Wow, will this be your first live Oscars? Congratulations on the gig!
Text us, okay? :p
The Show - What can we expect
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Sonic Youth
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I was hired to be the show's Research Consultant. And for the last 6 weeks have been doing work, such as advising on montages, speeches and the script.
I'm flying out to LA on Friday morning for last minute advice, and will be attending the Oscars on Sunday.
I'll give lots of details on what I see and experience.
I'm flying out to LA on Friday morning for last minute advice, and will be attending the Oscars on Sunday.
I'll give lots of details on what I see and experience.
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OscarGuy
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I believe that would be the case.
And here's the agreement within the rules:
Rule Four, Item 2:
“Every award shall be conditioned upon the execution and delivery to the Academy by the recipient thereof of a receipt and agreement reading as follows:
Gentlemen:
I hereby acknowledge receipt from you of a replica of your copyrighted statuette, commonly known as the ‘Oscar®,’ as an award for achievement in motion picture arts and sciences. I acknowledge that my receipt of said replica does not entitle me to any right whatever in your copyright, trademark and service mark of said statuette and that only the physical replica itself shall belong to me. In consideration of your delivering said replica to me, I agree to comply with your rules and regulations respecting its use and not to sell or otherwise dispose of it, nor permit it to be sold or disposed of by operation of law, without first offering to sell it to you for the sum of $1.00. You shall have thirty days after any such offer is made to you within which to accept it. This agreement shall be binding not only on me, but also on my heirs, legatees, executors, administrators, estate, successors and assigns. My legatees and heirs shall have the right to acquire said replica, if it becomes part of my estate, subject to this agreement.
Edited By OscarGuy on 1234980914
And here's the agreement within the rules:
Rule Four, Item 2:
“Every award shall be conditioned upon the execution and delivery to the Academy by the recipient thereof of a receipt and agreement reading as follows:
Gentlemen:
I hereby acknowledge receipt from you of a replica of your copyrighted statuette, commonly known as the ‘Oscar®,’ as an award for achievement in motion picture arts and sciences. I acknowledge that my receipt of said replica does not entitle me to any right whatever in your copyright, trademark and service mark of said statuette and that only the physical replica itself shall belong to me. In consideration of your delivering said replica to me, I agree to comply with your rules and regulations respecting its use and not to sell or otherwise dispose of it, nor permit it to be sold or disposed of by operation of law, without first offering to sell it to you for the sum of $1.00. You shall have thirty days after any such offer is made to you within which to accept it. This agreement shall be binding not only on me, but also on my heirs, legatees, executors, administrators, estate, successors and assigns. My legatees and heirs shall have the right to acquire said replica, if it becomes part of my estate, subject to this agreement.
Edited By OscarGuy on 1234980914
Wesley Lovell
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
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FilmFan720
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I have a legal question about this Academy rule that they keep control of the award. What happens if someone doesn't sign the sheet? If I am nominated, but refuse to sign the agreement that I cannot sell the Oscar, do I not get a statue?
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Sonic Youth
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And the Oscar goes to Matilda if Ledger wins
Feb 18, 9:19 AM (ET)
By STEVE POND
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - If Heath Ledger is named best supporting actor at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, his daughter, 3-year-old Matilda Rose Ledger, will become the owner of the Oscar statuette.
But it won't really be hers until her 18th birthday on Oct. 28, 2023 - and even then, only if she signs a contract.
Matilda, daughter of the late Ledger and actress Michelle Williams, has been designated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as the eventual owner of her father's Oscar, should he win for his portrayal of the Joker in "The Dark Knight."
The actor died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs last year at the age of 28.
But Ledger's nomination, and his daughter's young age, led to one of the trickiest situations the academy has dealt with in its eight decades of awarding posthumous Oscars.
"It's complicated, because there are two different questions that have to be answered," says Bruce Davis, executive director of the academy. "First, we have to decide who gets the job of accepting the award onstage on the night of the ceremony. And then there's the question of the eventual disposition of the posthumous statuette, which may not stay with the person who accepts it."
