Okay, so where am I? 

It’s been a light red carpet season. I’ve only done two—the Grammys and now today at the Academy Awards. Nothing is better that than when your feet hit that Oscars burgundy carpet. Your imagination soars and you can’t help by daydream of carrying a thirteen-and-a-half-inch tall, eight-and-a-half pound golden statuette.

In good news for the Academy, the telecast drew a 7.7 rating for the ever-valuable demographic adults 18-49 and 29.6 million overall viewers. That’s up from a 6.8 rating and 26.5 million last year, or an increase of 12%. In bad news, this year was the second smallest audience ever for an Oscars telecast.

I am very unhappy to report that my agent has been M.I.A. once again as hope and pray one of my four scripts or two (yet unpublished) books find a way to be developed into a real movie. Alas, no movie this year, but I did pick up a sweet gig writing NHL and Los Angeles Kings columns this past year (no help from my agent, thank you!).

So for the eighth straight year, here’s my first-hand view of the happenings backstage at the 91st Academy Awards:

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH:
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Rami Malek: Wait a second. Let’s hold on. Am I one of the last ones here? Well, I just want to say thank you guys for being here. And I will say this: I don’t think critically the decision on this film was unanimous, but I do appreciate everything you guys had to write. As a kid, I read criticism of film, and I learned so much from it. So no matter what, I still do very much appreciate you. Thank you.

Q: I don’t know how I can follow that. Congratulations, first of all, and I know you’ve heard that a lot tonight. But I have to ask, please explain to us and describe for us when you first got this role and what happened exactly at that moment and when did this role become a reality for you? When did it really hit you that you’re playing Freddie Mercury?

Mike Baker / ©A.M.P.A.S.

RM: I really got blessed. Last night Mr. Spielberg, he had his daughter come up to me and say, hey, make sure you say hi to Rami Malek. It would mean a lot to me and it would mean a lot to him. So I had a seminal moment in my life where I knew some auteurs could influence my life. Since then, I’m about to begin Season 4 of Mr. Robot with Sam Esmail. And in the middle of the second, no, the third season, while we were working on that, I got a call from Graham King and Dennis O’Sullivan to meet them in Los Angeles, and they were fans of Mr. Robot. And I don’t know how they thought a young man who felt so alienated, profoundly alienated, with such social anxiety could ever play Freddie Mercury. But the one thing that was beautiful about it was I started to discover that in this audacious, present, communicative, powerful human being there was a sense of loneliness and a sense of anxiety, and I could relate the two together. So I thank them for discovering that in me, but I do have to thank so many great auteurs who have brought me to the point where I felt confident in my work. And Spike Lee is one of them. Alfonso Cuarón is one of them. Paul Thomas Anderson is one of them. Sam Esmail is definitely one of them. The list goes on. But it was the confidence that they all imbued in me to be able to think that I could take on this challenge. Then , well, that’s a long story. And Tom Hanks. Let’s not forget Tom Hanks.

Q: Allow me on behalf of all the Arab world to say congratulations. We’re so happy that you won with the participation of three nominees this year from the Arab world. You have the trophy.I read that you grew up loving Umm Kulthum and Omar Sharif and there’s plenty of Arab young talents growing up now loving Rami Malek. If it’s not too much to ask, can we get your answer? What would you say to these guys or ladies, in Arabic, if possible?

RM: Well, I will begin by saying [speaks Arabic.] I would say that as a young man, my sister was born in Egypt. I think when I grew up as a kid, I wanted part of me felt like I need to shed some of that. I wanted to I didn’t feel like I fit in. I definitely felt like the outsider. And as I got older, I realized just how beautiful my heritage and my tradition is, and the wealth of culture and magic and music and film and just pure art that comes out of the Middle East. And now I’m so privileged to represent it. And to anyone from there, and for that matter the entire world, we all got a shot at this. We really do.

Q: You gave a beautiful speech in which it seems like it talks a lot about what happened tonight. There was a lot of inclusion it seems, a lot of films that have been talking about that aspect, and I wonder how much in that respect that this Oscar of yours now fits into that and reflects that.

RM: It’s a political question, and I appreciate it, but…

Q: No, no. I mean, I’m talking about the inclusion of the films.

RM: Yeah. I will say, look, I mean, I grew up in a world where I never thought I was going to play the lead on Mr. Robot because I never saw anyone in a lead role that looked like me. I never thought that I could possibly play Freddie Mercury until I realized his name was Farrokh Bulsara, and that is the most powerful message that was sent to me from the beginning. That was the motivation that allowed me to say, oh, I can do this. And that man steps on stage and he moves people in a way that no one else does, and he has ability to look everyone in the eye and see them for who they are. And that’s because he was struggling to identify himself. And all of that passion and virtue and everything burning inside of him allowed him to look to everybody else and say, hey, I see you. Not right here in the front; I see you there in the back. I see all of you, I will play to all of you, and together we will transcend. Because it’s not about being from one place or looking like one thing, one race. Any of that. We are all human beings. And forgive me for this, but collectively we are all the champions.

Q: Rami, I just was wondering after you finished shooting the film, how did you feel about your own performance? Did you know that it was special and that it might end up in an Academy Award?

RM: I’ve got to say, being on that stage, I think I may have I don’t know how I looked on that stage, but I never thought this would happen in my life. The one thing I can say about this as an actor, and there are so many of us who only dream of one thing. And perhaps it’s not this; it’s just getting a job. So the fact that I have this in my hand right now is beyond excuse me any expectation that myself or perhaps my family could have ever had. And I’ll just say that. I mean, this has been a tough battle, and I think you all know about it, and the fact that I’m here celebrating with you is proof that a lot of things can be overcome, and that anything is possible. And tonight I’m celebrating with all of you. And anyone who has a dream, it can happen. Thank you.

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH:
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Q: Your speech touched me and was hilarious. Frankly, how much of that was prepared?


Olivia Colman: None of it. And I’ve just been told I completely forgot Melissa and Yalitza as well, so but, you know, it’s not an everyday occurrence. So I don’t know how anyone is composed and remembers everything because it’s a very weird situation. But to those two beautiful women I forgot to say thank you to.

Mike Baker / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Q: Congratulations. Massive congratulations on the win. Where are you going to put your Oscar statue at? Where is it going to go?


OC: In bed with me, between me and my husband. He doesn’t know yet.

Q: I knew you were one of the great actors as soon as I saw you in TYRANNOSAUR years ago. How do you go about finding the tragic and the absurd and vice versa, because that is what you do so beautifully in this role? It’s hilarious and shattering.


OC: Well, that is lovely of you. No, that is a lovely thing for you to say. Thank you very much. I don’t know.

Q: So, first of all, Broad Church is not coming back; right?


OC: No, we’ve done three. That’s it. Sorry.

Q: That’s it. Okay. Were you expecting this at all, because the reaction


OC: No.

Q: both here at the ceremony was you were completely blind sided.


OC: Yeah.

Q: Blind sided by it. So how does it feel, like, to do this?


OC: I have no idea. I could not tell you what I’m feeling. Next year, I might I’ll be able to put it into words, but I don’t know what to do with myself at the moment.

Q: What prepared you for this role?


OC: The script was amazing, and then you just do what’s written down, I think. Without the writers, without words, we are just bumbling around, miming. So if the script is good, it’s all there. I think.

Q: How old are your kids, and are they watching or not?


OC: They are watching, because they are here.

Q: So they are in a hotel room watching it, or…


OC: No, we borrowed my agent’s house.

Q: And how old are they?


OC: 13, 11, and 3. There was a gap. I had to persuade my husband for a few years.

Q: What would Queen Anne say to you right now?


OC: Have some cake. Blue cake. Eat too much blue cake. If you had seen the film, it makes sense. It wasn’t just a weird things to say.

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH:
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Q: How sweet was it to have your mom there in the front row with you? Obviously, you gave much praise to her during your acceptance speech. What did it mean to you to have her there tonight?

Regina King: It’s hard to, like, put it in words really quickly. I feel like kind of like one of those full circle moments because so much of the character Sharon Rivers was mapped or inspired by my mother and my grandmother. So to have her there, my family was there, my sister, Reina, my son, Ian, were there. They are both here tonight. And it goes by so fast, and you want to thank so many people, and your mind just goes blank. And, you know, my mom was like the lighthouse right there. And…mmm, just everything.

Mike Baker / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Q: how was it to get to say those words and play somebody who believed, you know, to the depth of their soul

RK: Yes.

Q: About love?

RK: Love. Persevering. I mean, If Beale Street Could Talk is a beautiful film, a beautiful novel before it was thank you before it was a film you might be clapping for somebody else, but I’m going to take that. Thank you. And where we are to your point, where we are right now, I think that’s it’s a film that is breaks through a lot of the sections that are exist right now. You know, love is that thing that pushes us through trauma. You know, this is an urban tragedy, but tragedy is a is something that is experienced no matter what sex you are, no matter what race you are; and love and support is usually what pushes us through, which gets us to the other side. So I think this film is so needed right now because we need a lot of help getting through the other side and seeing how how much we are alike. We are different in a lot of ways. Absolutely. Our circumstances are so different; but it’s to the core, to the core, we are really a lot alike.

Q: Four hundred years ago this year in 1619, the first slaves were brought to Jamestown. Talk to me a little bit about what it means to stand here today winning your first Academy Award, the same place where, you know, Hattie McDaniel, and so many others who may have been discounted?

RK: Well, I mean, it’s I mean, I think it kind of piggybacks on what we were just saying in the last question: That it means so much for me personally, because you guys aren’t able to witness this, but the love and support and the lifting up that I have received on my journey as an actor in just this last five months, how many people have been rooting for me, and it has not just been black people; although, you know, the black family has always lifted me. But it’s just a reminder of when Hattie McDaniel won. She didn’t win just because black people voted for her. She won because she gave an amazing performance. And especially then, the Academy was was not as reflective as it is now. We are still trying to get more reflective, still trying to get there. But I feel like I’ve had so many women that have paved the way, are paving the way, and I feel like I walk in their light, and I also am creating my own light. And there are young women that will walk in the light that I’m continuing to shine and expand from those women before me. You know, I’m blessed and highly favored.

Q: So I’m thinking about that very climactic scene when you confronted you and Emily Rios

RK: Yes.


Q: …and it’s such a visceral and emotionally raw scene. So I wanted to ask you, What particular source did you draw from to portray such emotion?

RK: You know, all of us, we just pulled on being women, and we have all been in if we have not experienced a violation on that level firsthand, we have lifted a sister up through that. And that, you know, even all the way from when the abuelitas came in and escorted her off, that was something that was universal. Every woman that had something to do with this production, the understanding and the need to make sure that it was very clear in the story that we all knew that she was raped. It wasn’t Fonny, but she was raped. And we hold each other up through a secret that shouldn’t be a secret. So often, that’s the beautiful thing about the Me Too Movement, and the Me Too Movement has I think have gone has gone even beyond that with creating opportunities for women to find their voice even beyond just being violated sexually, but being marginalized, being violated. When you have put in the work to be at the table and being denied a seat at the table, this movement has allowed us and has inspired us to say no, I am supposed to have a seat at that table. So that energy was going on throughout the production of that film of this film. Barry supported that and lifted it up as well. And that’s the thing. When you have men and women working together, pretty amazing things happen.

Q: If Beale Street Could Talk was a very important part of American literature before this movie. What do you think James Baldwin would say right now and feel about this win and about the movie?

RK: I think one word, something that he would say often, amen.

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH:
Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Q: And your other movie won, too, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.


Mahershala Ali: Yes. Spider-Verse.

Q: This film is about people changing each other, or they’re changing because of what they go through. How did this film change you? Could you put that into words? I meant the making of it, obviously.

MA: Well, I never it was the first time that I had that kind of responsibility. I’ve always been very fortunate to contribute to stories in a more limited way, and this was the first time in which there was a good degree of the time I was at work in there all day every day, you know, or all day during the week, you know. And so to to shoulder that, to shoulder more responsibility than I’ve been accustomed to shouldering, to have to play a character that had attributes that were very different from my own; so, therefore, I had to let certain things go that were in my personality in order to to take on and embrace other attributes that that man had. It was it was constantly sort of having sort of negotiating and finding my way to locking into a truth and finding his essence, you know. And so I was really just grateful for failing and succeeding at times and just fishing through it all, digging and excavating, and collaborating with Viggo. So I’m sure I didn’t answer your question. But, you know, it was it was difficult and beautiful and very grateful to have gone on the journey.

Mike Baker / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Q: What is going on? It’s your second Oscar for a supporting role. How do you feel about it?

