Oscars 2011

By Adrienne Papp

Riding a wave of last season momentum, The King’s Speech won 4 key awards at the 83^rd Academy Awards on Sunday, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor for Colin Firth. Although it wasn’t a major upset, The King’s Speech beat out The Social Network, which had won 10 awards for best picture beginning in early December, including a nod from The Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. and was nominated in eight categories.  While The Social Network was a critical favorite from the outset for its cultural relevance and topicality, The King’s Speech turned out to be the more emotionally satisfying film, recounting the verbal struggles of King George VI in addressing his nation.  “We didn’t steal it,” said screenwriter David Seidler, who won an Oscar for best original screenplay.  “It just happened.”

Seidler, a 74-year old whose win was particularly satisfying in a climate of the chronically younger thinking Hollywood, was himself a stutterer who cleared the rights with the British royal family before his script went in front of the camera.   The King’s Speech had been a Cinderella story from its inception, when director Tom Hooper was encouraged to do the film by his mother.  Audiences also connected to David Seidler’s script emotionally, finding it not simply a story about royalty, but more about human frailty and the will to overcome personal limitations, something everyone can relate to.

Hosting the Oscars: James Franco and Anne Hathaway

After an amusing opening montage where hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway were transported through vignettes of best pictures nominees (including Anne Hathaway dressed up as The Brown Duck in a spoof of The Black Swan), the awards moved along smoothly and with several notable appearances, including Kirk Douglas who hammed it up to the delight of the crowd before presenting the award for best supporting actress, former host Billy Crystal, a vintage clip of Bob Hope offering his classic dry wit during a broadcast from the 50s, the annual In Memorium tribute to passing industry stars accompanied by Celine Dion signing “Smile,” and a finale that included a performance of “Over the Rainbow” by school kids from New York’s PS-22.

Sandra Bullock

Other significant winners included the elegantly glamorous Natalie Portman, who won a Best Actress award for her role in The Black Swan, a bearded Christian Bale for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Fighter, and Melissa Leo, who was so surprised at winning the Best Supporting Actress statuette that she added an Oscar footnote by dropping the first F-word bomb in Academy broadcast history.  Tom Hooper won the Best Director award for The King’s Speech and let it be known that he made the film at the suggestion of his mother, and Aaron Sorkin was eloquent in accepting the award for the best adapted screenplay for The Social Network.

On a night when Hollywood honors its finest performers, the elegance and glamour that has become synonymous with the event was on full display, both out on the red carpet and in the Kodak theater.  In addition to Natalie Portman, who was elegantly pregnant in a plum off-the shoulder gown by Rodarte, host Anne Hathaway made numerous costume changes, moving from Valentino to Armani without missing a beat, while Sandra Bullock, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Hudson and Nicole Kidman each distinguished themselves in stunning couture, floating elegantly over the carpet and into The Kodak.  Other attendees who turned heads and attracted camera flashes were Hillary Swank in a silver strapless Gucci gown, Scarlett Johansson in burgundy form-fitting lace form Dolce & Gabbana and young starlet Hailee Steinfeld, nominated for her role in True Grit in a stunning but age-appropriate crystal-flecked Marchesa gown.

With its new formula and young hosts, The 83^rd Academy Award broadcast proved that the state of movie making, despite a challenging economy is healthy and alive, and that great talent and art can come from anywhere. It is always exciting and glamorous to see the myriad of stars come out when Hollywood holds its biggest party, proving that it really is and always will be the Greatest Show on Earth.

Along with the glamour and unforgettable stage settings came of course the famous tradition: various star studded gift lounges all around town for two full days prior to Oscar night offering exclusive and expensive gifts the stars got to take home.  In our eco conscious society a big attraction was a weekend of eco-friendly awareness offering the media and the stars  eco-products while presenting  them with a flair for luxury.  This year, along with Only You Can Save Energy and Fortunate Angels the exclusive 2-day event featured live entertainment, gifting, eco-education, celebrity photo studio, PSA station, gourmet snacks & beverages, cupcakes from My Delight CupCakery and much more!  The Photo Studio was an exclusive opportunity for celebrities and notables to share their ecological efforts in Project Green’s upcoming coffee table book on “Celebrities Going G-R-E-E-N.” Focusing on sustainability and teaching the 3 R’s— “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” with partial proceeds benefiting Project Green’s objectives.

Featured Art by Dr. Loraine Stern

Another attraction was the exceptionally classy and elegant work of Dr. Loraine Stern befitting the Oscars perfectly with her sketches and drawings of female nudes that do not circle around the skinny teens image, or the airbrushed waist and legs that show unrealistic figures on magazine covers and only serve to make women feel badly about their body. Dr. Stern’s message is: every female body is beautiful and one can find beauty in curves, it does not need to be all skin and bones.

This year’s Oscar has exceeded expectations, was very well produced and offered a memorable evening to all ages. It was only right that The King’s Speech took home four  Oscars. The script and the film is truly the best of the year if not a classic that will go down in cinema history remembered forever.

About the Author of This Article:  Lady Adrienne Papp is a recognized journalist who has written for many publications including Savoir, Beverly Hills 90210, Malibu Beach, Santa Monica Sun, The Beverly Hills Times, Brentwood News, Bel-Air View, Celebrity Society, Celeb Staff, It Magazine, Chic Today, LA2DAY, West Side Today among many others. She is the President and CEO of Los Angeles / New York-based publicity company, Atlantic Publicityand publishing house, Atlantic Publisher. Adrienne writes about world trends, Quantum Physics, entertainment and interviews celebrities, world leaders, inventors, philanthropists and entrepreneurs. She also owns Atlantic United Films that produces and finances true stories made for theatrical release or the silver screen. Spotlight News Magazineis owned by Atlantic United, Incwith Adrienne Pappbeing the majority shareholder.

Share This Article:

Courtesy of Adrienne Papp

By Adrienne Papp

Since the Academy’s inception in 1987, BAFTA / LA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) has consistently presented a varied and innovative program that inspires and advances creative works, and embraces, supports and honors the wealth of creative talent in the US and California communities. The past twelve months has seen BAFTA / LA present another successful year of programming, all of which begins with the dedication and hard work of the BAFTA / LA Members serving on the Board and Committees.

The year started with the Annual Awards Season Tea Party held in the luxurious surroundings of the Beverly Hills Hotel. A staple fixture in the industry calendar, the party honors nominees from around the world, and provides a unique afternoon of British themed food and drink for those seeking a respite from the hectic Awards’ season. Once again the turnout was laden with filmmakers from all areas of the industry, and amongst those sipping tea and eating fish & chips were Clint Eastwood, Leonardo Di Caprio, Danny Boyle, Ron Howard, Stephen Daldry, Tom Wilkinson, Marisa Tomei, Alexandre Desplat, Viola Davis, Freida Pinto, Paul Bettany, Saffron Burrows, and Josh Brolin.

Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller and Teri Polo at BAFTA dinner

Later in the year, BAFTA / LA hosted a second Tea Party to celebrate the year’s achievements in television and to honor those Commonwealth and British-born individuals nominated in the Emmy Awards. Both Tea Parties shine a spotlight on the success and creative accomplishments of the peers, rewarding their film and television work while inspiring their colleagues and members to continually expand their own creative visions.

Emily Blunt at BAFTA dinner

Much of the proceeds raised from the events’ silent auctions are invested into BAFTA / LA’s Education and Outreach program, which continues to flourish. BAFTA / LA awarded British film students at UCLA, and in June they presented emerging filmmakers with the BAFTA / LA student awards.

To inspire and celebrate scholars and students, BAFTA / LA held a special screening of Anvil! The Story of Anvil, directed by the former UCLA scholar, Sacha Gervasi and all was thrilled to note that the evening energized and inspired many Members to offer their time and support to further expand the organization’s work.

In an exquisite dinner setting, on November 5, this year’s honorees were, Kirk Douglas for Worldwide Contribution to Filmed Entertainment; Danny Boyle for Artistic Excellence in Directing; Emily Blunt for British Artist of the Year; Robert De Niro for Excellence in Film and Colin Firth received the BAFTA / LA Humanitarian Award.

Kirk Douglas receives BAFTA awards from the Governor

The Host for the evening was Stephen Fry and the events was sponsored by British Airways, Volvo, American Airlines, Asprey, Beefeater 24, and Stefan Johansson Vaxjo.

Among the presenters were Ben Stiller, Claire Danes, Amy Adams, Benicio Del Toro, Ewan McGregor and Tom Ford.

About the Writer: Adrienne Papp is a recognized journalist who has written for many publications including Savoir, Beverly Hills 90210, Malibu Beach, Santa Monica Sun, The Beverly Hills Times, Brentwood News, Bel-Air View, Celebrity Society, Celeb Staff, It Magazine, Chic Today, LA2DAY, among many others. She is the President and CEO of Los Angeles/New York-based publicity companies, Atlantic Publicity andAtlantic Publisher. Adrienne writes about world trends, Quantum Physics, entertainment and interviews celebrities and world leaders. She also owns Spotlight News Magazine.

Share This Article: