Backstage at the Oscars: 2014
Awards Season is over and yet my dreams have only been elevated. My drive accelerated. A few minutes after the Academy Award telecast had ended, I whipped off an email to my agent begging him:
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| The Media Guy at the Oscars. |
“I know I bore you with this…but I have to win an Oscar…Once you told me that the best clients you have are the ones that want to make the money and win awards. No drama. Nothing else. PLEASE. Make it happen from the business side. Draw me a map and I’ll follow it.”
His reply?: “I will.”
Here’s to dreaming.
My annual Media Guy column on the Oscars has become a tradition and easily the one that gets the most requests. I am fortunate enough to have been be part of this event for the last three years. One day I hope to walk the red carpet instead of working it.
Again, here’s to dreaming.
Before we go backstage, let’s revisit Flubgate. You know
Flubgate. That fabulous second-and-a-half where John Travolta now infamously
introduced Idina Menzel (Ih-deen-ah Men-zelle) as Adele Dazeem. Whoops!
I will admit that even after seeing the amazing Disney
move “Frozen” that her name was a mystery to me. But Travolta took
the science of mangling a name to unknown heights, er, depths. So much so that there is an online app where you type in any name and “Travoltifies” it for you. Travolta’s PR machine
has gone into retreat mode with his publicist releasing a cutsie-canned
statement musing on what would Menzel say (WWMS): “She’d say, ‘Let it go, let it
go!”–an obvious salute to her Oscar-winning song.
Surely Menzel must have been a bit irritated that her
name was butchered in front of a billion people who barely knew her anyway
right? Apparently, in true McDonald’s style, she’s lovin’ it! In the last few
days alone, David Letterman themed a Top 10 list to her, her Twitter followers
have surged to over to a half million, she earned a coveted spot on the “The
Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and sales to her new Broadway show are hot,
hot, hot.
name was butchered in front of a billion people who barely knew her anyway
right? Apparently, in true McDonald’s style, she’s lovin’ it! In the last few
days alone, David Letterman themed a Top 10 list to her, her Twitter followers
have surged to over to a half million, she earned a coveted spot on the “The
Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and sales to her new Broadway show are hot,
hot, hot.
All this proves one time-honored truth: There is no such
thing as bad publicity. And now one with the show.
thing as bad publicity. And now one with the show.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here’s The
Media Guy’s journey and perspective backstage at the 86th Academy Awards® with
five pictures and about 1,500 words including interview excerpts and intimate
insights.
Media Guy’s journey and perspective backstage at the 86th Academy Awards® with
five pictures and about 1,500 words including interview excerpts and intimate
insights.
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| Jennifer Lawrences laughs with McConaughey about her tripping episodes. |
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH:
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Best Lead Actor
Q. What does it feel to have your first one [Oscar] with
your first nomination right now with you?
your first nomination right now with you?
A. Feels… I’m not going to say surreal. I did not
expect it. But it’s the end ‑‑ it’s a bit
of the end of a journey with this film that I mean, the script that came across
my desk four years ago. And also, my
wife and I were talking about it this morning when we woke up, not
knowing what would happen tonight, saying, hey, whatever happens tonight, four
years ago, I decided to go to work doing four films a year. That was easy for
me to do. She came with the kids, followed me everywhere, and we went, and it
was harder for her than it was for me.
expect it. But it’s the end ‑‑ it’s a bit
of the end of a journey with this film that I mean, the script that came across
my desk four years ago. And also, my
wife and I were talking about it this morning when we woke up, not
knowing what would happen tonight, saying, hey, whatever happens tonight, four
years ago, I decided to go to work doing four films a year. That was easy for
me to do. She came with the kids, followed me everywhere, and we went, and it
was harder for her than it was for me.
And now, the ultimate light, the gold standard of the
light of excellence is shined on it [“Dallas Buyers Club”], not just
in my performance, but we had a couple of other things tonight. We had six nominations. Jared won, the makeup and hair won with a
$250 budget. Oh, they were stealing
charcoal and stuff to do our makeup.
That’s extra rewarding for me because I was a part of that team that was
pushing this thing, trying to push the thing over the hill that nobody wanted
to make.
light of excellence is shined on it [“Dallas Buyers Club”], not just
in my performance, but we had a couple of other things tonight. We had six nominations. Jared won, the makeup and hair won with a
$250 budget. Oh, they were stealing
charcoal and stuff to do our makeup.
That’s extra rewarding for me because I was a part of that team that was
pushing this thing, trying to push the thing over the hill that nobody wanted
to make.
And I’m standing here now. It’s something that I got to ‑‑ I got a prize for excellence for the
work I do in something that’s not my job, it’s not my hobby and it’s not my
fad; it’s my career. That feels wonderful.
work I do in something that’s not my job, it’s not my hobby and it’s not my
fad; it’s my career. That feels wonderful.
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| Leto with 2013 Oscar winner Anne Hathaway |
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH:
Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Q. Jared, your collaborators in makeup and hairstyling
have just won one of those statues. Can you talk about your collaboration with
them in this performance?
have just won one of those statues. Can you talk about your collaboration with
them in this performance?
A. Well, you know, they had a budget of $250. I’m not
joking. That’s the truth. And they worked the hardest out of anyone on the
entire set. Makeup, hair, they’re always the first to set in the morning. I
don’t know if you guys probably know this. They show up at the crack‑ass of dawn, and they leave at the crack‑ass of dawn. They’re there all the time
and they were tireless, tireless workers. And essential to the building of
these characters and performances. Thank you.
joking. That’s the truth. And they worked the hardest out of anyone on the
entire set. Makeup, hair, they’re always the first to set in the morning. I
don’t know if you guys probably know this. They show up at the crack‑ass of dawn, and they leave at the crack‑ass of dawn. They’re there all the time
and they were tireless, tireless workers. And essential to the building of
these characters and performances. Thank you.
Q. I wanted to ask you, you talked about the dreamers.
You took time to talk about dreamers and people who have felt they were
subjected to injustices.
You took time to talk about dreamers and people who have felt they were
subjected to injustices.
A. Yes.
Q. Why did you want to take moments to express your
thoughts to these people on this occasion?
thoughts to these people on this occasion?
A. That’s a great question. Number one, because it’s
important to me. Number two, because I think it’s appropriate to the material,
to the story, to the film. And number three, because you have an opportunity
when you stand on this stage. You can make it about yourself or you can hold up
a mirror and shine a light, and that’s what I chose to do tonight. I mean,
because of Thirty Seconds to Mars, because I’m in a band, how many people are
here from outside of the ‑‑ of the USA?
Quite a few of you. Okay. Good. I’m at home then. But I feel at home all
over the world. And you know, for me, these global issues impact us in a really
direct way.
important to me. Number two, because I think it’s appropriate to the material,
to the story, to the film. And number three, because you have an opportunity
when you stand on this stage. You can make it about yourself or you can hold up
a mirror and shine a light, and that’s what I chose to do tonight. I mean,
because of Thirty Seconds to Mars, because I’m in a band, how many people are
here from outside of the ‑‑ of the USA?
Quite a few of you. Okay. Good. I’m at home then. But I feel at home all
over the world. And you know, for me, these global issues impact us in a really
direct way.
Let me give you an example. We have a show in the Ukraine
in a couple of weeks. We have a show in Thailand in a few weeks. We had a show
in Venezuela in the works. So, these things, social unrest, you know, social
issues like this affect us in a really immediate way. So, I felt on behalf of
the people that I interact with on Instagram and Twitter and Facebook, and my
own interests as, you know, a global ‑‑ being a person in a global band, it was important to address
those things. Thank you.
in a couple of weeks. We have a show in Thailand in a few weeks. We had a show
in Venezuela in the works. So, these things, social unrest, you know, social
issues like this affect us in a really immediate way. So, I felt on behalf of
the people that I interact with on Instagram and Twitter and Facebook, and my
own interests as, you know, a global ‑‑ being a person in a global band, it was important to address
those things. Thank you.
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| Blanchett was ever prideful the Aussie Talent. |
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH
Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Q. You said you were determined to figure out a way to
have fun in this process. Could you
possibly have fun on a day like today that meant so much, worrying about rain
and worrying about Academy Awards?
have fun in this process. Could you
possibly have fun on a day like today that meant so much, worrying about rain
and worrying about Academy Awards?
A. Oh, this city needs rain so badly. I mean, you know, it’s a little slight
inconvenience when you’re wearing a dress, but it’s so good for the
reservoir. So, no, I didn’t worry about
that. And I had the most phenomenal
massage this morning.
inconvenience when you’re wearing a dress, but it’s so good for the
reservoir. So, no, I didn’t worry about
that. And I had the most phenomenal
massage this morning.
Q. What are your hopes in continuing to challenge
yourself in acting?
yourself in acting?
A. Maybe it’s time to stop. Look it’s ‑‑ roles like this don’t come along very often, and as I think I
said, or I hope I said, or I imagined I said, that it was a real synthesis for
me of the long, deep connection I’ve had with the theatre. And the kind of often sort of intangible connection
I’ve had to film. And I think Woody
Allen and the script that he wrote provided me that forum to kind of make that
synthesis happen. You know, someone who
is ‑‑ had a very fragmented sense of
self. I mean, I don’t think I could have
approached that in as bold a way as perhaps I did risking for a year as
I did without having worked with the folks at the Sydney Theatre Company as
intensively as I have.
said, or I hope I said, or I imagined I said, that it was a real synthesis for
me of the long, deep connection I’ve had with the theatre. And the kind of often sort of intangible connection
I’ve had to film. And I think Woody
Allen and the script that he wrote provided me that forum to kind of make that
synthesis happen. You know, someone who
is ‑‑ had a very fragmented sense of
self. I mean, I don’t think I could have
approached that in as bold a way as perhaps I did risking for a year as
I did without having worked with the folks at the Sydney Theatre Company as
intensively as I have.
Is that enough?
Surely there’s someone else that you can feed on.
Surely there’s someone else that you can feed on.
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH
Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years A Slave”
Best Supporting Actress in a Leading Role
Q. Maya Angelou says that we are more alike than we are
different. And you have been the it girl
on this entire award season journey and have met a whole lot of people. So my question is: What on this journey that you’ve been on, are
you going to take and understand about the human spirit?
different. And you have been the it girl
on this entire award season journey and have met a whole lot of people. So my question is: What on this journey that you’ve been on, are
you going to take and understand about the human spirit?
A. Hmm. That’s a
tough one. Oh, that’s tough. But I ‑‑ I don’t know whether I can answer that question. What I will say is that what I have learned
for myself is that I don’t have to be anybody else; and that myself is
good enough; and that when I am being true to that self, then I can do ‑‑ I can avail myself to extraordinary
things such as this, you know, that I didn’t ‑‑ if ‑‑ that I
didn’t think was necessarily possible; but I ‑‑ I didn’t cancel it out of my realm of ‑‑ of ‑‑ of
possibility, and I think that’s the thing.
You have to allow for the impossible to be possible.
tough one. Oh, that’s tough. But I ‑‑ I don’t know whether I can answer that question. What I will say is that what I have learned
for myself is that I don’t have to be anybody else; and that myself is
good enough; and that when I am being true to that self, then I can do ‑‑ I can avail myself to extraordinary
things such as this, you know, that I didn’t ‑‑ if ‑‑ that I
didn’t think was necessarily possible; but I ‑‑ I didn’t cancel it out of my realm of ‑‑ of ‑‑ of
possibility, and I think that’s the thing.
You have to allow for the impossible to be possible.
Q. You’ve been known for your incredible acting and your
fashion on the red carpet, but you’ve also been really known for your poised
attitude. You’re very humble. What has led you to become this way and will
continue to be such a humble lady in this industry?
fashion on the red carpet, but you’ve also been really known for your poised
attitude. You’re very humble. What has led you to become this way and will
continue to be such a humble lady in this industry?
A. I think credit must be given to my parents. I have phenomenal parents. My father is famous in his own right, has
done amazing things for our country, Kenya, and my mother, too. She’s a trailblazer. She’s ‑‑ she’s a pioneer. And to watch
those two people do so much and mean so much to everyone but not ‑‑ it doesn’t ‑‑ but at the end of the day still
have the humility to serve, I think ‑‑ I think their example because at the end of the day I ‑‑ I just feel it is my deeds that are more
important than my ‑‑ than my fame
or ‑‑ you know? Yeah.
I ‑‑ yeah.
done amazing things for our country, Kenya, and my mother, too. She’s a trailblazer. She’s ‑‑ she’s a pioneer. And to watch
those two people do so much and mean so much to everyone but not ‑‑ it doesn’t ‑‑ but at the end of the day still
have the humility to serve, I think ‑‑ I think their example because at the end of the day I ‑‑ I just feel it is my deeds that are more
important than my ‑‑ than my fame
or ‑‑ you know? Yeah.
I ‑‑ yeah.
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH
Alfonso Cuarón, “Gravity”
Best Directing
Q. The first time that you were on stage tonight, you
didn’t give any speech. Were you risking
some uncomfortable conversations if you didn’t get back on stage a second time
to thank your family and everybody else or were you confident that you would
have another chance?
didn’t give any speech. Were you risking
some uncomfortable conversations if you didn’t get back on stage a second time
to thank your family and everybody else or were you confident that you would
have another chance?
A. No. I mean, you
don’t think so much about the other chance because when you’re so used to lose,
you don’t think you’re going to have another break. But it was good that a lot of great people
that were around that make this film happen, particularly from the editorial
standpoint, were acknowledged. Part of
the editorial thing, that yes, I said it before that I think is very important
is that we are serving performances, and I don’t think that enough was said
about Sandra’s performance.
don’t think so much about the other chance because when you’re so used to lose,
you don’t think you’re going to have another break. But it was good that a lot of great people
that were around that make this film happen, particularly from the editorial
standpoint, were acknowledged. Part of
the editorial thing, that yes, I said it before that I think is very important
is that we are serving performances, and I don’t think that enough was said
about Sandra’s performance.
Q. You’ve got an Oscar in each hand. How does that feel?
A. Balanced.
Heavy. No, it’s fantastic. Look, what is fantastic of this evening is
that this has been a very long process.
And, as I said in the speech, yes, it has been a very transformative
process for a lot of folks involved in the film. And this just marks a closure, and I’m so
grateful for ‑‑ I’m grateful with GRAVITY and these and
the fact that some other members of the artistic team that made this film
happen were celebrated. It’s a joy.
Heavy. No, it’s fantastic. Look, what is fantastic of this evening is
that this has been a very long process.
And, as I said in the speech, yes, it has been a very transformative
process for a lot of folks involved in the film. And this just marks a closure, and I’m so
grateful for ‑‑ I’m grateful with GRAVITY and these and
the fact that some other members of the artistic team that made this film
happen were celebrated. It’s a joy.
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Past Oscars Columns:
2013 – Backstage at the Oscars: 2013
2012 – Backstage at the Oscars
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