academy's gone green and how the industry's stepping up... and how no, he's not gonna run. He's all climate, all the time.

8:08 "Babel" gets some love in the form of best score. It's the only category that the Three Amigos (directors of "Pan's," "Babel," "Children of Men") faced any head-to-head competition.

8:06 I go in search of water and discover that the hotel has run out. And I've cut my finger on the brad that holds the program together, leaving my keys a little sticky with blood. How much longer is the show going on?

7:55 Back on the broadcast, Ennio Morricone is receiving an honorary award; Celine Dion is singing. I am very grateful that the sound is down. 

7:53 Whooping and hollering for "The Lives of Others" director and the first question is in... German! One more reason to be grateful that I'm not responsible for backstage notes. All I understood was "Vanity Fair party."

7:47 OK, time to give it up to Al Gore, let the "Inconvenient" lovefest begin... the best documentary feature goes to -- yep. "We were inspired by this man," says Davis Guggenheim,  who's up there with Al Gore, Laurie David, Lawrence Bender and I think someone else. Hey! They get five people up there and the best picture only gets three? I'd like to see the Academy body-block Oscar-accepting wannabes... get the Tito Ortiz crowd to tune in.

7:43 To the surprise of no one, documentary short winners are seated in the very back of the theater.

7:39 Sherry Lansing comes backstagreallye in a cool dress, sort of like Cruella De Vil hosts a garden party. She says she had no idea who was going to give her the award, but that it explains why Tom Cruise was giving her the cold shoulder at the Oscar parties. Her prediction: Cruise will win an Oscar for producing and/or directing in the next five years.

7:34 OK, another good award, for supporting actress. Jennifer Hudson, right? Hey, our mascot got it! She's walking away with an Oscar in one hand and George Clooney in the other. Simon Cowell can rot in hell.

7:32 Yay, tumblers! I think it's "An Inconvenient Truth"... no, it's "Snakes on A Plane." It's a little like cloudwatching.

7:29 Clive Owen and Cate Blanchett prepare to give the best foreign language film: "Pan's Labyrinth" for four?  If it weren't for "Pan's," I'd say "The Lives of Others." Yep, got one: It's "The Lives of Others." Chalk one up for Michael and Tom at Sony Pictures Classics. Meanwhile, the "Pan's Labyrinth" cinematographer comes back to gamely take more questions in Spanish.

7:25 Milena Canonero, the winner for best costume design, is backstage; this time, questions come in Italian. I've never heard so many foreign languages at the Oscars. And no sooner did I type that than she said, "The Oscars are American and America speaks English. I'd like to speak to the audience in English." The press obliges.

7:20 Robert Downey, Jr. makes a self-deprecating drug abuse joke in the name of the best visual effects award, which goes to "Pirates of the Carribbean." The more interesting question remains unanswered: did anyone vote for "Poseidon?"

7:16 "Little Miss Sunshine" tumblers!

7:14 "Pan's Labyrinth" goes three for three with best cinematography. New Line has what's probably it's worst year ever until the two days of December, when Picturehouse releases this weird little Spanish-language anti-Fascist fantasy that becomes the best-reviewed/most-awarded film of the year. Go Bob Berney.

7:12 A vague William Monahan backstage takes questions. As he said in his acceptance speech, Valium works.

7:05 Tom Cruise on stage, without Suri and with the bangs out of his face. He's giving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian award to Sherry Lansing which, as Nikki Finke pointed out, is something of an inside joke since both Cruise and Lansing were kicked out of heaven/Paramount by Jehovah/Sumner Redstone. They walk off stage together, no doubt to plot their revenge.

7:02 Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt give the costume Oscar to "Marie Antoinette." I've never heard two presenters giggle so much.

7:00 pm Meryl Streep gets a bigger laugh giving a steely glare behind sunglasses than Ellen De Generes does wearing an ill-concieved Oscar-Bjorn.

6:53 William Monahan wins for best adapted screenplay with "The Departed;" the Academy embarasses itself by calling "Infernal Affairs," the original film, Japanese. 

6:45 Fracas in the press room!

The "Iwo Jima" "Dreamgirls" mixers were hating on "Apocalypto" sound mixer Kevin O'Connell who is, according to the winning mixers, little more than a whiny bee-otch.

"Maybe he should just go away after 19 wins and let it stand as a record," said one third of the mixer team. "I just wonder what he's trying to prove. He's an OK mixer, but enough's enough. Maybe he should  take up another line of work."

One of his partners (sorry, I don't know their names) was a little more mellow. "I think Kevin's time will come," he said. "He should just relax."

Who is this Kevin? Is he the Sally Kirkland of sound mixers?

6:44 Heh. "Happy Feet" won.

6:43 Sharon Waxman at the New York Times: "That's how they introduce Cameron Diaz? 'The voice of Princess Fiona?' "

6:40 The "Dreamgirls" sound mixers come backstage to a smattering of applause. I have to think the press room looks like something to be endured. We're all on deadline and no one's looking at them, not even the people who ask questions.

6:38 Al Gore and Leo Di Caprio. Gore looks more comfortable onstage at the Oscars than he ever did stumping for votes.

6:31 Back at the Oscars, Randy Newman is at the piano for the "Cars" theme while James Taylor sings and plays acoustic guitar. Has anyone noticed Taylor now looks just like the creepy chiropractor in "Ed Wood"? Probably not.

6:29 The first English-language question, for the Danish winner of best animated short. Unfortunately, it's not a very interesting answer. She doesn't have any plans for features and wants to make more short films.

6:26 More scrim tumblers! What the -- oh. They're penguin-shaped.

6:22 The first real category of the night, for supporting actor. It's Eddie Murphy, right? And this is where it gets tough: while they're announcing the winner on stage -- it's Alan Arkin, I'm dead wrong -- and I can't hear a thing. Backstage, the achievement in makeup winner is answering more questions in Spanish and I have no idea what Arkin's saying. Not that it matters, probably. The Oscar's sitting on stage so he can read his thank-you notes.

6:19 Sound mixing goes to "Dreamgirls," thereby cutting "Apocalypto" out of the race. Bob Iger was right. And more speechreading! More orchestral drop-kicks!

6:15 "Letters From Iwo Jima" gets best sound editing, bringing us the first prepared thank-you list for the night. He reads it verbatim, thereby depriving his partner the chance to speak.

6:14 Steve Carrell and Greg Kinnear make a sound editing joke that incorporates both masturbation and prostitution.

6:12 For the sound editing category, we have a presentation that resembles a choir performing bird calls.

6:11 Ellen apologizes for insinuating that Penelope Cruz is from Mexico.

6:04 Questions for the "Pan's Labyrinth" art director team. Five out of six questions are in Spanish. I have a feeling that will happen a lot tonight.

The Oscar camera pans on what appears to be an entirely bald Jack Nicholson. He appears truly terrifying.

6:00 The first awkward stage patter, between preteens Abigail Breslin and Jaden Smith. Innocence lost.

5:57 The "Apocalypto" shutout begins: "Pan's Labyrinth" wins for makeup. And it's the first overrun -- the orchestra kicks them off the stage.

5:53: Will Ferrell and Jack Black get the first real laughs of the night, although John C. Reilly may have been redundant -- Ferrell looks more like him every day.

5:50: "We do want the art direction, winner, right?" A woman at the front of the room wants us to specifically request each Oscar winner for questions. What the hell? Can you imagine winning, only to be told "Uh...  nevermind. Hey! Wolfgang Puck's got some great snacks!"

5:49 pm Again with the inscrutable acrobatic tumblers, this time behind a scrim.

5:45 pm I'm sitting next to the AP reporter from Venezuela, which means I have a good seat. "Pan's Labyrinth" won the first award (the uh-huh category of art direction). She's been busy collecting Oscar stats on Mexican and Spanish-language filmmakers. They'll probably be put to good use.

Ready or not, we have sound.

It's the official Oscar preshow.

What I've learned:

Yves St. Laurent can make bad fashion choices.

According to Steve Carrell, Greg Kinnear has intense body odor.

According to Kate Winslet, shooting a nude scene is like giving birth.

The Oscars are "very exciting." (Jennifer Hudson, Penelope Cruz)

They are also "so great." (Cameron Diaz)

Six Mexican directors equal one Scorsese.

Mark Wahlberg enjoyed making his costars miserable.

"I even like 'Pluto Nash." -- Eddie Murphy, on liking all of his movies.

Everyone Andre Leo Talley interviews has "such style."

Oscar red carpet: Don't you know who I am?

Dancers Although the Oscar press room is inside the Renaissance Hotel, maybe 100 yards away from the red carpet, we have have no idea what's going on out there. The live feed goes to four flat-screen TVs at the front of the ballroom, but our camera is on a mission all its own. Crowd shot! Shaky crowd shot! Extreme zoom, followed by closeup of red-carpet photographer's bald spot!

And since we don't have the benefit of sound, it's amazing how many celebrities (here, defined as someone deemed worthy of having a microphone shoved in front of his or her face) are rendered anonymous. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, sure. Catherine Denueve and Felicity Huffman, fine. And there's Phillip Glass and Jennifer Hudson and Sherry Lansing.

But a blonde in a purple gown becomes The Chick with the Scapulas That Could Double As Coat Pegs. And a couple dressed in head-to-toe black become The Viggo Mortensen Wannabe Whose Date Has A Tattoo. (I have no idea what those people in the blue leotards were doing on the red carpet, either, but I suspect that was true no matter where you were.)