In Ledger's case, says Davis, the second question was the hardest to answer.
Academy tradition calls for a posthumous statuette to go to the spouse, or, if there is no living spouse, to the oldest child. Ledger wasn't married, and Matilda is his only child.
Yet because she is only 3, Matilda is legally unable to sign the winner's agreement - a contract required of all nominees that says the recipient will not resell his or her Oscar without first offering it back to the academy for $1. The agreement is the academy's way of limiting what might otherwise be a lively secondary market in Oscars.
"From our point of view, somebody has to sign the winner's agreement, and a 3-year-old can't do that," says Davis. "Nor can a parent sign any kind of legal document that obligates a child to do something once they turn 18. I didn't know that before we looked into it, but it's a good law."
After conversations with Williams and with Ledger's family in Australia, the academy hit on a solution: "In the event that Heath Ledger should be selected as the supporting actor recipient, the statuette will be held in trust for his daughter by her mother, Michelle Williams, until Matilda reaches the age of 18," says Davis. "At that point, she may execute what we call an heir's agreement and keep the statuette forever - or, if she chooses not to do that, it will return to us."
In other words, the Oscar statuette can spend the next 15 years with Matilda, but her mother, who has signed the academy's agreement, will be the legal custodian. When Matilda is old enough, she can claim ownership by signing the agreement. If she does so, she'll become the official owner and will be legally bound not to sell her Oscar; if she opts not to sign, the statuette will revert to the academy without any payment.
As for who would accept the award, that - like many other aspects of the ceremony - is a matter that show producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon are keeping under wraps. Davis will only say that tradition calls for a posthumous Oscar to be accepted either by a close relative or "an artist who was close to the nominee, and who can speak credibly for him or her." (The last posthumous Oscar went to cinematographer Conrad L. Hall in 2002, and was accepted by Hall's son.)
"We always had a very good idea of what we should do and who was going to accept," says Gil Cates, who produced 14 Oscar shows that included nine posthumous nominations and three wins. "You need to line up someone who's respectable to avoid any embarrassing or difficult moments, and for me it was always easy to agree with the academy on a legitimate person."
The decision was also simple for this year's other posthumous nominees, Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella, producers of best-picture nominee "The Reader." If the movie wins the top prize, the other nominated producers, Donna Gigliotti and Redmond Morris, will also accept on behalf of Pollack and Minghella, and the statuettes will then be given to their widows.
Faced with the prospect of a minor potentially taking possession of Ledger's Oscar, the academy has in recent days revisited the way it handled underage winners such as Tatum O'Neal, who was 10 when she won best supporting actress for 1973's "Paper Moon," and Anna Paquin, who in 1994 won the best supporting actress award for "The Piano" at age 11.
"What we've tended to do is have them sign anyway, and then get back to them after they turn 18 and ask them to re-execute the agreement," Davis says. "I would love to tell you that that has happened in every single case, but your call prompted a little research. And in a couple of cases, we've never completed the circle."
In other words, there may be some Oscars out there not under academy control?
"I don't expect any trouble," says Davis with a laugh, "but, in fact, yes."
Edited By Sonic Youth on 1234977699
Feb 18, 9:19 AM (ET)
By STEVE POND
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - If Heath Ledger is named best supporting actor at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, his daughter, 3-year-old Matilda Rose Ledger, will become the owner of the Oscar statuette.
But it won't really be hers until her 18th birthday on Oct. 28, 2023 - and even then, only if she signs a contract.
Matilda, daughter of the late Ledger and actress Michelle Williams, has been designated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as the eventual owner of her father's Oscar, should he win for his portrayal of the Joker in "The Dark Knight."
The actor died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs last year at the age of 28.
But Ledger's nomination, and his daughter's young age, led to one of the trickiest situations the academy has dealt with in its eight decades of awarding posthumous Oscars.
"It's complicated, because there are two different questions that have to be answered," says Bruce Davis, executive director of the academy. "First, we have to decide who gets the job of accepting the award onstage on the night of the ceremony. And then there's the question of the eventual disposition of the posthumous statuette, which may not stay with the person who accepts it."
In Ledger's case, says Davis, the second question was the hardest to answer.
Academy tradition calls for a posthumous statuette to go to the spouse, or, if there is no living spouse, to the oldest child. Ledger wasn't married, and Matilda is his only child.
Yet because she is only 3, Matilda is legally unable to sign the winner's agreement - a contract required of all nominees that says the recipient will not resell his or her Oscar without first offering it back to the academy for $1. The agreement is the academy's way of limiting what might otherwise be a lively secondary market in Oscars.
"From our point of view, somebody has to sign the winner's agreement, and a 3-year-old can't do that," says Davis. "Nor can a parent sign any kind of legal document that obligates a child to do something once they turn 18. I didn't know that before we looked into it, but it's a good law."
After conversations with Williams and with Ledger's family in Australia, the academy hit on a solution: "In the event that Heath Ledger should be selected as the supporting actor recipient, the statuette will be held in trust for his daughter by her mother, Michelle Williams, until Matilda reaches the age of 18," says Davis. "At that point, she may execute what we call an heir's agreement and keep the statuette forever - or, if she chooses not to do that, it will return to us."
In other words, the Oscar statuette can spend the next 15 years with Matilda, but her mother, who has signed the academy's agreement, will be the legal custodian. When Matilda is old enough, she can claim ownership by signing the agreement. If she does so, she'll become the official owner and will be legally bound not to sell her Oscar; if she opts not to sign, the statuette will revert to the academy without any payment.
As for who would accept the award, that - like many other aspects of the ceremony - is a matter that show producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon are keeping under wraps. Davis will only say that tradition calls for a posthumous Oscar to be accepted either by a close relative or "an artist who was close to the nominee, and who can speak credibly for him or her." (The last posthumous Oscar went to cinematographer Conrad L. Hall in 2002, and was accepted by Hall's son.)
"We always had a very good idea of what we should do and who was going to accept," says Gil Cates, who produced 14 Oscar shows that included nine posthumous nominations and three wins. "You need to line up someone who's respectable to avoid any embarrassing or difficult moments, and for me it was always easy to agree with the academy on a legitimate person."
The decision was also simple for this year's other posthumous nominees, Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella, producers of best-picture nominee "The Reader." If the movie wins the top prize, the other nominated producers, Donna Gigliotti and Redmond Morris, will also accept on behalf of Pollack and Minghella, and the statuettes will then be given to their widows.
Faced with the prospect of a minor potentially taking possession of Ledger's Oscar, the academy has in recent days revisited the way it handled underage winners such as Tatum O'Neal, who was 10 when she won best supporting actress for 1973's "Paper Moon," and Anna Paquin, who in 1994 won the best supporting actress award for "The Piano" at age 11.
"What we've tended to do is have them sign anyway, and then get back to them after they turn 18 and ask them to re-execute the agreement," Davis says. "I would love to tell you that that has happened in every single case, but your call prompted a little research. And in a couple of cases, we've never completed the circle."
In other words, there may be some Oscars out there not under academy control?
"I don't expect any trouble," says Davis with a laugh, "but, in fact, yes."
Edited By Sonic Youth on 1234977699
"What the hell?"
Win Butler
Win Butler
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OscarGuy
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I read an article on the Emmys and how they are trying to shake things up because of sagging ratings. At one point, they are discussing what "film and television" were thinking of doing to revitalize and they suggested that perhaps one thing that may be done is reveal certain categories' winners before the ceremony begins and just air their acceptance speeches during the show itself. The hint is there that this could be an Oscar tactic, but considering the article later stated that only recently had ABC even been brought into the Condon/Mark circle makes me think perhaps the inclusion of the word "film" was more generic in use and not specifically about the Oscars.
I do, however, remember when the Golden Globes used to present some awards before the show started...and I was always upset they did that because part of the fun is them announcing the winner...going in knowing who has already won isn't very fun, IMO.
I do, however, remember when the Golden Globes used to present some awards before the show started...and I was always upset they did that because part of the fun is them announcing the winner...going in knowing who has already won isn't very fun, IMO.
Wesley Lovell
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
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Sonic Youth
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Big Magilla
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This is exciting - NOT!
Leaked by E! On-line:
Host Hugh Jackman won't be the only star singing and dancing at Sunday's Academy Awards.
Several sources say that the Aussie hunk will be joined on stage by Beyoncé, High School Musical stars and real-life couple Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens and Mamma Mia!'s Amanda Seyfried. Dominic Cooper, Seyfried's costar and rumored boyfriend, will also likely participate, but I'm told scheduling conflicts still have to be resolved to make it work.
One source tells me that Jackman and Beyoncé have been rehearsing at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City.
The entire group begins rehearsals tonight here in Hollywood, according to another source.
The song-and-dance routine is being directed by Jackman's Australia director Baz Luhrmann. No stranger to musicals, Luhrman's credits include Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet and Strictly Ballroom. Jackman reportedly requested to have Luhrmann stage the Oscar number.
As I first told you earlier today, Efron is also expected to present Best Original Song.
No word yet on what they'll singing and dancing to. First-time show producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon have kept a tight lid on their plans, but have continually stressed that they intend to shake things up on the movie industry's biggest night of the year.
Reps for the stars and the Oscars did not comment.
The 81st annual Academy Awards will telecast live on ABC from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.
(Originally published Feb. 17, 2009 at 5:20 p.m. PT)
Which followed this even more exciting news:
The Oscars are taking a dip into the fountain of youth.
Fresh off the news that Robert Pattinson is going to be a presenter at this year's awards show on Sunday, I'm told that Zac Efron will be doing the same.
Sources tell me the High School Musical hottie will present Best Original Song during ABC's live telecast from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.
Who will be by Pattinson's and Efron's side?
No one is saying right now, but we wouldn't be surprised if Pattinson's Twilight costar Kristen Stewart and Efron's real-life HSM girlfriend, Vanessa Hudgens, were also in attendance.
And there's more from the Oscars teen scene: I'm told Miley Cyrus will be there, too, but she won't be presenting like she did last year. The Hannah Montana star is going to support her box-office hit Bolt, which is up for Best Animated Feature, sources reveal.
No word if Cyrus' underwear model-actor boyfriend, Justin Gaston, will be her date for the evening.
Reps for the stars and the awards show did not comment.
Edited By Big Magilla on 1234948709
Leaked by E! On-line:
Host Hugh Jackman won't be the only star singing and dancing at Sunday's Academy Awards.
Several sources say that the Aussie hunk will be joined on stage by Beyoncé, High School Musical stars and real-life couple Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens and Mamma Mia!'s Amanda Seyfried. Dominic Cooper, Seyfried's costar and rumored boyfriend, will also likely participate, but I'm told scheduling conflicts still have to be resolved to make it work.
One source tells me that Jackman and Beyoncé have been rehearsing at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City.
The entire group begins rehearsals tonight here in Hollywood, according to another source.
The song-and-dance routine is being directed by Jackman's Australia director Baz Luhrmann. No stranger to musicals, Luhrman's credits include Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet and Strictly Ballroom. Jackman reportedly requested to have Luhrmann stage the Oscar number.
As I first told you earlier today, Efron is also expected to present Best Original Song.
No word yet on what they'll singing and dancing to. First-time show producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon have kept a tight lid on their plans, but have continually stressed that they intend to shake things up on the movie industry's biggest night of the year.
Reps for the stars and the Oscars did not comment.
The 81st annual Academy Awards will telecast live on ABC from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.
(Originally published Feb. 17, 2009 at 5:20 p.m. PT)
Which followed this even more exciting news:
The Oscars are taking a dip into the fountain of youth.
Fresh off the news that Robert Pattinson is going to be a presenter at this year's awards show on Sunday, I'm told that Zac Efron will be doing the same.
Sources tell me the High School Musical hottie will present Best Original Song during ABC's live telecast from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.
Who will be by Pattinson's and Efron's side?
No one is saying right now, but we wouldn't be surprised if Pattinson's Twilight costar Kristen Stewart and Efron's real-life HSM girlfriend, Vanessa Hudgens, were also in attendance.
And there's more from the Oscars teen scene: I'm told Miley Cyrus will be there, too, but she won't be presenting like she did last year. The Hannah Montana star is going to support her box-office hit Bolt, which is up for Best Animated Feature, sources reveal.
No word if Cyrus' underwear model-actor boyfriend, Justin Gaston, will be her date for the evening.
Reps for the stars and the awards show did not comment.
Edited By Big Magilla on 1234948709
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anonymous1980
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This story's pretty neat.
MIA invited to perform from bed at Oscars 2009
Despite giving birth less than a week ago, MIA is wanted by the Oscars. Following her barnstorming performance at the Grammys last week, organisers are desperate for her to perform at this Sunday's ceremony. So desperate, in fact, that she could perform lying down if she wants to.
According to reports today the rapper is keen to fulfil her commitment to perform her Oscar-nominated song from Slumdog Millionaire, O Saya, at the awards ceremony. She is said to be trying to find a way to overcome the physical issues of performing so soon after giving birth, including, it's alleged, an appearance by hologram or, failing that, one delivered from a bed live on stage.
MIA, real name Maya Arulpragasam, went into labour just hours after performing at the Grammys with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and T.I, where she marked the occasion by wearing an eye-popping transparent dress over her blooming belly. She blogged earlier this week that her baby boy was "the most amazing thing on the planet", and confirmed he was born on Wednesday 11 February after she went into the early stages of labour on the night of her performance (8 February).
Now Oscars producer Laurence Mark is said to have offered her a "large bed" to perform from at the 81st annual Academy Awards later this week, hoping that if being nine months pregnant won't stop her performing then neither will being a new mother.
"She's eager to perform ... we've said things like 'we're willing to have her enter on a large bed,'" Mark is reported to have told the WENN network. "We'll make it as easy for her as we can."
MIA is nominated for an award in the best original song category for her collaboration with AR Rahman on O Saya, which features on the soundtrack to the Danny Boyle film Slumdog Millionaire. According to a BBC interview with Rahman, the Indian composer said that the issue of an MIA performance at the Oscars is the "million-dollar question".
"She wants to. In fact, she said she'll do it with a hologram. She has all these ideas," said Rahman. He added: "I don't know how it's going to be possible, though. Having a baby is such an important thing in your life – more important than winning an Oscar."
Something tells us MIA will find a way to balance both.
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Big Magilla
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I don't know about the auditorium but an artist's rendering of the set by architect David Rockwell appears at the top of Sunday's New York Times article I linked to in another post. It's pink on purple with just two life-size gold statues perched atop one of the two sets.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/movies/awardsseason/15brow.html?_r=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/movies/awardsseason/15brow.html?_r=1
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anonymous1980
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OscarGuy
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If American Idol's Group 1 performs tonight at the Kodak Theater (where Hollywood week had been filmed), we might get some sneaks at what the Oscar auditorium will look like. Of course, they could turn around late Wednesday night after AI is broadcast to do their work, but we already know that the middle front orchestra seats had been removed for Hollywood Week, which has also been hinted at by Condon and Mark, so it's possible this feature will continue. However, if they've already done some of the work for Sunday, then it's possible we could get some ideas tonight.
Wesley Lovell
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
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