HOLLYWOOD PREPARES FOR SUNDAY'S ACADEMY AWARDS

Hollywood is bracing for an Academy Awards that more than any in recent memory has the feel of a high-stakes showdown.

After a second straight year of all-white nominees prompted industry-wide scrutiny, viewers and stars alike are hanging on the opening words of host Chris Rock.

Media gathered on the red carpet and workers made final preparations on Saturday (27 February) outside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, which will be at the center of a swirling storm over diversity in the movies and at the Oscars. Protests are planned near the red carpet and some viewers are organizing a boycott of the broadcast.

The 88th Academy Awards are this year charged with enough politics and uncertainty to rival an election debate. Arrivals for the ceremony are to begin by 6 p.m. Eastern (2300 GMT) on Sunday, with the show kicking off at 8:30 p.m. Eastern (0130 Monday GMT) on ABC in the United States.

Security around Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue is especially heighted because Vice President Joe Biden will be attending to give a special presentation with Lady Gaga aimed at combating sexual violence.

HOLLYWOOD PREPARES FOR SUNDAY'S ACADEMY AWARDS

Hollywood is bracing for an Academy Awards that more than any in recent memory has the feel of a high-stakes showdown.

After a second straight year of all-white nominees prompted industry-wide scrutiny, viewers and stars alike are hanging on the opening words of host Chris Rock.

Media gathered on the red carpet and workers made final preparations on Saturday (27 February) outside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, which will be at the center of a swirling storm over diversity in the movies and at the Oscars. Protests are planned near the red carpet and some viewers are organizing a boycott of the broadcast.

The 88th Academy Awards are this year charged with enough politics and uncertainty to rival an election debate. Arrivals for the ceremony are to begin by 6 p.m. Eastern (2300 GMT) on Sunday, with the show kicking off at 8:30 p.m. Eastern (0130 Monday GMT) on ABC in the United States.

Security around Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue is especially heighted because Vice President Joe Biden will be attending to give a special presentation with Lady Gaga aimed at combating sexual violence.

AP ENTERTAINMENT

Los Angeles, 27 February 2016

1. Wide exterior intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Los Angeles, zoom in on Academy Awards signage

2. Wide Dolby Theatre in Hollywood with Oscar statue

3. Close Oscar statue

4. Low-angle view of red carpet outside Dolby Theatre

5. Medium Oscars signage on wall

6. Wide Oscar statue with signage

7. Medium tilt down Oscar statue

8. Wide red carpet outside Dolby Theatre

9. Close electronic signage with Oscar nominees

10. Wide Oscars red carpet from high angle

11. Medium media outside Dolby Theatre

12. Wide media outside Dolby Theatre

13. Close Dolby Theatre signage

14. Wide push in Dolby Theatre with workers and media outside

15. Wide Dolby Theatre with red carpet from high angle

16. Wide Oscars signage in Hollywood

STARS TURN OUT FOR INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS ON EVE OF OSCARS

Some call the Independent Spirit Awards the dress rehearsals to the Academy Awards.

Hollywood A-listers arrived Saturday (1 MARCH 2014) to the Independent Spirit Awards, a more laid-back, beachside ceremony in Santa Monica, just west of Los Angeles.

All of the Oscar favorites won at the Spirits, "12 Years a Slave" took home five awards, including best feature. Matthew McConaughey won best actor for "Dallas Buyers Club" and Cate Blanchett for "Blue Jasmine." McConaughey's co-star, Jared Leto, won best male supporting performance.

"I'm from Australia and the filmmaking culture there is always pretty much on a shoestring (budget) so I feel very much at home," said Blanchett on the red carpet. "But I'm so pleased that the film has been recognized in both the main stage arena, mainstream arena, and the independent arena. I think it's a real testament to the reach of the story."

On the way in, the actress also repeated her view of the renewed scandal surrounding "Blue Jasmine" director Woody Allen and Dylan Farrow's claims he sexually assaulted her as a child: "It's a family issue, and I hope they can resolve it as a family."

Her co-star Sally Hawkins said she was not ready for Sunday's big event.

"How do you get ready to? I don't know? I'm trying. How to be ready? I don't know what to do really to get ready? How does one get ready for the Oscars?"

For many, the Spirit Awards conclude months of award-season events, and they provide a chance to exhale before the Oscars. McConaughey, Blanchett, Leto and Lupita Nyong'o have racked up a slew of awards, often triumphing over the same colleagues.

"For me the passion project is '12 Years,'" said Nyong'o. "It's a project that has fed me in more ways than one. That's it. I get to be here and celebrate that film. It's great."

Eighty-four-year-old June Squibb, nominated for supporting actress at both the Independent Spirit Awards and the Oscars for "Nebraska," said she's looking forward to a respite.

"My son and his girlfriend are taking me to Hawaii in late April, but that's not very far from now when you think about it. So I'm eager to do it. They really felt that I needed a vacation. So I'm very appreciative of that that they're doing it," said Squibb.

AP Entertainment

Santa Monica, Calif., 1 March 2014

1. Wide of tented red carpet

2. Fashion shot Cate Blanchett

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett/Actress: "It's the budget that qualifies (an indie film), right? So I'm from Australia and the filmmaking culture there is always pretty much on a shoestring (budget) so I feel very much at home. But I'm so pleased that the film has been recognized in both the main stage arena, mainstream arena, and the independent arena. I think it's a real testament to the reach of the story."

4. Zoom in on Cate Blanchett

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett/Actress: "It's a very diverse filmmaking culture in America. We can often feel like a monoculture, but there's so many films recognized here today that have crossed over and really found their audience and I think this awards ceremony, the fact that it celebrates that style of filmmaking, it has a large part to do with it. You know it brings that pride. You know we get so obsessed with size and scale, but you know small things are beautiful."

6. Wide of Cate Blanchett speaking to reporters

7. Reporter: "Do you feel ready (for the Oscars)? Do you have a speech?"

SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett/Actress: "No and no. You're never ready for that amount of scrutiny, but it's such a lovely position to be in so I'm lucky to be here."

8. Tilt down Cate Blanchett

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett/Actress - on sexual abuse allegations against Woody Allen: "I think that's a family issue and I hope that they can resolve it. I really do."

10. Wide shot Lupita Nyong'o and her mother on the blue carpet

11. Tilt up Lupita Nyong'o

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Lupita Nyong'o/Actress - on making both small budget ("12 Years a Slave") and big budget films ("Non-Stop"): "I'm glad to have been able to have them so close together and both were really eye-opening and I think there is still a lot more for me to experience."

13. Medium shot Lupita Nyong'o

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Lupita Nyong'o/Actress: "For me the passion project is '12 Years.' It's a project that has fed me in more ways than one. That's it. I get to be here and celebrate that film. It's great."

Reporter: "And for tomorrow are you ready? You have a speech?"

Lupita Nyong'o: "I don't know. We'll see."

15. Zoom out on Sally Hawkins

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Sally Hawkins/Actress: "How do you get ready to? I don't know? I'm trying. How to be ready? I don't know what to do really to get ready? How does one get ready for the Oscars?"

17. Zoom in on June Squibb

18. SOUNDBITE (English) June Squibb/Actress: "Well my son and his girlfriend are taking me to Hawaii in late April, but that's not very far from now when you think about it. So I'm eager to do it. They really felt that I needed a vacation. So I'm very appreciative of that that they're doing it."

19. Wide of John Waters

20. SOUNDBITE (English) John Waters/Actor, Director- on the weather: "You know in the afternoon today everybody thought typhoons may take them away or something. I would say something wicked, this way the whole tent is going to blow away. That'd be exciting! Like a 'Poseidon Adventure!'"

21. Wide of Paula Patton walking the carpet

22. Medium of Jon Hamm

23. Zoom in on Forest Whitaker

24. Zoom out on Michael B. Jordan

Victims of clergy sexual abuse are reveling in the Oscar won by "Spotlight" — the story of The Boston Globe's investigation into the scandal — but say they don't hold out much hope that the elevated status from the film's Best Picture award will prompt changes at the highest levels of the Roman Catholic church.

"Spotlight," starring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, covers the Globe's work to uncover how dozens of priests in the Archdiocese of Boston had molested and raped children for decades while church higher-ups covered it up and shuffled abusive priests from parish to parish.

The film was released in November to accolades from victims who said it gave them a sense of validation after years of struggling in silence. Even Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley — appointed to replace Cardinal Bernard Law after he resigned in disgrace — called "Spotlight" a "very powerful and important film."

