It's somewhat appropriate that I'm handling this category tonight. Part of the focus is on set design, and today I started on set with my latest job, mostly watching the technicians and builders put the set together so we can start shooting tomorrow. It's what we call "synergy," folks. Anyway, as I am not a … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Production Design
It's arguably harder to write a great adapted screenplay than it is to write an original one. With an original script, you can pretty much do anything. You come up with the story, the characters, everything. The sky is the limit. However, with adapted scripts, there can sometimes seem like there's a sense of obligation … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Adapted Screenplay
This is often a tricky category year-to-year for a variety of reasons. For one thing, it's one of the few that can still have fewer than five nominees. In 2011, only two songs were nominated, and two years later one was disqualified, giving us four. The current rules state that the category will have either … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Original Song
If there's any one category that gives me fits and anxiety attacks year in and year out, it's this one. It's not that the entrants are bad by any means, it's simply a matter of access. The eligibility calendar for International Feature submissions shifts back a couple of months before the general ballot, so as … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – International Feature
I have to say, there was a slight chance I wasn't going to be able to do tonight's post. I had to take my computer into the shop for a battery issue, and while I knew nothing truly terrible was going to happen, there was always the chance at a 1-2 day delay depending on … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Supporting Actress
I've spent over 10 years of my life as a professional editor in addition to my writing. Eight of those years were at ESPN, and the rest was at Fox Sports. It's not that I'm particularly better at editing sports than anything else, it's just a matter of familiarity with the equipment and operating systems. … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Film Editing
It's been a long time since we've had one of those crystallizing film score moments. You know what I'm talking about. Something like Star Wars or Back to the Future or Jaws. When's the last time you've heard a score cue and immediately knew what movie it was from? I think for me it would … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Original Score
I say this a lot, but it's absolutely true. I am in awe of people who do the things I can't. Some of these folks have innate talent that gets applied perfectly to a trade or activity. Others choose something and passionately apply themselves to it until they're the absolute best. I love these people, … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Cinematography
This year marks a milestone for the Academy's youngest category. The Oscar for Animated Feature will be handed out for the 20th time next month, which is sort of hard to believe. Animated Short films have been receiving recognition from the Academy since the 1930s, but it took until the turn of the 21st Century … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Animated Feature
The task is complete. After a few more days and three more viewings, I have finished all the feature length films that have gotten at least one Oscar nomination this year. All that remains are the Shorts, which will be released theatrically and online this coming Friday, April 2. Each of our final three films … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Blitz Catch-Up, Part 3
I Actually Paid To See This 