Tag Archives: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Rodriguez to Serve as Oscars “Backstage Pass” Correspondent

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Rico Rodriguez is becoming Hollywood’s go-to teen host…

The 14-year-old Modern Family star and three-time SAG Award winner, who will be a presenter at this weekend’s WGA Awards, has been named a correspondent for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Backstage Pass on Oscar.com and the official Oscars app.

Rico Rodriguez

Rodriguez will be joined by Entertainment Weekly’s Jess Cagle and People’s Peter Castro, as well as returning co-hosts, ABC The View’s Sherri Shepherd and former All My Children star Cameron Mathison.

Backstage Pass will also debut a multimedia first-ever Red Carpet Digital Lounge anchored by Radio Disney’s Jake Whetter, Popsugar’s Allison McNamara and Mashable’s Brian Anthony Hernandez.

The Oscars Backstage Pass will feature more than 20 live cameras placed on the red carpet and throughout the backstage area of the Dolby Theatre during the telecast. They will capture sound bites, backstage action, short interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

On Oscar Sunday, the Backstage Pass feature goes live from the red carpet to the end of the show.

The Oscars will be presented on February 24 and hosted by Seth MacFarlane live on ABC.

Saldaña to Co-Host Oscar’s Scientific and Technical Awards

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Zoë Saldaña has a date with Oscar…

The 34-year-old half-Puerto Rican & half-Dominican American actress and her Star Trek co-star Chris Pine will co-host the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Scientific and Technical Awards on Saturday, February 9, at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

Zoe Saldana

Saldaña and Pine – who will be starring in the highly anticipated Star Trek sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness –will present nine awards to 25 individual recipients during the evening’s festivities.

Portions of the Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation, produced this year by David Friendly, will be included in the Oscar telecast.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on ABC.

Almodóvar Shares “I’m So Excited” Trailer at London Tribute

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Pedro Almodóvar is being heralded for his “heart as big as the Grand Canyon”…

The 63-year-old Spanish filmmaker was honored at an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences retrospective of Almodóvar’s work in London, which was attended by celebrities like Grace Jones, Kristen Scott Thomas and Miranda Richardson.

Pedro Almodovar

During the high-profile event, Almodóvar brother Agustin, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Stephen Frears and Sally Potter were among the people offering their tributes to the Oscar-winning filmmaker.

Quentin Tarantino even participated in special pre-recorded video to thank  Almodóvar  for having a “a filmography to beat.” Meanwhile, Frears enthused about Almodóvar’s ability to make everything seem natural.

“He creates a coherent world in which all of the elements fit,” he said. “It comes out of his imagination complete. I met him in New York when I was with My Beautiful Laundrette. I felt like an impostor; here was the transgressive real thing. Mine was a charade.”

A humbled Almodóvar admitted to being embarrassed by all the kind words.

“Tonight I know more about myself than ever,” he joked. “I’ve always strived to try and make life more livable with my films. It’s the homework of any kind of artistic expression. That was the lesson I learned from my mother.”

He even revealed that he’d tried and failed to nab the rights to books like The Hours, Silence of the Lambs, The Human Stain and The Reader, any of which would have been his first foray into English-language film. It’s a bridge he says he’ll likely not attempt to cross again.

“But you have to respect destiny. Perhaps I was not the one to make the movies that I now admire so much.”

And as a delight to the audience, Almodóvar shared a clip from his new film I’m So Excited, which Sony Pictures Classics will release next year. The film, which was originally titled Los Amantes Pasajeros, is the famed director’s return to comedy after a number of dramas like The Skin I Live In and Habla con ella.

The film’s all-star cast includes Javier Cámara, Cecilia Roth, Lola Dueñas, Raul Arévalo, Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Hugo Silva, Willy Toledo, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Blanca Suárez, José Luis Torrijo, José María Yazpik and Laya Martí, with special collaborations from Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Paz Vega.

Iglesias Named Film Composer of the Year at World Soundtrack Awards

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Alberto Iglesias is still reaping the rewards for his composing work on three of last year’s highly acclaimed films.

The 57-year-old Spanish composer was named film composer of the year at the World Soundtrack Awards.

Alberto Iglesias

Iglesias, who received an invitation this summer to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was heralded for his work on the soundtracks for Le Moine (The Monk), The Skin I Live In and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy.

In addition, the academy also awarded Iglesias with the award for best original film score of the year for Tinker, Tailor.

Iglesias defeated fellow Latino nominee Cliff Martinez, who served as the composer on the films Contagion and Drive, in both categories.

Iglesias previously received the Hollywood Film Composer Award at the 15th annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Film Awards for his work on Pedro Almodóvar’s haunting The Skin I Live In and Tomas Alfredson’s Cold War thriller Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy.