AP TELEVISION

Boston - 29 February 2016

1. Various of Attorney Mitchell Garabedian in his office

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims

"Attorney Richard Garabedian, I represent clergy sexual abuse victims from around the world. In 1995 I began representing the Fr. John J. Geoghan clergy sex abuse victims and Stanley Tucci portrayed me in the movie "Spotlight."

3. STILL of a Boston Globe screen grab with a headline that declares that "Spotlight" has won the biggest award at the Oscars

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims:

"Oh, I'm elated, I really think it's quite a feat. I think it's fantastic. It gives a new voice to the victims, a very powerful voice for the victims and it keeps the whole matter of clergy sex abuse in the forefront of society — which is needed, for the protection of children."

5. STILL of alternate view of a screen grab of a Boston Globe story that declares that "Spotlight" has won the biggest award at the Oscars

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims

"Many, many survivors have contacted me since "Spotlight" received the award last night — the Oscar award — and they're thrilled, they feel empowered. They feel as though, for the firs time since their voice was taken by being victims of clergy sexual abuse, they now have their voice back."

7. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian working in his office

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims

"Well, actually I'm hearing from new survivors. Just this morning a new survivor contacted me and said 'I wanna come forward now. I've been holding this in for decades, it's time to do something about it.' And I've seen that trend since "Spotlight" came out. Because of "Spotlight," because of the strength and the power of "Spotlight" the movie itself, survivors are now coming forward to find their own courage and strength to move forward and report the abuse and try to heal."

9. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian writing on a note pad

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson/Clergy Sex Abuse Victim:

"Alexa McPerson and from the ages of about four to when I was nine-and-a-half, I was being sexually molested, abused and raped by a priest from the local parish in Dorchester."

11. Various of Alexa McPherson's attorney, Mitchell Garabedian.

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson/Clergy Sex Abuse Victim. She describes her reaction to "Spotlight" winning an Oscar award

"I was very happy and cheered out loud and clapped and shed a couple of tears. It was a momentous occasion, you know."

13. STILL of screen grab of an Associated Press story describing "Spotlight" win of the best picture award as unexpected

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson/Clergy Sex Abuse Victim. She says the performance of "Spotlight" at the Oscars is resonating all the way up to the Vatican, coming in the wake of publicity generated by a stream of revelation of clergy sex abuse over the past two decades

"I think it's been resonating in their years for years at this point, but whether or not it propels them to put forth any true changes, I don't think so. I have my reservations and I honestly don't believe it will make a difference to the people within the Vatican because they just … they put themselves above the law that everyone else outside the Vatican has to abide by."

15. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian leaving his desk

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus049661

Victims of clergy sexual abuse are reveling in the Oscar won by "Spotlight" — the story of The Boston Globe's investigation into the scandal — but say they don't hold out much hope that the elevated status from the film's Best Picture award will prompt changes at the highest levels of the Roman Catholic church.

"Spotlight," starring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, covers the Globe's work to uncover how dozens of priests in the Archdiocese of Boston had molested and raped children for decades while church higher-ups covered it up and shuffled abusive priests from parish to parish.

The film was released in November to accolades from victims who said it gave them a sense of validation after years of struggling in silence. Even Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley — appointed to replace Cardinal Bernard Law after he resigned in disgrace — called "Spotlight" a "very powerful and important film."

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus049661

Victims of clergy sexual abuse are reveling in the Oscar won by "Spotlight" — the story of The Boston Globe's investigation into the scandal — but say they don't hold out much hope that the elevated status from the film's Best Picture award will prompt changes at the highest levels of the Roman Catholic church.

"Spotlight," starring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, covers the Globe's work to uncover how dozens of priests in the Archdiocese of Boston had molested and raped children for decades while church higher-ups covered it up and shuffled abusive priests from parish to parish.

The film was released in November to accolades from victims who said it gave them a sense of validation after years of struggling in silence. Even Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley — appointed to replace Cardinal Bernard Law after he resigned in disgrace — called "Spotlight" a "very powerful and important film."

AP TELEVISION

Boston - 29 February 2016

+++SOTS SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES+++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims:

"Oh, I'm elated, I really think it's quite a feat. I think it's fantastic. It gives a new voice to the victims, a very powerful voice for the victims and it keeps the whole matter of clergy sex abuse in the forefront of society — which is needed, for the protection of children."

2 . SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims

"Many, many survivors have contacted me since "Spotlight" received the award last night — the Oscar award — and they're thrilled, they feel empowered. They feel as though, for the firs time since their voice was taken by being victims of clergy sexual abuse, they now have their voice back."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims

"Well, actually I'm hearing from new survivors. Just this morning a new survivor contacted me and said 'I wanna come forward now. I've been holding this in for decades, it's time to do something about it.' And I've seen that trend since "Spotlight" came out. Because of "Spotlight," because of the strength and the power of "Spotlight" the movie itself, survivors are now coming forward to find their own courage and strength to move forward and report the abuse and try to heal."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson/Clergy Sex Abuse Victim:

"From the ages of about four to when I was nine-and-a-half, I was being sexually molested, abused and raped by a priest from the local parish in Dorchester."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson/Clergy Sex Abuse Victim. She describes her reaction to "Spotlight" winning an Oscar award

"I was very happy and cheered out loud and clapped and shed a couple of tears. It was a momentous occasion, you know."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson/Clergy Sex Abuse Victim. She says the performance of "Spotlight" at the Oscars is resonating all the way up to the Vatican, coming in the wake of publicity generated by a stream of revelation of clergy sex abuse over the past two decades

"I have my reservations and I honestly don't believe it will make a difference to the people within the Vatican because they just … they put themselves above the law that everyone else outside the Vatican has to abide by."

Victims of clergy sexual abuse and their legal representative are reveling in the oscar won by "Spotlight" — the story of The Boston Globe's investigation into the scandal — but say they don't hold out much hope that the elevated status from the film's Best Picture award will prompt changes at the highest levels of the Roman Catholic church.

"Spotlight," starring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, covers the Globe's work to uncover how dozens of priests in the Archdiocese of Boston had molested and raped children for decades while church superiord covered it up and shuffled abusive priests from parish to parish.

The film was released in November to accolades from victims who said it gave them a sense of validation after years of struggling in silence. Even Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley — appointed to replace Cardinal Bernard Law after he resigned in disgrace — called "Spotlight" a "very powerful and important film."

AP TELEVISION

Boston - 29 February 2016

1. Various of attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who represents clergy sex abused victims

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian, Attorney for Clergy Abused Victims:

"(I'm) attorney Mitchell Garabedian, I represent clergy sex abused victims around the world, in 1995, I've began representing Father John J. Geoghan, clergy sex abused victims and (actor) Stanley Tucci portrayed me in the movie 'Spotlight'."

3. Cutaway of AP website page reporting Spotlight's win at the Oscars

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian, Attorney for Clergy Abused Victims:

"Oh, I'm elated, I really think it's quite a feat. I think it's fantastic. It gives a new voice to the victims, a very powerful voice for the victims and it keeps the whole matter of clergy sex abuse in the forefront of society — which is needed, for the protection of children."

5. Cutaway of AP website page reporting Spotlight's win at the Oscars

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abused Victims:

"Many, many survivors have contacted me since 'Spotlight' received the award last night — the Oscar award — and they're thrilled, they feel empowered. They feel as though, for the firs time since their voice was taken by being victims of clergy sexual abuse, they now have their voice back."

7. Cutaway of AP website page reporting Spotlight's win at the Oscars

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims

"Well, actually I'm hearing from new survivors. Just this morning a new survivor contacted me and said 'I wanna come forward now. I've been holding this in for decades, it's time to do something about it.' And I've seen that trend since "Spotlight" came out. Because of 'Spotlight', because of the strength and the power of "Spotlight" the movie itself, survivors are now coming forward to find their own courage and strength to move forward and report the abuse and try to heal."

9. Cutaway of AP website page reporting Spotlight's win at the Oscars

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson, clergy sex abused victim:

"(I'm) Alexa McPherson, and from the ages of about four to when I was nine-and-a-half, I was being sexually molested, abused and raped by a priest from the local parish in Dorchester."

11. Cutaway of AP website page reporting Spotlight's win at the Oscars

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson, clergy sex abused victim:

"I was very happy and cheered out loud and clapped and shed a couple of tears. It was a momentous occasion, you know."

13. Cutaway of AP website page reporting Spotlight's win at the Oscars

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson, clergy sex abused victim:

"I think it has been resonating in their ears, for years at this point, but whether or not it propels them to put forward any true changes, I don't think so, I have my reservations and I honestly don't believe it will make a difference to the people in the Vatican because they just... they put themselves above the law that everyone else outside the Vatican has to abide by."