"Apocalypto" nominees: Send the hotel bills to Mel Gibson

MakeupBest story I've heard this Oscar weekend comes courtesy of Variety's part-time priest and peripatetic partygoer, Bill Higgins.

Friday night he chatted with Vittorio Sodano, who, with Aldo Signoretti, shares a Best Achievement in Makeup nomination for "Apocalypto." It's one of three noms claimed by Disney's controversial Mel Gibson pic (the others are in sound -- mixing and editing).

Miramax aside, Disney's never been big on Oscars. However, its Academy Awards enthusiasm may have reached a new low. The studio's Oscar-night "Apocalypto" expenses appear to be limited to the nominees' coach plane tickets. If Sodano wanted a hotel, much less a limo, he was on his own.

"Someone on the phone (from Disney) tell me," he said, shrugging. "I'm 32. I'm happy to be here. I would have paid twice for the limo."

This is the Oscars. This is your Variety reporter at the Oscars.

Hpim0060 Note the lovely evening bag.

My name is Dana Harris, I'm the editor of Variety.com and I'll be your well-groomed guide backstage at the 2007 Academy Awards.

I apologize for the utterly un-Oscarish photo, but the Academy has made their position abundantly clear: Take so much as a Polaroid backstage and you, too, shall be drawn and quartered. So I'm leaving the camera at home.

What you will get is near-constant updates of the weird world that inside the Oscars' press room. I'll provide everything from the winners' speeches to the snarky asides that result when you force 300 journalists into formalwear so they can spend six hours watching television and writing on a laptop. I'll need a drink afterward, but for now I'm your blogger. (Except for my sister-in-law Betsy, who thinks I'm a "flogger." And who am I to tell her differently?)

February 20, 2007

Costumers Get Kudos

Newsandra The 9th Annual Costume Designer' s Guild Awards took place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Saturday night. The evening began with a cocktail reception followed by a three course meal surrounding the elegant crystal centerpiece by Swarovski as a big band played well know tunes until the award's part of the ceremony was underway.

Sandra Bullock, received the Swarovski President's Award saying costume designers are like "talented architects," while Helen Mirren was recognized for her work on "The Queen." Taking top honors were designers for  "Curse of the Golden Flower," Pan's Labyrinth," "Rome" and "Ugly Betty."

Other celebrities in attendance included: Peter Fonda, Patrick Swayze, and John Landis. Bruce Willis added to the star filled evening after being spotted on the hotel's outside steps. (E. Stitt)

Not So Tasteful Art Awards

Newergoran_1 It's a good thing the Annual Art Directors Guild's Excellence in Production Design Awards Saturday night weren't televised, otherwise someone would surely have been slapped with an FCC fine and the nods would have been unbearably dry.

Guild members arrived in their finest to toast their own but presenter Charles Durning arrived already toasted. After a humorous yet somewhat long winded monologue by host Steven Weber where he spoke of the virtues of the adult film industry before "realizing" the audience was far too clothed to be porn stars and that he must be at the wrong awards ceremony. "Okay... Art Directors... How hard can that be?" he concluded after "figuring out" where he was.

Tastefully tributing the scene makers proved rather tricky. Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Goran Visnjic managed it. Weber kept venturing into slightly risque adult innuendos but it was Durning who left the Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom speechless with his unsolicited advice to Weber, "If you're ever gonna have sex with an animal, make sure it's a horse... that way, when its all over, you'll at least have a ride home," he advised. (L.Repstad)

February 19, 2007

Bookworms hail "Children of Men"

Cuaron The USC Libraries gave their 19th annual Scripter kudos Sunday night to the writers of "Children of Men." Author P.D. James -- that's Her Ladyship Baroness James of Holland Park to you and me -- accepted by a videotaped message, but screenwriters Alfonso Cuaron, Timothy Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby were very much in attendance. In a private reception before the ceremony, presenter and "Children of Men" cast member Danny Huston, MC Henry Winkler and eminence-emeritus Hal Kanter mingled with the honorees and the selection committee, including Naomi Foner (with hubby Steven Gyllenhaal), Leonard Maltin and Howard Rodman.

It was Fegus & Ostley, now writing "Iron Man," who had first crack at the adaptation. Fergus said "Our idea was to make this 'Casablanca.' It’s about sacrificing yourself for some greater good, for someone who hurt you in the past." Sexton said that he and Cuaron didn't find a way into the story until after the Sept. 11 attacks. "The infertility became a metaphor for the hopelessness that the world experienced after 9/11," said Sexton, who said of the Scripter honors "This is gravy. This is unimaginable. Because Alfonso and I basically broke this in an apartment in London six years ago. And we spent three months holed up, no phone, winter, London, which is, London in winter is a good place to contemplate what the end of the world looks like. And we felt we had something but this is as good as could have imagined."