MA: I feel very fortunate. I feel fortunate to have been nominated. Any of those gentlemen could have been up here and would be, obviously, deserving of being up here. They did wonderful work, beautiful work, work that inspired me. So to be the one that was chosen to get to hold this trophy again, it’s not something that I take lightly. It’s not something I take for granted. If anything, it makes me aware, more aware of all the people that have really contributed to my life, from childhood to my team that works on my behalf and is always looking to take advantage of the best opportunities, the opportunities that are fit for me. And so I’m I’m very grateful. The first one helped me get Green Book, you know. I don’t think if I had won I wasn’t just getting offers like that, you know; and so to to get an Oscar for Moonlight, it changes your profile. It changes it gets you in other rooms, and it shines a light on your work; and then suddenly you could have been around for 15, 20 years and suddenly people notice you; and so I’m really grateful for that, because I’ve been wanting to work and expand and stretch. I have been wanting to stretch my legs for a really long time, and this was the first time I got to stretch my legs.

Q: You kind of touched on what I was going to ask you a little bit about the failing and succeeding. And then I just wanted to know what was your thinking when you after Moonlight the time that it takes to come to now. Did you ever feel that failing and succeeding from, like, Moonlight to now, or did some things that you thought would happen since Moonlight didn’t happen? Can you speak to those things?

MA: My life is has changed tremendously since in two years. My daughter just had her second birthday two days ago, you know; and I was busy in that time, you know, working. But I think when I say success and failing, I think of them as the same thing, in that as long as you walk away having been improved, having learned from the experience, that it’s all an education, you know. And and so there’s things that I try in my work where I personally watch, and I feel like it worked; or sometime I feel like it doesn’t, it didn’t work. And and I try not to be too hard on myself, but I got to just go for it, and take chances and commit and see how things turn out all with the goal of improving, and growing, and being stretched, and also just making a contribution. I just want to feel like I’m being productive with my time on this earth, you know; and because I just don’t take that for granted. And so I will continue to fail, and I’ll hopefully continue to succeed; and, but I and continue to make my best efforts, and to do the best work that I could possibly do, and be the best person I can be.


NOTES ON THE SCORECARD:

Past Media Guy Oscars Backstage Columns: 2018 – 2017 – 2016 – 2015 – 2014 – 2013 – 2012

The Big Four — Oscar-winners Rami Malek, Olivia Colman, Regina King, Mahershala Ali pose in the Press Room with their Oscar for Achievement in acting:

Getty Images / Rick Rowell

Jennifer Lopez outs the finishing touches on her makeup backstage.

Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler goof around backstage.

Lady Gaga sips champagne as Bradley Cooper looks on.

Instead of breaking the rules, I took a portrait in front of the step and repeat the day before the Sunday telecast:

I met five-time Academy Award nominee Amy Adams – what a delight:

Q: Does the Adapted Screenplay win makes up for the Do the Right Thing loss at the 1990 Oscars and the Academy overlooking it for a Best Picture nomination (Driving Miss Daisy won Best Picture the year).

Spike Lee: “I’m snake bit. Every time somebody is driving somebody, I lose – but they changed the seating arrangement!”

©A.M.P.A.S.

Rami Malek celebrates with the bubbly:

That Julia Roberts Smile:

©A.M.P.A.S.

James Bond and the Atomic Blonde:

©A.M.P.A.S.

Captain America discusses the weather with JLo:

©A.M.P.A.S.

The post Backstage at the Oscars: 2019 appeared first on Media Guy Struggles.

** – More than a caption – see below

I may or may not be at the Super Bowl witnessing the greatest comeback in the great Super Bowl ever played.

Or I may have just attended the Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. No, I’m not a nominee, but a boy can dream, right?

What I do want to divulge is that the commercials this year were nothing short of, uh, capitalistic. Yeah, yeah, I know that what they are supposed to be, but this year all of the commercials touting diversity and equality left me a bit jaded.

I spent the nearly a decade touting Middle Eastern inclusion and rights in the Unites States media for over a decade and until about a year ago, I have story after story laced in ignorance and/or racism. It was a fruitless endeavor to say the least. At the end of it, I couldn’t get anyone to pay attention for very long.

Not a nominee, but a boy can dream!

And, as a reformed misogynist, I’ve been on a crusade lately as I rail against the advertising industry on their treatment of women (*see below for some of the latest links). So to see all of these corporations forking out $5 million for a thirty-second spot to concentrate on feel-good messages telling the world that they care in Trump America brings out the cynical in me.

Yeah, yeah, I know that aligning with a message shows they have a point of view and it let’s everyone know they aren’t in their glass towers making commercials in a vacuum but they are aware of the world around them.

But, c’mon…

The diversity and gender equality issues have been at the forefront for years. But now you choose to focus on that because you won’t get slammed for doing it? You’re emboldened all of the sudden by the protests swirling around the Donald Trump Presidency will get the masses behind you?

Two spots spring to mind…

“Daughter” from Audi


In what may be one of the most pathetic commercials in Super Bowl history, Audi put together a gender equality piece that can only be described as propaganda. Seriously, it looked more like a feminine hygiene commercial than a car commercial. The father’s voice over angst is disingenuous at best:

Of course the daughter win the race. Let’s watch…

Of course, the liberal media is celebrating this for taking on the gender wage gap. However, the youtube video has over 50% thumbs down rating and Audi as a corporation doesn’t even embody its own advertising message. Yeah, yeah, blame Trump!

Here is the official overview on the spot from Audi:

“This is a story of a young girl competing in a downhill cart race in her hometown. As the fearless daughter weaves her way through a field of competitors, her father contemplates whether his daughter’s worth will be measured by her gender through a series of provocative questions. It is a reminder that progress doesn’t belong to any one group. Progress is for everyone.

“Progress is in every decision we make, every technology we invent, every vehicle we build. It’s our past, our future, our reason to exist. Audi of America is committed to equal pay for equal work. A 2016 report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee found that women were paid 21% less than men on average.”

I found this commercial to be highly ironic as the male to female ratio of Audi employees is somewhere around 2:1 while the median salary for men is about 22%. Yep, higher than the national average.

The spot says that Audi is committed to equal pay, because that’s a stronger message than, say, parent Volkswagen’s tainted commitment to clean diesel.

All of this proves that businesses promoting products that have nothing to do with politics should refrain from pushing their political agenda.

“What should I tell my daughter?” So many things roll through my mind as I hear this guy whining through the spot:

• Tell her that she has to work twice as hard as the average man because the guys hiring you won’t pay you enough and you have to show your value twice as much. 
• Tell her that life isn’t fair and if you’re looking for that, you’ll get bulldozed by the corporate climbers who will frame you at work faster than anyone can say “sisterhood.”
• Tell her that when they drive off in their $45,000 car, they shouldn’t leave the winning soapbox derby car winner on the side of the road. So much for environmental protection.
• Or maybe just tell her that daddy didn’t buy an Audi in 2017 because luxury carmakers should pander for gender equality they don’t fully believe in the cause themselves.

Teaching moments, my brother.

Lady Gaga’s push for Tiffany & Co.:


The New York City jeweler jumped into the Super Bowl advertising arena with its first spot and tabbed Lady Gaga to make a splash. The spot, which aired right before the halftime show she was to star in…

Here’s the official word from Tiffany & Co.:

INTRODUCING

LADY GAGA

IN OUR NEW SPRING CAMPAIGN

As fiercely feminine as the new Tiffany HardWear collection, 

the legendary Lady Gaga captures the spontaneity 

and creative spirit of New York City

She spent the entire thirty seconds writhing on the floor with jewelry on…playing harmonica with jewelry on…and challenging the proposition that “it’s pretentious to talk about how creative you are.”

Also: She likes Tiffany. No ground was broken here.

Before we move on, let’s just say that this was easily the most pretentious spot I’ve ever seen. Here’s a few gems from the commercial:

“I love to change, it makes me feel alive.”

“I always want to be challenging the status quo.”

“(Being creative) is empowering, and I’m coming for you.”

That’s a real tour de force of pretentiousness. Whew…

The spot came at a time where sales are plummeting for the brand. Tiffany has cited lower consumer spending and a slowdown in business at its flagship store as the reason for the decline. Many of you probably know that Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue store is located near Trump Tower, which has been overrun with the Secret Service, tourists, and protesters since the election. Yeah, yeah, blame Trump!

* – Reformed Misogyny Links:


The Happy Couple / Natan Jewelry
Enjoli: A 30-Second Capsule of Sexist Advertising
The Dreaded Casting Call
Ride Me All Day
“You can almost taste the Bush”

** – More than a caption:

Fifteen years ago, I played golf in the foursome behind New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick. He was much different from his press conference persona, cracking jokes and generally portraying the face of a happy man. He told me to always be prepared and plan everything meticulously. I fell in love with the process of everything and it benefitted my advertising career.

After he guided another Patriots team to an NFL championship, he actually said this: “As great as today feels and as great as today is, in all honesty we’re five weeks behind in the 2017 season.” The comment drew laughs, but Belichick was being serious.

Technically, he’s correct that his team’s 2016 season lasted longer than those of all other teams except Atlanta. But, dude, come on. You just became the first coach ever to win five Super Bowls — and you did it in dramatic fashion.

Isn’t that what all the work is about? Why not take a minute to appreciate what you’ve accomplished? Belichick said Monday that he and his coaching staff will take some time off, but not until this summer. “Now is not really the time to do that,” he said. “If you don’t do a good job with your football team in February, March and April, you’re probably going to see that in November, December and January. We have some catching up to do. But it’s where we want to be.”

What can I say, the man loves the process. You gotta love Coach Belichick because, hey, if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying!

The post Blame Trump! Misguided Super Bowl 51 Commercials appeared first on Media Guy Struggles.

I’m rubbing elbows with the elite of music at the American Music Awards. Sting, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and more. Before I arrived to the red carpet on Sunday, I was offered $5,000 for one of my press passes. I passed because if you did that at the Oscars you might wind up in white collar prison. A young Media Guy would have done it. I’m either old or wise now…

I was super thrilled to see Gigi Hadid on the red carpet and host the show. However, I might be the only one who made this must-see TV. Variety says that barely eight million people watched last night’s American Music Awards (which was down a humongous 31% from 2015).

What else does that mean?

It means that right around eight million folks have sore faces from the involuntary face crumpling inspired by Gigi Hadid trying to bring the comedy on some random youtube episode. Her monologue with Jay Pharoah was an epic dumpster fire that you couldn’t take your eyes off of.

I describe Gigi’s hosting performance in the same way many study executives describe my early Media Guy television show pitches: awkward, weird, stiff (not in a hot way) and left you needing several strong well drinks. But what really annoyed me was her demeaning imitation of our First Lady-elect.

During their opening, Pharoah did the obligatory impersonations of Jay Z and (of course) Donald Trump (he’s from Saturday Night Live, folks, he had to). On the other side, Gigi forgot that she’s Palestinian and all of the heartache the people from Palestine have endured over the year and unleashed a Melania Trump impression that was, well, awkward, weird, stiff (not in a hot way) and left you needing several strong drinks. Sure it’s easy to impersonate Melania Trump. But do you have to? I mean Mrs. Trump is only the second foreign-born First Lady ever. If you don’t like The DOn and his politics and immigration policies, rail on the man not the woman. Shaming a First Lady to be isn’t the path to unifying America.

Geez, what happened to the Gigi who shoots out massive loads of charisma and personality? Sheesh! Disappointing.

Click here to watch – go to the 2:23 mark of the clip

On the flip slide of the girl-on-girl crime perpetuated by Gigi is Selena Gomez.

Over the last few months, Selena (yeah, I think I can call her that now after the St. Jude’s Gala a decade ago) has been off the grid dealing with her lupus diagnosis and other issues rooted in the evil of Justin Bieber/the aftermath of being a Disney child star.  On this night won an he AMA for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and made us all cry:

“Thank you guys so much. In 2014, this stage was actually the first time that I was authentically 100% honest with all of you. I think it’s safe to say that most of you know a lot of my life whether I liked it or not. And I had to stop, ’cause I had everything, and I was absolutely broken inside. And I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together where I let myself down. 

I don’t want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see what’s in here. I’m not trying to get validation, nor do I need it anymore. All I can say from the bottom of my heart is I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be able to share what I love every single day with people that I love. And I have to say thank you so much to my fans because you are so damn loyal, and I don’t know what I did to deserve you. But if you are broken, you do not have to stay broken. And if that’s anything, whether you respect me or not, that’s one thing you should know about me: is that I care about people.”

On an unrelated note, Selena’s former friend Kylie Jenner was so so confused by Selena’s speech, she probably whispered to one of the Dashes, “If you’re not putting your body on Instagram for attention, what the hell is the point? I mean if you aren’t told regularly that your pictures violate their explicit content rules, then you’re not trying.”

Maybe I should take this down – I don’t want to be sued…In any case, on with the AMA / Media Guy Red Carpet Gallery:

Ariana Grande: Seeing a woman who looks like a 12 year old dressing sexy is forever awkward, weird, stiff (not in a hot way) and left you needing several strong drinks.

DJ Khaled: You can the man out of the DJ booth, but not the DJ out of the man.

Gigi: Stunning nonetheless.

Kat Graham: The highlight of any red carpet.

Lady Gaga with the impeccable white pant suit and 1970’s model hat.

Simply Red – Selena Gomez

Sting: I still can’t get over that he makes $2,000 a day from Puff Daddy’s ripoff of his song.

————-

NOTE: In 2013, I covered the American Music Awards and got distracted by a one-armed man. Read on…

The post The AMAs: Girl-on Girl Crime! appeared first on Media Guy Struggles.

Super Bowl 50 officially kicked off with Media Day Super Bowl Opening Night and there’s a lot going on in Northern California. I mean this could be Peyton Manning’s last rodeo, players are wearing wrestling masks and the game will be on in Hungary! The SAP Center, which is usually home to the chokers known as the San Jose Sharks, is now home to the “Golden Game’s” opening night.

Needless to say, I did not get an exclusive with Peyton Manning.

I really want to know how anyone gets any good stories from this day without insider access. There are literally thousands reporters hunting both teams asking the same old questions and getting the same old answers. Some of the goof balls reporters are dressed as super heroes, clowns, and brides turning the already insane day into a mockery of media reporting.

As I look around the arena, I am immediately reminded and how America is a sucker for everything football. Upwards of 7,000 fans paid $30 just for the privilege of sitting in the stands and watch the players say as little as possible in their quest to get back to their hotel for room service as soon as possible.

Speaking of insider access, Miss Universe, Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines, certainly has it. She’s covering the festivities for Inside Edition. Gossipers inside the madness whispered that a bitter Miss Colombia was denied a press credential…well, that’s what Steve Harvey told me.

I’m still a little bitter myself that the Super Bowl package at the Fairmont hotel seems to be sold out. The five-star hotel has a $1 million party package which includes a four night stay for six in their 6,000-square-foot penthouse and 22 tickets to the game. I was really counting on this package.


Back to Pia, she was up front, sash and all, dancing with the players:

Last year’s Super Bowl XLIX between the the Patriots and the Seahawks was watched by almost 155 million viewers. For those of you scoring at home, that the most-watched show in the history of American television. This is why ads on the telecast cost a whopping $5 million for a thirty second spot. It seems that every single spot will star a dog, a donkey, or Alec Baldwin touting Amazon’s ripoff of Siri featuring the voice of “Alexa.” Early buzz has the Honda Sheep as the media darling. In the spot, sheep sing Queen’s “Somebody To Love.”

Ah, Sheep…the perfect metaphor for the mass of naive consumers susceptible to dreamy television commercials. But seriously, Keith Quesenberry of Messiah College and Michael Coolsen of Shippensburg University came out with a new study of Super Bowl ads, The researchers said that William Shakespeare holds the key to a great ad. Time.com they concluded that the most successful, well-liked ads are presented as mini-movies in a five-act story structure such as that favored by legendary playwright William Shakespeare. Why you ask? Well, the study found many of the best ads follow “Gustav’s Pyramid,” the five-part story structure — exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and denouement — adopted by 19th Century German novelist Gustav Freytag.

Jose Mendin’s Korean Fried Chicken Wings (below)

Sirius XM satellite radio will offer up eight languages of the game on Sunday, including a Hungarian broadcast. Somewhere in Budapest, a woman preparing her goulash (in lieu of chicken wings) is wondering aloud how she’s going to make it to the 12:30a kickoff time.

Speaking of which, how did chicken wings become the official snack of America’s most-watched event? The National Chicken Council estimates that 1.3 billion wings will be eaten by Americans on Super Bowl Sunday. That’s 39 million more than last year! The NCC also notes that that Charlotte residents spend over $1,400 on wings per $1 million spent in local grocery stores. That’s almost three times more than the $480 devoted to wings in Denver. Apparently, the wing is king. I’ve provided a brilliant Korean wings recipe below. Why? Because every great American party needs some culture.

Lady Gaga is performing the national anthem. Considering her performance at the Oscars let’s us know she will do just fine. The betting over/under is 2 minutes 20 seconds for Lady Gaga’s pregame national anthem on Sunday. What prevents Gaga from telling all her family and friends to bet big on the “under” and then coming in at 1:57? Hey, I’m just asking!

The Q Factor. Sports and entertainment research company, Repucom, which measures the metrics on almost 4,000 celebs and athletes and celebrities reports that Panthers QB Cam Newton now has a better “influential score” — the ability to change people’s perceptions — than President Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Hillary Clinton. Now you know who to write-in this November.

Helen Mirren’s anti-drunk driving Super Bowl ad for Anheuser-Busch/Budweiser smacks of hypocrisy:

Bud shouldn’t get to preach against drunk driving any more than Smith & Wesson gets to preach about gun violence.

Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman wears a wrestling mask on Media Day Super Bowl Opening Night. Photo: Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports

AD OF THE WEEK/MONTH/WHATEVER


The Evolution of Barbie

“We believe we have a responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty.” These are just a few words from Mattel’s senior vice president after the toymaker announced a new line of inclusive, diverse Barbies. The new spot won’t appear on the Super Bowl telecast, but it deserves a spot here on the Media Guy Struggles:

The post Media Day at the Super Bowl appeared first on Media Guy Struggles.

If you read Friday’s column you know I am home in Los Angeles. But, honestly, Europe still has a hold of me. I’m still stuck (mentally) at the New Year’s Eve Silvester Gala at Hofburg Palace (you know, the former imperial palace in the centre of Vienna that emperors used for their accommodations).

But it’s awards season and the opportunity to walk the red carpet and snap off images for Fox and a few others is much too alluring. The Oscars are February 28th and I have already been eyeballing the pilates VHS tape so I look good in a tux this year. A simple plea though, pray for me! Why? Because the trolls that make it to the red carpet with the arms extended like some fleshy selfie stick are nothing short of disgusting, two-faced demon looking to fill up their Instagram and Twitter accounts. I’m fully stocked with Purell Hand Sanitizer to exorcise any airborne viruses these trolls spread around.

Jane Fonda’s “Not Amused” Face

The real winners of the Golden Globes were Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, because they got hit with a bolt of “not impressed” shooting out of Jane Fonda’s eyes. I’d pay big bucks to get Jane Fonda to shank me with her eyes while looking like her head is breaking out of a prison of bedazzled coffee filters. She’s been practicing that look since she threw those MIAs under the bus in the Vietnam War and never looked back. For shame, Jane.

In a bit that was sponsored by their weed shop of choice, Jonah Hill pretended to be the bear from The Revenant while he and Channing Tatum presented the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. Jane Fonda was one of the nominees and as her man Richard Perry’s face went full WTF, she silently judged those buffoons!

Don’t let the dress fool you. Just because she’s covered in clown collars doesn’t mean that she’s here for Jonah and Channing’s Barnum and Bailey antics. Jane Fonda did not put on that mockery of a dress just so the stars of 22 Jump Street could make a complete sham out of her category! This is serious business. Great work guys!

Seriously! Lady Gaga Wins? 

I didn’t know that Lady Gaga was married to a billionaire Israeli businessman?! And may a lightning bolt from heaven strike me down for comparing Lady Gaga to the talented angel that is Pia Zadora.

The Golden Globe winners were all over the place, so of course they continued with that theme by giving her an award for the accent acrobats and music video acting she did in American Horror Story: Hotel. While looking like she was doing third-rate Breathless Mahoney cosplay, Lady Gaga actually beat Felicity Huffman and Kirsten Dunst in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Movie or Miniseries. And just like that, the Golden Globes won the award for Best Comedy Show of the Year!

Before Lady Gaga’s acceptance speech where she laid it on so thick that I’m still wiping the thickness out of my eyes and ears (that sounds sexy but it’s not), she made her way to the stage and bumped into Leonardo Dicaprio who let out a scared giggle:

Katy’s Golden Globes

I hear Katy Perry say, “I got my wig out and my globes!”

According to pretty much EVERYONE (but specifically Vanity Fair, UsWeekly, E!, and People), Katy Perry – the Golden Globes presenter that made the majority of viewers turn to the person sitting beside them and whisper “Wait, why is she here?“, and Orlando Bloom – the Golden Globes presenter who I initially thought was a cleaned-up Charlie Sheen, might be a thing that is happening.

A whole bunch of blabbermouths who attended Harvey Weinstein’s afterparty squealed on Katy and Orlando by claiming they spent a good chunk of the night together doing the following: whispering, flirting, being flirty, leaning in close, getting super cozy, “sharing a vape pen“, and dancing together. One source added that Orlando would “touch the small of her back” when talking to her. The small of her back? Calm down, you two! It’s Harvey Weinstein’s Golden Globes afterparty, not the orgy scene from Caligula.

Obviously, Katy and Orlando’s G-rated middle school dance antics could be nothing more than two drunk n’ horny famous types who accidentally brushed up against each other on the way to the bar and were like “Oooh, let’s do that again, but on purpose.” Or maybe hooking up with some random dick like Orlando was Katy checking off Step 4 in her 12-Step recovery program.

That’s probably it.

RICKY and HIS JOKES

From the Hollywood Reporter… “Days after hosting the Golden Globes and still defending some of the racy jokes he did there, comedian Ricky Gervias was cracking on the Oscars.

The 2016 Academy Awards nominations were released Thursday morning and not a single nonwhite actor was given the nod in an acting category. This is the second year in a row with that result. Some, such a Al Sharpton, shared their anger over the snub. Gervais shared humor.”

Here are some of the intrepid hosts best shots on the live telecast:

On the audience and Sean Penn: “Shut up you disgusting, pill-popping sexual deviant scum. I want to do this monologue and go into hiding. Not even Sean Penn will stop me. Snitch!”

On Caitlyn Jenner: “What a year she’s had. She’s become a role model for trans people everywhere, showing great bravery and destroying stereotypes. She didn’t do a lot for women drivers. You can’t have everything, can you, not at the same time.”

On gender pay gap disparity: “Jennifer Lawrence made the news when she demanded equal pay for women in Hollywood. She received overwhelming support from people everywhere. There were marches on the street with nurses and factory workers saying, ‘How the hell can a 25-year-old live on $52 million?!’”

“Of course woman should be paid the same as men for doing the same job. And I’d like to say now, I’m being paid exactly the same as [what Tina Fey and Amy Poehler] did last year. No I know there were two of them, but it’s not my fault if they want to share the money, is it? That’s their stupid fault. It’s funny because it’s true.”

“All-female remakes are the big thing. There’s a female remake of Ghostbusters. There’s going to be a female remake of Oceans 11. And this is brilliant for the studios because they get guaranteed box office results and they don’t have to spend too much money on the cast.”

On Spotlight: “The excellent Spotlight has been nominated. Yeah. The Catholic Church are furious about the film as it exposes that 5 percent of all their priests have repeatedly molested children and been allowed to continue to work without punishment. Roman Polanski called it ‘the best date movie ever.”’

On his three personal Golden Globes: “I won three Golden Globes myself … one I keep by the bed to — it doesn’t matter why, it’s mine. I won it fair and square. It’s just the right shape and size, it’s nothing… yeah. To be clear: That was a joke about me shoving Golden Globes that I’ve won up my a**.”

Introducing Matt Damon: “It’s the star of the hilarious comedy The Martian. He is also the only person that Ben Affleck hasn’t been unfaithful to.”

Introducing Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer: “Joy and Trainwreck. No not the name of Charlie Sheen’s two favorite hookers, the films of our next two presenters. They are best friends by the way and if you forget they said they’d tweet you. It’s like they’ve never had a friend before, please welcome Amy Schumer and Jennifer Lawrence.”

Introducing Eva Longoria and America Ferrera: “Eva Longoria and America Ferrera aren’t just beautiful, talented actresses they’re also two people who your future president, Donald Trump, can’t wait to deport.”

Introducing Kevin Hart and Ken Jeong: “When Brad and Angelina see these next to adorable little presenters, they’re going to want to adopt them. Please welcome Kevin Hart and Ken Jeong.’

Introducing Mel Gibson: “I’d rather have a drink with him in his hotel room tonight than with Bill Cosby.”

