Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Oscar campaigning gets downsized
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
Oscar campaigning gets downsized
Reuters - Wednesday, December 23
Send
IM Story
Print
Large Oscar statues are seen before getting a fresh coat of paint by scenic artists near Los Angeles October 19, 2009, in preparation for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Governors Awards in November 2009 and the 82nd Academy Awards in March 2010. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
By Alex Ben Block
LOS ANGELES - Forget lavish junkets and expensive gifts this awards season.
Whatever over-the-top campaigning Oscar organizers haven't managed to rein in, the recession and corporate downsizing have seen to: It's no longer cool to throw a splashy, public event to hype a contender.
Now, there are more-specialized gatherings for more select groups -- intimate parties at a restaurant or the home of a producer, studio chief or star. The sell is subtle. Elegantly catered, often with entertainment, these soirees celebrate the director or the stars, and many double as holiday functions.
Leonardo DiCaprio hosted a party for pal Tobey Maguire, underwritten by film financier Relativity Media, just before Maguire snagged a surprise best actor Golden Globe nomination for "Brothers." Fox co-chairman Jim Gianopulos threw a 60th birthday party for "Crazy Heart" star Jeff Bridges, who soon after became a Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Broadcast Critics nominee.
In New York, Gloria Steinem hosted a ladies-only party for "Amelia" director Mira Nair. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson hosted a screening of "The Messenger," starring Woody Harrelson, for fellow actors including Sean Penn, who later hosted a screening in San Francisco.
Sometimes events target specific subgroups like guild members, many of whom also are Oscar voters. SAG's nominating committee this year got early looks at films ranging from "Invictus" to "The Lovely Bones," followed by Q&As with the actors involved.
Some events showcase the crafts, especially music. Peter Bogdanovich and Callie Khouri hosted a screening of "Crazy Heart," and then Willie Nelson performed music from the picture.
Other times it's a tribute at a film festival, where the timing is right and where potential voters just happen to live. Santa Barbara and Palm Springs in recent years have seen propitious visits from Penn . This year's Palm Springs tribute lineup includes potential Oscar nominees Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and Jason Reitman.
Over the years, invitational events have been hosted by Universal's Ron Meyer, Warner Bros.' Alan Horn, Sony's Amy Pascal and others. But the masters of the game are Harvey and Bob Weinstein, whose struggling company leads the Globes field with a dozen nominations for the likes of "Inglourious Basterds" and "Nine."
How have the Weinsteins done it?
"We are absolutely being more targeted," Weinstein Co. international distribution president David Glasser said. "It's kind of nice because we are being more personal at the events. We're just not doing blanket spending."
Glasser, though, noted that the effort can involve significant logistical challenges. "You can imagine what it's like to move everybody from Brad Pitt to Nicole Kidman to Daniel Day-Lewis to Colin Firth to Viggo Mortensen around," he said.
Although Hollywood has thrown parties at awards time since the Roaring '20s, the modern era arguably began in 2000 with "Gladiator." It was released in May, and publicist Bruce Feldman recalled that DreamWorks did a "road show" rerelease in a large Century City theater followed by Q&As with the director, writer, cinematographer, costumer and others -- an approach that has been copied frequently. The film went on to win five Oscars, including best picture.
Invitation-only events -- like the recent party thrown at the home of Lawrence Bender, a producer of "Inglourious Basterds" -- legally skirt Academy rules that prohibit inviting only Oscar voters by including guild members and some media, especially Globes voters in the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.
Making it even more an arm's-length affair, that party wasn't thrown by the Weinsteins but by director Quentin Tarantino and Bender. The pair were on hand with Pitt and the "Inglourious" cast, most notably Christoph Waltz, the Austrian who has received several supporting actor nominations this season.
"You should have seen that party -- from Ron Howard, and of course Quentin, there were 200-some people you were amazed at seeing there," said Barbara Boyle, dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and a veteran film producer and Academy member.
She has seen a real change in the past five years alone.
"Somehow or other it just does seem more personal," Boyle said. "It's like they are inviting us in and then saying to us: 'This is my baby. Come and see how beautiful she is.'"
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
DVD industry down, but not downbeat Reuters - 1 hour 22 minutes ago
Rapper Kid Cudi held at gunpoint by LAPD Reuters - 1 hour 22 minutes ago
Oscar campaigning gets downsized Reuters - Wednesday, December 23
Terrorist attack feared after Jackson arrest AP - Wednesday, December 23
Atlanta rapper T.I. released from Arkansas prison AP - Wednesday, December 23
News Search
Top Stories
OPEC warns of weak recovery for oil market
US third-quarter growth revised down to 2.2%
British priest defends urging people to shoplift
Greece relieved by mild credit rating cut
Polls darken German economic outlook
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Century-old butter found in Scott's Antarctic hut
Watchmaker 'stands with Tiger' amid new cheating reports
Missing Dutch teen sailor found in Caribbean
US actress Brittany Murphy dies at 32
Thousands warned to flee Philippine volcano zone
More Most Viewed »
Tiger's wife Elin seeking divorce: reports
Virgin unveils spaceship to offer space tourism
Brazilian confesses to sticking needles into two-year-old
Tiger Woods' girlfriend apologizes in TV interview
Woods' mother-in-law rushed to hospital
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 Ahmadinejad dismisses US deadline for nuclear deal
Grounded European flights add to travel woes
Demjanjuk trial hears of Nazi death camp horrors
|
Former Bush adviser named Obama 'cyber czar'
Iran militia attack pro-reform cleric home-website
Iran militia attack pro-reform cleric's home: website
|
US third-quarter growth revised down to 2.2 percent
Serbia makes 'historic' EU bid
China issues new rules on Internet domain names
British priest defends urging people to shoplift
Iran: Border spat with Iraq was misunderstanding
Mexican relatives die in likely revenge attack
|
Greece relieved by mild credit rating cut
Jail term cut for man in Briton's murder in Italy
|
Serbia officially submits EU membership application
Israel passes demands in prisoner swap to Hamas
Polls darken German economic outlook
French ruling party plans bill on broad burqa ban
|
Egypt says no steel Gaza wall despite Hamas fears
|
Egypt court upholds 4-year sentence for blogger
|
Court slams Bosnia for barring Jews, Roma from office
U.S. military defends pregnancy punishment in Iraq
|
Microsoft loses Word appeal, will adjust program
|
CBS and Walt Disney may join Apple TV venture: report
|
Montana man charged with 7th DUI
Northern Hemisphere Under Icy Grip Of Old Man Winter; Travel Delays, Severe Weather To Continue
Poll finds drop in public concern about swine flu
Teacher Runs Half Marathon Backward
Unclaimed corpses push up urban morgue body counts
Hong Kong democracy activists take a gamble
Survey: Mississippi Most Religious State
Boy, 2, dies after being bitten by family dog
New Rule Requires Airlines To Limit Tarmac Delay To 3 Hours
Pakistani court orders 2 men's noses, ears cut off
Ala. House Dem defects to GOP over policy concerns
More Americans Staying Home For Holidays
World's Best Santa weaves Hong Kong magic
FBI assisted authorities in Jackson probes
Woman Shot In Mall Parking Lot Carjacking
AZ activist agrees to community service, not jail
Teen suicide bomber kills three in Pakistan
Pa. man's belt stops bullet shot through car
Karzai orders investigation into cousin's slaying
Palin E-mail Hacker To Go On Trial
'Stripper-Mobile' Plans Nationwide Tour
China denies aid package, Uighur expulsions linked
No Senate Run Next Year For America's Mayor
Fears Thailand will deport 4,000 Hmong to Laos
SKorea to repatriate 7 NKorean fishermen
Ga. centenarian voter lauded by Obama dies at 107
Century-Old Obama Honoree Dies
Protesters burn flag as Taiwan and China sign deals
China expands Internet controls
Taiwan jobless rate down in November
Chinese-led group initials deal for Iraq oil field
France urges mutual respect with China after spat
Snoopy named top dog in U.S. pop culture
|
Pete Doherty charged with heroin possession
|
Coroner looking into Brittany Murphy leak
Taylor Swift, Beyonce to perform at Grammy Awards
|
Rage Against the Machine humbles Simon Cowell
Gehry-designed theater set for 2012 opening in NYC
Pete Doherty charged with heroin possession
Arnold Stang, actor known for nerdy roles, dies
Rolling Stone's Wood gets British police warning
`Survivor' winner: Quitting job for show a gamble
Medieval `mourners' to leave France for US tour
At Jersey shore, thumbs down for 'Jersey Shore'
Britain's Christmas parties hit by recession
US reacts cautiously to new Afghanistan cabinet
Drug gang revenge attack kills Mexico marine's family
|
US-TECH Summary
OPEC warns of weak recovery for oil market
Saudi says 73 soldiers slain in war on Yemen rebels
US third-quarter growth revised down to 2.2 percent
Shoppers were online, not at malls, last weekend
Ronnie Wood Cautioned Over Girlfriend's Assault
Cleveland Entertaiment Shareholders Awarded $1.8 Million In Lawsuit Over Meat Loaf Album
U.S. military defends pregnancy punishment in Iraq
Honduras' Zelaya stuck in embassy for Christmas
|
Israel passes demands in prisoner swap to Hamas
Colombia says rebels murder kidnapped governor
|
Israel wants Shalit freed, but not at "any price"
NATO will 'stay the course' in Afghanistan: chief