In accepting the award, Cuaron listed an impressive array of authors who provided fodder for the film's dystopian vision, including James Lovelock and his Gaia theory, journalist Naomi Klein and her warnings about utopias, John Gray and "The Myth of Progress," Jared Diamond's "Collapse," Tzvetan Todorov and his essays on humiliation and fear, Richard Dawkins and "The Selfish Gene," and others. Music to the ears of the USC Libraries and bookworms everywhere.

At the end of the night, Winkler was surprised with a special award. Named a Friend of the Libraries, he will be forever immortalized by his name on a plaque on one drawer of the library's card catalog. But Winkler may be even happier to know that there was such a run on copies of his own book from the "Hank Zipser" series that there weren't enough for all the gift bags.

February 12, 2007

Effects experts salute their own

Landis It was a happy night for George Lucas and his Industrial Light & Magic crew at the 5th annual Visual Effects Society Awards at the Kodak Grand Ballroom.  Not only did "Pirates of the Caribbean" sweep six awards, and ILM's eight-time Oscar winner Dennis Muren get the VES's lifetime achievement award, but the final awards were presented by a former ILM hand, "Heroes" star Masi Oka, who thanked ILM "for not letting me be a starving actor."  Oka said afterwards that when he worked in vfx, he used to get very excited when an actor would come to see a shot, and now that he's on a show, even the old hands at ILM treat him a little differently. "I wanted things to stay the same, but..." he said.

The gathering included Lucas himself, who presented Muren's lifetime kudo. Lucas said that he considers Muren a peer but that Muren's hair had grown white from all the times Lucas had beaten him up to get what he wanted. On which movie did he beat him up the worst? "The first 'Star Wars,'" said Lucas after a pause. "I beat him up pretty bad on that one."

Also in attendance were "Pirates" helmer Gore Verbinski, vfx legend Phil Tippett, Pixar's Andrew Stanton, JibJab's Evan Spiridellis and even Apple computer co-founder Steve Wozniak. "Pirates" vfx supervisor John Knoll talked Macintoshes with Woz, and later told Variety that "(Wozniak) is a hero of mine from way back. My first exposure to a real live computer was in 1978. My Dad bought an Apple II and it changed my life." Woz, for his part, said "I'm almost trembling" to meet so many vfx pros. "Their movies have affected my life more than the computer has affected theirs," he said.Wozniak

Muren and the older presenters, including Lucas and Landis, noted how different the huge and elegant gathering was from their early days, when there was no visual effects industry, only a handful of "special effects" people who shared their work in hole-in-the-wall theaters. Presenter Landis got perhaps the biggest reaction of the night, noting that when he started in movies, most exploitation films were pretty good until the monster or spaceship showed up. Now, he said, the effects are brilliant; "the difference is the movies are shit." Afterward Tippett sought out Landis to call the speech "music to my heart." Landis, tongue firmly in cheek, said of Tippett "This guy's an asshole, but he's one of the most brilliant guys I know. It doesn't make up for him being an asshole, but he truly is extraordinary."  (D. Cohen)

February 10, 2007

Acad Fetes its Geeks

Maggie_3 The Motion Picture Academy held its Sci-Tech Awards Saturday night at the Beverly Wilshire , a new venue for the kudofest, which has bounced around for several years. New mom Maggie Gyllenhaal hosted, looking radiant in a pewter dress while beau Peter Sarsgaard watched from a front table. Academy prexy Sid Ganis kept the couple company at the couple company along with Scientific and Technical Awards committee chair Don Rogers. Other luminaries in attendance included Ed Begley Jr., Walter Murch and Bob Rehme.

As usual, the honorees included more than a few cutups. "An award like this is a rare and beautiful thing. An award like this to a geek... is the square of that" quipped Industrial Light & Magic's Colin Davidson from the podium. Earlier in the evening, Josh Pines of Technicolor Digital Intermediate got a big laugh when he picked up his Technical Achievement Award -- a paper certificate -- and said "This thing is heavy, they're right." He thanked the Acad for recognizing TDI for "preserving our movies so future generations can see them, even if they are 'Norbit.'"

Gyllenhaal warned everyone at the outset that "I fulfilled my college science requirement by taking earth science and dinosaurs," then ploughed gamely through monologues about densitometers, optical flow-based image manipulation and lossy compression. More of a problem, she said, was her contact lenses, which need a new prescription and weren't strong enough for her to see the script on her teleprompter. "I couldn't even read 'I-L-M,'" a chagrinned Gyllenhaal told Variety afterwards. Still, she kept the aud on her side and got a big hand at the end. As for Sarsgaard, he said "I just love watching her talk. Especially in a nice dress." (D. Cohen)

February 05, 2007

Stars, They're Just Like Us