15. Wide of Mitchell Garabedian

ABUSE VICTIM, ATTORNEY REACT TO 'SPOTLIGHT' WIN FOR BEST PICTURE

Some victims of clergy sexual abuse are reveling in the Oscar won by "Spotlight" - the story of The Boston Globe's investigation into the scandal - but say they don't hold out much hope that the elevated status from the film's Best Picture award will prompt changes at the highest levels of the Roman Catholic church.

"I was very happy and cheered out loud and clapped and shed a couple of tears. It was a momentous occasion," said clergy sex abuse victim, Alexa McPherson on Monday (29 FEB. 2016) in Boston.

"Spotlight," starring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, covers the newspaper's work to uncover how dozens of priests in the Archdiocese of Boston had molested and raped children for decades while church higher-ups covered it up and shuffled abusive priests from parish to parish.

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who is portrayed in the film by Stanley Tucci, says attention on the film has encouraged others to come forward with their own claims of abuse.

"I'm hearing from new survivors. Just this morning a new survivor contacted me and said 'I wanna come forward now. I've been holding this in for decades, it's time to do something about it.' And I've seen that trend since "Spotlight" came out. Because of "Spotlight," because of the strength and the power of "Spotlight" the movie itself, survivors are now coming forward to find their own courage and strength to move forward and report the abuse and try to heal."

"Spotlight" was released in November.

The Vatican newspaper is praising the film for giving voice to the "profound pain" of the faithful over the reality of clerical sex abuse and is insisting that it's not an anti-Catholic film.

L'Osservatore Romano dedicated two articles Monday to the Academy Awards and the Best Picture won by "Spotlight," which is about the Boston Globe's 2002 expose of the hundreds of children who were raped and molested by Catholic priests and the church's systematic cover up of the crimes.

AP ENTERTAINMENT

Boston, 29 Feb. 2016

1. Various of Attorney Mitchell Garabedian in his office

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims - introducing himself:

"Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, I represent clergy sexual abuse victims from around the world. In 1995 I began representing the Fr. John J. Geoghan clergy sex abuse victims and Stanley Tucci portrayed me in the movie "Spotlight."

3. STILL of a Boston Globe screen grab with a headline that declares that "Spotlight" has won the biggest award at the Oscars

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims:

"Oh, I'm elated, I really think it's quite a feat. I think it's fantastic. It gives a new voice to the victims, a very powerful voice for the victims and it keeps the whole matter of clergy sex abuse in the forefront of society - which is needed, for the protection of children."

5. STILL of alternate view of a screen grab of a Boston Globe story that declares that "Spotlight" has won the biggest award at the Oscars

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims - on how more alleged victims are coming forward because of the film:

"Many, many survivors have contacted me since "Spotlight" received the award last night - the Oscar award - and they're thrilled, they feel empowered. They feel as though, for the firs time since their voice was taken by being victims of clergy sexual abuse, they now have their voice back."

7. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian working in his office

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Garabedian/Attorney for Clergy Abuse Victims

"Well, actually I'm hearing from new survivors. Just this morning a new survivor contacted me and said 'I wanna come forward now. I've been holding this in for decades, it's time to do something about it.' And I've seen that trend since "Spotlight" came out. Because of "Spotlight," because of the strength and the power of "Spotlight" the movie itself, survivors are now coming forward to find their own courage and strength to move forward and report the abuse and try to heal."

9. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian writing on a note pad

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson/Clergy Sex Abuse Victim - introduces herself:

"Alexa McPherson and from the ages of about four to when I was nine-and-a-half, I was being sexually molested, abused and raped by a priest from the local parish in Dorchester."

11. Various of Alexa McPherson's attorney, Mitchell Garabedian.

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson/Clergy Sex Abuse Victim - on her reaction to "Spotlight" winning an Oscar:

"I was very happy and cheered out loud and clapped and shed a couple of tears. It was a momentous occasion, you know."

13. Still image of screen grab of an Associated Press story describing "Spotlight" win of the best picture award as unexpected

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexa McPherson/Clergy Sex Abuse Victim - on how 'Spotlight' is resonating all the way up to the Vatican:

"I think it's been resonating in there years for years at this point, but whether or not it propels them to put forth any true changes, I don't think so. I have my reservations and I honestly don't believe it will make a difference to the people within the Vatican because they just … they put themselves above the law that everyone else outside the Vatican has to abide by."

15. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian leaving his desk