AP Entertainment

Santa Monica, California, 23 February 2013

1. Wide Santa Monica pier

2. Wide parasailor on over the Pacific Ocean

3. Wide tented site of the Film Independent Spirit Awards

4. Wide Film Independent Spirit Awards

5. Actors Bruce Willis and actress wife Emmy Heming posing for photographers

6. Actors Rosemarie DeWitt and Rob Livingston pose for photographers

7. Actor Marcia Gay Hardin (right, in white) poses for photographers

8. Actor Andy Samberg speaking to reporter

9. (Reporter: "How is this not the Oscars?") SOUNBITE (English) John Waters/Independent Filmmaker:

"Well, I like the Oscars, too. But this is the hip version. This is the one where we want fun. This is the one where people they don't care if they aren't gonna win. There's just as much anxiety here, because everybody wants to win this, too. And the old-school thing was that if you win the Spirits you won't win the Oscars, but that isn't even true anymore. We'll see."

10. Setup shot actor Bradley Cooper speaking to reporter

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Bradley Cooper/Oscar Nominee, on how he'll get ready for the Academy Awards:

"You know, I don't know. I don't know what it'll be. I'll probably get up and do something physical and eat something and then make sure my mom's alright."

12. Setup shot actor Bradley Cooper speaking to reporters

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Bradley Cooper/Actor-Oscar Nominee, "Silver Livings Playbook":

"I would just kill if Bob (Robert De Niro) wins. I would just love it if Robert would win."

14. Setup shot "Silver Linings Playbook" producers Jonathan Gordon and Bruce Cohen speaking to reporters.

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Bruce Cohen, Producers-Oscar Nominees, "Silver Linings Playbook":

"I recommend not drinking a lot before you get in the car, because I think you do want to at least make it through the red carpet. Then, at the reception, you have a glass of champaign. But, for me, it's my favorite day of the year. It always has been since I was eight years old. I would start getting excited five or six days in advance, just to watch on television. So, everytime I get to be there -- either as a nominee or when I produce the show -- it is literally like a greay come true happening over and over again. I just try to enjoy it and take in every single second. as it's happening."

16. Fashion shot: "Beasts of the Southern Wild" actress Quvenzhan� Wallis

17. (Reporter: "Talk to me about tomorrow. What is your day going to be like from the minute you get up to the minute you get into the car. How is it going to go? What are you going to eat? Who is going to come over and get you ready? Give me the whole story of the day, getting ready for the Oscars."

SOUNDBITE (English) Quvenzhan� Wallis/Actress-Oscar Nominee, "Beasts of the Southern Wild":

"I have no idea."

18. "A Royal Affair" actor Mads Mikkelsen and filmmaker-wife Hanne Jacobson speak with reporters

19. Hanne Jacobson/Actess, on how she and husband Mads Mikkelsen ("A Royal Affair") prepare for the Academy Awards:

"That's a difficult one. I don't know. Relax. Talk a little drink before."

Mads Mikkelsen/Actor, "A Royal Affair":

"Two. Two drinks."

20. Woman hold up envelope including "The Invisible War" documentarian Kirby Dick's ticket for the Academy Awards

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Kirby Dick/Documentarian-Oscar Nominee, "The Invisible War," on preparing for the Oscars red carpter:

'Well, it's the second time for me, so, I'm glad it (the ticket) was in my hands, let's just put it that way. It's always hard to made sure you always have the tickets. Tickets are always so desired that it's good that they're in your hands."

22. Documentarians Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering speaking to reporter

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Amy Ziering/Documentarian-Oscar Nominee, "The Invisible War," on preparing for the Oscars red carpet:

"You know where the expression, 'It takes a village,' came from? It came from a women getting ready for Oscar morning. It's, like, such an entourage. I mean, this just does not happen. I'm like 10 sessions away from early seahag. So, it's going to be a lot of work. We're going to start super early to sort of start the transformation."

Kirby Dick/Documentarian: "And you don't interrupt her, either. No phone calls. Oh, no."

24. "Beasts of the Southern Wild Director Benh Zeitlin speaking to reporters

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Benh Zeitlin/Director-Oscar Nominee, "Beasts of the Southers Wild," on preparing for the Academy Awards:

"I heard it's like steroids of like everything I've seen before. I don't know. It's going to be great. It's a circus. I love the circus."

26. Wide arrivals line for the Film Independent Spirit Award

INDIE-FILMMAKERS SHOW OSCAR SPIRIT

While the countdown for the Oscar ceremony is on, celebrities on the red carpet for the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica last night ( Saturday Feb 23 ) had a taster of things to come.

Indie film maker John Waters was there and compared the two events:

"Well, I like the Oscars, too. But this is the hip version. " he said.

"This is the one where people they don't care if they aren't gonna win. There's just as much anxiety here, because everybody wants to win this, too. And the old-school thing was that if you win the Spirits you won't win the Oscars, but that isn't even true anymore. We'll see."

Tips for Oscar preparations were freely shared:

"That's a difficult one. I don't know. Relax. Talk a little drink before." says actress Hanne Jacobson, and husband Mads Mikkelsen adds:"Two. Two drinks."

But Bruce Cohen who produced "Silver Linings Playbook"does not agree:

"I recommend not drinking a lot before you get in the car, because I think you do want to at least make it through the red carpet.

The 85th Annual Academy Awards will be presented Sunday night in 24 categories at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles from 830p to about midnight EST, hosted by Seth MacFarlane and televised live on ABC.

"Argo" is the current best picture favorite, but "Lincoln" may actually win the most Oscars because of its strength in actor,directing and craft categories.