Introducing Eddie Redmayne: “Our next presenter is an actress who is both beautiful and talented. Born in England she came to American and has taken Hollywood by storm. Please welcome the nominated star of The Danish Girl, it’s a dude, Eddie Redmayne.”

At the end of the gala: “Thank you, I’m afraid that’s it. We’re out of time. From myself and Mel Gibson, shalom.”

Backstage at the Globes.

Worth every minute of the wait.

Sniffer dogs were seen checking out the red carpet before the stars arrived.

Host Ricky Gervais arrived early.

Kirsten Dunst (with some guy) hanging out on the red carpet. They are a lovely pair.

Wiz Khalifa thought he was on the walk of shame and not the red carpet it seemed.

Jurassic World star Dallas Bryce Howard wowed on the red carpet

Olivia Wilde was loving life!

Take flight with Taraji P. Henson.

Newly engaged Eva Longoria looking right at ya!…

…and she commanded the red carpet.

Love the wig…where are your sharks?!

Katy realizing she had to go in without me! Gotta love the Golden Globes … Ricky, get me a drink, please.

Ah, the future ex-wife … hello Jen!

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Stallone with the win! Absolutely!

Eva Green..even more captivating in black and white.

The post The Red Carpet and Beyond: Golden Globes 2016 appeared first on Media Guy Struggles.

Reason no. 1,341 why I love writing the annual “Oscars Backstage” column: My agent.

I need a slightly smaller version of this one!

Last year, I reported on my tear-inducing plea to my agent imploring him to draw a map for me so I could be in a position to bring him that wondrous eight-pound statuette. After his two-word reply (“I will”), I was buoyed by the prospects. Multiple scripts in hand and a fully rehearsed Oscars acceptance speech in hand has gotten me nothing.

And yet …

I keep dreaming. We keep dreaming. We take the words of Best Adapted Screenplay winner Graham Moore (“The Imitation Game”) when he says on stage, “Stay weird, stay different. And then when it’s your turn and you’re standing on this stage, please pass the same message to the next person who comes along.”

Powerful stuff. I almost cried. Again, here’s to dreaming.

The red carpet was something to behold once again…rainy with a frenzy of Haute Couture and modified tuxedos. I had an optimum spot next to Rolling Stone magazine, mostly because I overheard so much. Like how shocked Michael Keaton said he was to be nominated for his first Oscar and how Julianne Moore said her her two dogs are “more work than my kids.” John Travolta was all hands on the red carpet and onstage (nearly groping Idina Menzel Alas, there was no Jennifer Lawrence or Angelina Jolie to stalk, er, photograph. That, however, did not derail this Media Guy. I found a new favorite: Marion Cotillard.

She has an amazing allure and even giggled when I said “take me home with you to France.” Made me root for her all night, but who can argue with the performance of Julianne Moore in “Still Alice” and that incredibly infectious laugh. It pays to be Alec Baldwin’s wife onscreen these days…

And, although the Neil Patrick Harris hosted show dropped 14% over last year’s Ellen DeGeneres selfie-fest, it was still watched by 34.6 million between 8:30 and 11 PM (early results). That’s why advertisers spend a $1.95 million for a thirty second commercial on Oscars telecast.

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s The Media Guy’s journey and perspective backstage at the 87th Academy Awards® with a handful pictures and about 1,500 words including interview excerpts and intimate insights.

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH: 
Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Finally with Uncle Oscar. Julianne brings home the gold (Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S.)

Q.    I just want to say that you are the most patient actress in town.  Five times nominated and you finally won it.  And I want to know, do you think they played a role in the way in that you won this for a film that meant so much to you?

A.    Oh, I don’t know.  You know, I mean, I believe in ‑‑ I believe in hard work, actually, you know. And I think ‑‑ and I like stories about ‑‑ mostly I like stories about people.  I like stories about real people and real relationships and real families, and that’s what I respond to.  And this movie had all of those things in it.  It was about a, you know, it’s about a real issue and relationships and who we love and what we value.  And so that’s important to me too.  But I mean, I think just, at the end of the day, it’s the work.  You know, it’s being able to do work that I love that’s been so rewarding.  And this is just amazing.

Q.    We’re very eager to see more films that are adult drama, serious films.  And I’m wondering, films like yours, BIRDMAN, do you think that will have some sort of impact in an industry that is driven by these, you know, huge special effects, that whole type of movies?

A.    I hope it does.  I think there’s an audience for movies like this.  I go to the movies because, like I said, I like to see complicated, interesting stories about people and relationships, you know.  So I think whenever there’s success with films like this, then they kind of ‑‑ even people think about them more.  I don’t know.  You know, you never know.  You know, at the end of the day, Hollywood is also a business, so I think it depends on how many people buy tickets.

What’s it like backstage? Watch it here:

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH: 
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Q.    Eddie, what are you going to be saying to Stephen Hawking following this win?  And are you going to be taking the statuette to show him as well?

A.    I think I will certainly go to Cambridge at some point to see Stephen, Jane, Jonathan, and the Hawking children.  They have been so kind to us the whole way through this process.  And it’s ‑‑ I’m one of those people when I watch a film, I believe what I see on screen.  And so our responsibility to tell their story truthfully and authentically was…we felt it.  And so, their support throughout has been amazing.  Any excuse to go back to Cambridge, it’s such a beautiful place.  So, yeah, I will definitely go and show it.

Redmayne is REALLY happy to be an Oscar winner. (Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S.)

Q.    First of all, very well deserved for an outstanding performance.  Can you express your feelings when you went up on stage and received the Oscar?  And how will you celebrate this amazing day?

A.    I didn’t hear you say the word.  That’s so weird.  How did I feel?  How did I feel?  I don’t ‑‑ I mean, the fact that it was Cate Blanchett giving it, I mean I did a film called THE GOLDEN AGE ‑‑ ELIZABETH:  THE GOLDEN AGE with Cate and it’s one of the first films I did, and I just think she’s such an exceptional actor.  And so I was recovering from that excitement of seeing her, and then just trying to bury all this frenzy of nerves and white noise and trying to speak articulately and, of course, you then forget everything but it just felt like a euphoria really, an extraordinary euphoria.  It’s something I will not forget in a hurry.

Q.    I wanted to ask you about the pressures of playing someone that is still alive because obviously there’s a lot of bio pics, and there obviously is a huge weight like for Alan Turing and THE IMITATION GAME.  But with this, that person is going to watch that movie.  How did you feel about it and how did that change your approach to it?