Philippines declares holiday truce with Maoist rebels
|
U.N. council set to slap sanctions on Eritrea
|
Argentine judge asks China arrests over Falun Gong
|
Japan wants more time for US base decision: State Department
Pakistan to release 100 Indian fishermen
Brazil court rules for US father in custody feud
Rumbling Philippine volcano shoots huge ash column
Top SC prosecutor, others probing health care deal
Drug test row could doom Pacquiao-Mayweather fight
WWII sinking of Australian hospital ship 'unclear'
Outage cripples BlackBerry Americas network
|
Guinea junta should be 'held to account': US
Microsoft loses Word appeal, will adjust program
|
Hanoi's 'tube' dwellers vow to stay in ancient quarter
Del. police: Pediatrician sexually abused patients
Leading China dissident goes on trial
Dems, White House predict success on health care
Shoppers were online, not at malls, last weekend
|
APNewsBreak: LA monsignor called before grand jury
SKorea repatriates 7 NKorean fishermen
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,370
China executes another gang boss in crackdown
Holiday storm could snarl travel in West, Midwest
China opens trial of leading dissident Liu Xiaobo
Yellowstone bison conservation program in limbo
Ex-Mich. teacher convicted of having sex with boy
Seoul shares gain 0.4 pct helped by exporters
PAKISTAN
China hits back after EU extends shoe taxes
Vietnam set for middle income status: World Bank
Seoul apartment prices up 23.7 pct in 9 mths -govt
Korea Hot Stocks
Seoul shares rise on tech exporters; banks lag
Hollywood's domestic box office tops $10 billion
US says copyright piracy in China still 'high'
Taiwan dollar flat; dealers watch exporters
Japan markets closed for holiday
Oscar campaigning gets downsized
|
Simon Cowell will leave American Idol: report
|
FBI's Michael Jackson files reveal stalker details
|
Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler back in rehab
|
Oscar campaigning gets downsized
DVD industry down, but not downbeat
|
Christmas becomes a battleground in some US towns
Rapper Kid Cudi held at gunpoint by LAPD
|
Department Of Agriculture Sued Over Logging In Alaska Forest
Sri Lanka's tsunami recovery dogged by graft, delays
Rapper T.I. released from prison early
|
Higher Home Sales, Dollar Perk Up Stocks
Ricky Gervais brings animated TV comedy to U.S.
|
High Unemployment To Remain As Jobless Re-enter Job Market
Atlanta rapper T.I. released from Arkansas prison
Rapper T.I. released from prison early
Bill Cosby named Marian Anderson Award winner
'Mister Ed' actress Connie Hines dies at age 79
Ricky Gervais brings animated TV comedy to US
Hollywood's domestic box office tops $10 billion
Simon Cowell will leave "American Idol": report
35437282898562626475892888
Iraqi police: Gunmen storm checkpoint, kill 4
Controlling the TV with a wave of the hand
Iran forces clash with cleric's mourners: websites
|
Iran forces clash with cleric's mourners
Oil prices rise before US inventory data
Philippine volcano rumbles, eruption seen soon
|
Pakistan orders security for media after attack
|
Iran police 'clash with mourners, 50 arrested'
Two killed in bid to foil execution in Iran: report
|
Palestinians say Bethlehem wall spoils Christmas
|
Iran police 'clash with Montazeri mourners'
Iraq chases many for corruption, catches few
|
Iran security forces clash with protesters in Isfahan
Afghan senator killed at police checkpoint
Harassed Nestle halts Zimbabwe operations
|
Navies too stretched on piracy in Indian Ocean: UK
|
Plane slips off UK runway, two killed in bus crash
|
Afghan member of parliament killed by police
Frozen lake leads to tragedy for California family
Pakistan Taliban say fighters going to Afghanistan
US warns Iran to meet nuclear deadline
Weapons-carrying cargo plane headed for Sri Lanka
Balloon Boy parents face sentencing in Colorado
Weapons-carrying plane headed for Sri Lanka
Pain before gain in health care overhaul
Verdict for Chinese dissident due Friday
Abortion looms as possible health bill deal killer
Thailand firm on returning 4,000 Hmong to Laos
People 'fleeing for their lives' in Australian fires
SKorea repatriates 7 NKorean fishermen
Shooting leaves 2 Wash. deputies badly hurt
Japan emperor turns 76, concerned over financial crisis
Flight misses Jamaica runway; no injuries reported
China steps up reform of pension system: govt
AP NewsAlert
S.Korea bonds rebound, but foreigners keep selling
China negotiator: Taiwan trade pact "long process"
Taiwan unveils Asia's biggest solar plant: govt
Ex-HSBC executive jailed in Hong Kong over bribe
Russia to deliver 20 MiG fighters to Myanmar: report
Hyundai Motor workers vote on deal to avoid strike
New Zealand economy grows at snail pace in Q3
Two killed in Indonesia building collapse
Golden Globes party circuit requires some planning
|
Sherlock takes on Avatar at holiday box office
|
"Sherlock" takes on "Avatar" at holiday box office
'The Christmas Song' turns 65
Golden Globes party circuit requires some planning
DVD industry down, but not downbeat
Rapper Kid Cudi held at gunpoint by LAPD
Reports: Aerosmith's Tyler enters rehab
Terrorist attack feared after Jackson arrest
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights