The Best Picture at the 91st Oscars® is Green Book. This story brings forward the fact that we need to sit down and discuss racism in a safe environment.
Jim Burke, Peter Farrelly, Charles B. Wessler
Jim Burke
“Green BooK” Best Picture
Charles B. Wessler along with the cast and crew of “Green Book,”
Green Book Producers
Jim Burke is a producer and actor, known for Green Book (2018), The Descendants(2011) and Election (1999). This film took many puns and knocks during production. Burke responds to this time, “I’ll just say, yes, it was discouraging; but we always went back to the film. And when we had a bad day, we’d pop in the movie, and we were reminded that we’re all really proud of this film, all of us and all of the over 500 people who helped make it.”
Peter Farrell is a producer and writer, known for Green Book (2018), There’s Something About Mary (1998) and Dumb and Dumber (1994). Farrell talks about his approach to winning, “It’s like if I watch a football game and I need my team to score, I just leave the room, and they will. If I’m watching them, they won’t. So I just kind of thought about everything but winning this thing, and it worked.”
Charles B. Wessler is known for his work on There’s Something About Mary (1998), Dumb and Dumber (1994) and It’s Pat: The Movie (1994). Wessler talks about the moment Julia Roberts (he did forget her name) announced Green Book for Best Picture, “I just want to say one thing. These guys may or may not agree with me, but when I’m forgetting the name of the actress who gave us the award. I don’t know why.” Burke states, “Julia Roberts.” Wessler continues, “Julia Roberts. She opened up thank you. She opened up the thing, and I’m not kidding, I started to talk to my friend sitting next to me; and she said GREEN BOOK, and I so just to let you know, were we thinking we could win? I kind of forgot that we could, and, you know.”
Film Synopsis
The title and subject matter are a reference to “The Negro Motorist Green Book,” also known as “The Negro Travelers’ Green Book.” Published from 1936-1966, the guide helped African-American travelers find lodging, restaurants, and other businesses that would serve them. It eventually covered most of North America, plus Bermuda and the Caribbean. (IMDB)
Film Fun Facts
The real Tony Lip is best known for playing Carmine Lupertazzi on The Sopranos.
The film is dedicated to “Larry the Crow,” a bird that hung around the shooting location. Viggo Mortensen cared for the animal after it was hit by a car.
The film is about “Tony Lip” Viggo Mortensen and Dr. Don Shirley’s relationship and how they changed each other in a time when it was crazy, obviously.
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Paul Massy, John Casali, and Tim Cavagin bring an Oscar® sound mixing winning performance. This film is an honor to Queen’s Freddy Mercury.
Tim Cavagin, Paul Massey, and John Casali
Paul Massey
Tim Cavagin, Paul Massey, and John Casali
Sound Mixing
Paul Massey
Paul Massey work includes Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), The Greatest Showman (2017) and Deadpool (2016). He took the time to say, “Thank you so much for your music and for your collaboration and your support. This is a project of a lifetime. We had great resources, we had great collaboration from all of the Queen production team and our producers, and it was a wonderful project. And actually, I think we all wished it hadn’t finished. ”
John Casali
John Casali work includes Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Into the Woods (2014), and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. He says, “All of my team, and for this, really, for Chris Murphy, my boom operator, that’s put up with me for 14 years. Thanks, mate. When we shot those sequences making Bohemian Rhapsody, all the things that we shot came from Brian May.”
Tim Cavagin
Tim Cavagin work includes Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Baby Driver (2017), and The Others (2001). He thanks, “The team Twickenham, everyone else who worked on the sound of this incredible movie.”
Film Synopsis
This film’s story is the legendary rock band Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury, leading up to their famous performance at Live Aid (1985). (IMDb)
Film Facts
Ben Whishaw was linked in the media to playing Freddie Mercury before casting Remi Malek.
Queen engineers gave the sound team full access to their archives of music, all their live material and studio material.
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This film is a celebration of love and a reminder of the struggles facing many African American women in this country. Regina King envelopes this struggle and love to win the Oscar® for Best Supporting Actress.
Regina King and her mother, Gloria.
Regina King
Regina King and Mahershala Ali
Supporting Actress
Actress in a Supporting Role
Regina King brings her mother to the Oscars®. She says about her mother being there, “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.” She gets teary-eyed as she reflects and says thanks to these women.
She goes on to say, ” James Baldwin birthed this baby and Barry, you nurtured her, you surrounded her with so much love and support, so it’s appropriate for me to be standing here because I’m an example of what it looks like when support and love is poured into someone.” That is truly was. She is wearing an Oscar® winning Oscar De La Renta white gown.
This film is important in the narrative that there remains a divide in this country. We have moved forward and backward throughout the 400 years since the first slave being brought to this country. King states about winning, “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.”
King did present a strong woman fighting for her family and her dreams. Kings said about working on the film, “When you have men and women working together, pretty amazing things happen.”
She continues with, “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.”
Film Synopsis
A woman in Harlem embraces her pregnancy while she and her family struggle to prove her fiancé innocent of a crime. (IMdB)
Film Facts
The film’s release date was the novelist James Baldwin’s 94th birthday.
Beale Street is in Memphis not New Orleans.
The author is director’s Barry Jenkins favorite.
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Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, CO, successfully manages to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan branch with the help of a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader. Based on actual events. (IMdB)
Writers
Spike Lee is truly thrilled to win this first Oscar® for Best Adapted Screenplay. He states, “My grandma who saved 50 years of Social Security checks to put her first grandchild – she called me Spikie Poo – she put me through Morehouse College and NYU Grad Film. NYU!” This is a long time in coming for Spike Lee. The screenplay writers include David Rabinowitz, Charles Wachtel, and Kevin Willmott.
Willmott states, at Northern Arizona University, “Telling a character’s story you have to fictionalize the stories. Often as a writer, you do that with your own life experiences.” The story does reflect some personal experiences in his life.
Lee concludes the acceptance speech saying, “Let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right thing! You know I had to get that in there!”
BlacKkKlansman Fun Facts
The film is one of only four US films to win the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival. The film receive a standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival.
John David Washington did not audition for the role. He was offered the role from Spike Lee.
The final scene is edited using hundreds of cell phone camera footage taken in Virginia.
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The Oscars® celebration is 91 years old. This year is the year without a host. Award season closes out with the top fashion, talent, and entertainment.
Constance Wu
Glenn Close,
Lady Gaga
Adam Lambert
Spike Lee
Billy Porter
Regina King
Ashley Graham
Michelle Yeoh
Richard E. Grant
Laura Harrier
Amandla Stenberg
Awkwafina
Danielle Macdonald
Brad Goreski
Stephan James
Adam Lambert
Red Carpet Fashion Oscars® Celebration
The best in talent and fashion hit the red carpet for a few interviews and photos. Style and fashion are colorful. Big bows on the back are in with long trains. The tulle and feminity appear to be an honor to Karl Lagerfeld. Men step up the color and look fabulous.
Lady Gaga arrives understated wearing an Alexander McQueen black gown. Audrey Hepburn last wears her $30 million diamond from Tiffany Co. that Lady Gaga is wearing.
Constance Wu is wearing a flowing yellow Versace gown with jewels by Neil J. Rodgers Swarovski.
Spike Lee brought a little bit of “Do The Right Thing” to the Oscars He posts on Instagram “Brother Prince Is Watching Tonight, Singin’ “IT’S GONNA BE A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT’ Ozwald Boateng designer of his purple suit. Congrats on the Oscar.
Billy Porter is wearing custom Christian Siriano couture. The jewels created by Oscar Heyman.
Regina King slays in a white Oscar De La Renta with Chopard jewels and Christian Louboutin shoes for accessories.
Glenn Close styling is a beautiful gold Carolina Herrea with a long train. The gown has 4 Million Beads and Weighs 42 Pounds.
Ashley Graham at the 2019 Oscars is wearing a Zac Posen gown. Accessories include Martin Katz jewels, Gianvito Rossi shoes, and a Roger Vivier clutch.
Michelle Yeoh at the 2019 Oscars Wearing an Elie Saab dress with Chopard jewels.
Richard E. Grant Suit by Brunell Ocucinelli. The touch of color down the front of the shirt is nice.
Laura Harrier at the 2019 Oscars Wearing a sustainably sourced Louis Vuitton dress as part of the green carpet initiative and Bulgari jewels.
Amandla Stenberg at the 2019 Oscars Wearing a fringed column dress.
Awkwafina is wearing a DSquared2 suit with Chopard jewels.
Danielle Macdonald is wearing a sustainable Christian Siriano dress made with cotton crepe vegetable dyed fabric and recycled tulle with Stella Luna shoes.
Brad Goreski is wearing a Brunello Cucinelli suit with Garrett Leight glasses, Cartier jewels, and Christian Louboutin shoe.
Stephan James is wearing an Etro suit with David Yurman jewels.
Adam Lambert is very traditional by wearing Tom Ford with a beautiful white flower on the jacket. Great performance.
This year the star-studded presenters include Elsie Fisher, Danai Gurira, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Keaton, Helen Mirren, John Mulaney, Tyler Perry, Pharrell Williams, Krysten Ritter, Paul Rudd and Michelle YeohAwkwafina, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Tina Fey, Allison Janney, Brie Larson, Jennifer Lopez, Frances McDormand, Gary Oldman, Amy Poehler, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Amandla Stenberg, Charlize Theron, Tessa Thompson, Constance Wu, Javier Bardem, Angela Bassett, Chadwick Boseman, Emilia Clarke, Laura Dern, Samuel L. Jackson, Stephan James, Keegan-Michael Key, KiKi Layne, James McAvoy, Melissa McCarthy, Jason Momoa and Sarah Paulson.
Performances Oscars® Celebration
Queen opens the Oscars® with Adam Lambert. The performance of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper much anticipated left the audience breathless. They perform Shallow from A Star Is Born. Other performances: Jennifer Hudson, I’ll Fight from RBG; nominees Gillian Welch and David Rawlings welcomed to the stage to sing When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs; Oscar nominee Bette Midler is a special guest performing The Place Where Lost Things Go from Mary Poppins Returns.
Oscars’ Week Celebration
The week prior to Oscars is a celebration of the nominees and preparations for the Sunday event.
The symposiums present makeup and hairstyling, foreign film directors, shorts, documentaries, and animation nominees. This is a great time to get the insight to the creation of the top films.
The red carpet and Dolby Theatre undergo a creation to welcome the nominees and press for this night. The Hollywood Blvd. transforms into an elegant reception.
Achievement in Costume Design
Supporting Actress
Achievement Sound Editing
Achievement in Makeup
Achievement in Production Design
Best Documentary Feature
Recipients Oscars® Celebration
Best Picture
Black Panther Kevin Feige, Producer
BlacKkKlansman Sean McKittrick, Jason Blum, Raymond Mansfield, Jordan Peele, and Spike Lee, Producers.
Bohemian Rhapsody Graham King, Producer
The Favourite Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, and Yorgos Lanthimos, Producers.
Green Book Jim Burke, Charles B. Wessler, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly, and Nick Vallelonga, Producers Winner
Roma Gabriela Rodríguez and Alfonso Cuarón, Producers
AStar is Born Bill Gerber, Bradley Cooper, and Lynette Howell Taylor, Producers
VICE Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adam McKay, and Kevin Messick, Producers.