A.    I don’t know if it changed my approach, but what it did was there were various things of this job.  I ‑‑ in preparation, I met people living with ALS, they let me into their lives, they were incredibly kind to me.  It was essential to me that I was authentic to what that experience is like.  Then it’s about the science, getting the science right, you know, and then of course the main thing about Stephen, Jane, Jonathan and the kids is being true to them and then also making an entertaining film.  There were basically so many things that like terrified me about this film, but of course it galvanizes you, it makes you ‑‑ when the stakes are that high, it does force you to work harder and so that’s what I tried to do.  And yeah, it’s been amazing.

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH: 
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

J.K. Simmons says call your mom and dad, but never text.

Q.    With all of your long credits in stage, screen, television, T.V. commercials, what does this Oscar win mean to you?

A.    Well, maybe more people saw me tonight than see me in the commercials for the first time, because I know those are seen by more people than the films.  This is the, you know, the cherry on top of this extraordinary experience that WHIPLASH has been for me.

Q.    I got the feeling that you wanted to talk a little more about when you said, “Call your mom.  Call your dad.”  It felt like you wanted to go somewhere with that.

A.    I got out most of what I wanted to, and I was somewhat taken aback by the response from people that I don’t know, honestly.  So, but no, I said most of what I wanted to say.  I never go up there scripted, really.  Most of it came out.

Q.    You know, this has been quite a triumphant time, and we always talk about, especially actors, how do you cope with the down times how, do you cope with the lean times.  I’m always fascinated with how do you cope with success?  How have these weeks added up, looking back?  Thrilled?  Scared?  What?

A.    Yeah, it’s definitely more tiring than the lean times.  The lean times, you get plenty of sleep, and you are not flying around everywhere.  So there is that.  And for me, the lean times were a wonderful and beautiful part of my life, you know.  I was, you know, struggling, quote/unquote, for many years doing regional theatre for not much money all over the country and doing odd jobs in between, but I didn’t have a wife and kids to support.  So I had no responsibilities other than feeding myself and trying to be a decent human being and trying to get better at what I was wanting to do.  And I look back on those times with great fondness.

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH: 
Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Jared Leto congratulates Arquette. (Monica Almeida/The New York Times)

Q.    What was the biggest challenge in this project for you?

A.    The weird thing is there was no challenge, in a weird way.  I was just amazed that this filmmaker, Richard Linklater, wanted to make a movie about everyday people, people we don’t usually see in movies, and that he could get financing because it is a film business after all, and you can’t have a contract because Olivia de Havilland fought for us not to be in indentured servitude. So we have a seven‑year contract rule in America.  So, this little boy could have decided at seven years he wanted to walk away.  And even though it was a small budget movie, $2.8 million, he could have walked away in the middle of our movie.  To sort of find a financier to give us money, even though it was just $2.8 million.  That’s a big investment to make with no safety net.  And I was actually kind of blown away that the Producers Guild didn’t honor that because that really was such a brave move.

Q.    What do you think, given the comments you made tonight about someone like Amy Pascal, the former Sony Pictures head who said, effectively, that women should be better negotiators, that it’s not up to her to pay women more when she has effectively underpaid women.

A.    Again, I think we need federal laws that are comprehensive; in different states, they have altogether thrown out the Fairness Voting Act.  People think we have equal rights; we won’t until we pass a Constitutional amendment in the United States of America where we pass the ERA once and for all and women have equal rights in America we won’t have anything changed.  This morning, you know, there’s these things, the Mani Cam and so on and what are you wearing.  I’m wearing a dress my best friend designed.  We have been best friends since we were 7 and 8 years old.  I think she was the first person who ever said to me, what do you want to be when we grow up?  We were standing next to her Barbie Dream House.  I made fun of her because she played with a Barbie and my mom wouldn’t let us have Barbies.  She said, what do you want to be?  And I said I want to be an actor. What do you want to be?  She said, I want to be in fashion.  And she became a great fashion designer and she designed my gown, so it’s like wearing love.  And we started an organization, GiveLove.org. And instead of getting a manicure, which I was supposed to do this morning for that dreaded Mani Cam, instead, I ended up trying to pull pictures because we started a sweepstakes this morning for our charity to do ecological sanitation in the world.  Now when I saw Harry Belafonte’s picture up there, I remembered my mom.  She was an Equal Rights activist, she worked for civil rights.  And this is who I am.  This is the whole who I am.  I love my business, I love acting and I love being a human being on earth and I want to help.  I never saw this moment in me winning an Academy Award.  I never even thought I would be nominated and I was okay with that.  But you know what I did see?  I saw many things that have come true in my life, and one of them was helping thousands and thousands of people, and I have, and I will, and I will help millions of people.  Thank you.

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH: 
Alejandro G. Iñárritu “Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance”
Directing

The Big Winner of the Night.

Q.    Congratulations on your win.  You joked on stage that you were wearing the BIRDMAN tighty‑whities.  Are you actually wearing them?

A.    We should be in a more intimate context to show you, which I don’t think will happen.

Q.    Alejandro, tell me, from having this wild, artistic idea and seeing it all the way through to experience three Oscars with you, what’s the lesson of that for you?  What does that tell you about your ambitions?

A.    About what, sorry?

Q.    To take ‑‑ just like following this dream, how does the trophy sort of validate what you are doing?

A.    You know, actually, I think ‑‑ it’s a good question because I haven’t figured out why I did what I did in this film, why I took those chances.  I think it’s when you lose fear.  I think fear is an incredible ‑‑ fear is the condom of life, you know.  It doesn’t allow you to enjoy things, so certainly when you fucking get the condom out then you say, okay, probably get it or not, but at least that’s what it’s ‑‑ so I put it out.  So I did it without and this is the result.  It was real.  It was making love for sure.

Past Oscars Columns:
2014 – 2013 – 2012

NOTES ON THE SCORECARD:


Who wore it better…?

Monica…

…or Lady Gaga?

He’s got chills and they are a multiplying!:

John Travolta continues his Oscars onslaught. This time, Scarlett Johansson is the victim.

Finally, my top six favorites from the red carpet:

5) Anna Kendrick in her raspberry heaven of a dress…

4) The fedora’ed J.K. Simmons…

3) The spunk and fun of Reese Witherspoon…

2) Capt. Red Carpet: Adam Levine…

And my #1 favorite: Marion Cotillard:

The post Backstage at the Oscars: 2015 appeared first on Media Guy Struggles.