The World Soundtrack Awards took place on Sunday, October 21, as the closing event of the 39th Ghent Film Festival.

 

Bejo to Star in Asghar Farhadi’s Next Film

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She wowed audiences in her Academy Award-nominated performance in The Artist… And, Bérénice Bejo could have another date with Oscar in the near future.

The 36-year-old Argentinean actress, who was recently invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will replace Marion Cotillard in A Separation director Asghar Farhadi’s next film, according to Deadline.com.

Berenice Bejo

Scheduling conflicts reportedly forced the lead actress switch.

Shooting on the hush-hush project, a yet-to-be titled French-language picture, is expected to start in October in and around Paris.

Details on the film, which stars A Prophet’s Tahar Rahim, are being kept under wraps. But it’s being called a picture in the vein of A Separation with an element of suspense.

The film is expected to be completed in spring 2013 – just in time for the Cannes Film Festival.

Martinez Nominated for Two World Soundtrack Awards

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The Oscars may have marked the end of 2011-2012 awards season… But Cliff Martinez is still reaping critical acclaim for his work.

The 58-year-old Spanish-American composer—a veteran drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers—has been nominated for two 2012 World Soundtrack Awards.

Cliff Martinez

The World Soundtrack Academy hands out awards in three categories: Film composer of the year; best original score of the year and best original song written directly for a film.

Martinez, who was nominated for a Satellite Award last December, has received nods in two of those categories. He’s up for film composer of the year his work on Contagion and Drive, as well as best original film score of the year for his critically acclaimed music for Drive.

But Martinez isn’t the only Latino nominee…

Like Martinez, Alberto Iglesias has been nominated in two categories.

The 57-year-old Spanish composer, who was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences earlier this summer, has been nominated in the film composer of the year category for his work on Le Moine, Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Last year’s Hollywood Film Composer Award winner will also face-off against Martinez in the best original film score of the year category for his Oscar-nominated score from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Meanwhile, songs performed by Madonna, Mary J. Blige and Sinead O’Connor are in contention for best original song written directly for a film.

Winners will be announced at the World Soundtrack Awards and concert on October 20, the closing night of the Ghent International Film Festival.

Here’s a look at this year’s nominees:

Film Composer of the Year
Alexandre Desplat (A Better Life, Carnage, De Rouille Et d’Os (Rust & Bone), Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Moonrise Kingdom, The Ides Of March)
Alberto Iglesias (Le Moine (The Monk), La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Cliff Martinez (Contagion, Drive)
Howard Shore (A Dangerous Method, Cosmopolis, Hugo)
John Williams (The Adventures of Tintin, War Horse)

Best Original Film Score of the Year
Drive by Cliff Martinez
Hugo by Howard Shore
The Adventures Of Tintin by John Williams
The Ides Of March by Alexandre Desplat
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by Alberto Iglesias

Best Original Song written directly for a Film
“Lay Your Head Down” from Albert Nobbs (music by Brian Byrne, lyrics by Glenn Close, performed by Sinead O’Connor)
“Breath Of Life” from Snow White And The Huntsman (music & lyrics by Florence Welch & Isabella Summers, performed by Florence + the Machine)
“The Living Proof” from The Help (music & lyrics by Thomas Newman, Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason Jr. & Damon Thomas, performed by Mary J. Blige)
“Man Or Muppet” from The Muppets (music & Lyrics by Bret McKenzie, performed by Jason Segel and Walter
“Masterpiece” from W.E. (music & lyrics by Madonna, Julie Frost & Jimmy Harry, performed by Madonna)

Bejo: From Oscar Nominee to Academy Member

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She received her first Oscar nomination earlier this year for her scene-stealing role in The Artist… And now Bérénice Bejo will be helping select future Oscar nominees and winners.

Berenice Bejo

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended an invitation to the 35-year-old Argentinean actress to join the organization. Bejo—who has appeared in The Artist, OSS 117 and Cairo, Nest of Spies—is one of the 176 artists and executives to receive an invitation for their distinguished contributions to theatrical motion pictures.

But Bejo isn’t the only Hispanic artist to receive an invitation … Here’s a look at the other Latinos to make the list:

Actors
Demián Bichir – A Better Life, Che
Clifton Collins, Jr. – Star Trek, Traffic
Diego Luna – Milk, Y Tu Mamá También

Directors
Rodrigo Garcia – Albert Nobbs, Mother and Child

Music
Alberto Iglesias – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Constant Gardener

Short Films and Feature Animation
Jonas Rivera – Up, Cars

”These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “I’m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member.”

Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2012 to the Academy’s roster of members.

New members will be welcomed into the Academy at an invitation-only reception in September.