SHOTLIST

1. Pan Hollywood & Highland courtyard

2. Pan down to "Meet the Oscars!" sign

3. Pan up Oscar statue

4. Pan inside exhibit to display of Oscars

5. Closeup placard noting 50 statuettes for 79th Annual Academy Awards, with pull out to reveal portion of Oscar display

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sid Ganis/President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: "Well, here we are: 'Meet the Oscars.' We're at Hollywood & Highland -- just up the escalator from the Kodak theatre, where, on February 25th, we'll be handing out the Oscars. So, come here anytime between now and February 25th, and we have a display of the 50 Oscars, which we're actually going to give out on Oscar night -- are here! Right here in this room! In addition to that, I'm holding this baby in my hand, but, actually, you can pick it up, have your picture taken with it, have a good love at it, understand it, and, of course, feel the heft of it: eight-and-a-half pounds of Oscar right here. And it's a rare, and kind of nice, experience. I mean, I'm a movie producer and I hope I win one one of these days. But, in the meantime, I can hold it in my hand, and so can everybody else."

7. Closeup of cameraperson with pull out to reveal reporter handling Oscar

8. Closeup placard noting 50th 79th Annual Academy Awards statuettes, with pull out to reveal actor Katharine Hepburn's four Oscars

9. Pan of black-and-white stilla of Hepburn in her Oscar-winning roles

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sid Ganis/President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: "Speaking of Oscars, we have all four of Katharine Hepburn's winning Oscars. Her estate has presented us with all four of her Oscars. So, they're here. Then we have two other Oscars. We know we're going to give special Oscars to Ennio Morricone and Sherry Lansing, for the work Ennio has done as a compose and for Sherry as a philanthropist -- not as a movie producer or studio head, but as a philanthropist. But also you can come and, we have a great trivia contest that I'm getting pretty good at now, but I've been kind of working at it for about three weeks as we've been preparing, video montages of former Oscar shows and the current nominees, so it's a good, it's a very good installation."

11. Pan down on photos of Best Director nominees

12. Detail man touching video screen of Oscar-trivia game

13. Pan up honorary award to composer Ennio Morricone, to be handed out 25 February

14. Push in to photo of Morricone

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Sid Ganis/President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, with news about the telecast: "We're live on February 25th: 5 o'clock on the west coast, 8 o'clock on the east coast, and, I promise you, tune in at the top of the show because the producer, Laura Ziskin, has a surprise that is going to set us off in a great direction."

16. First public visitor to exhibit poses with statuette

17. Subsequent public visitor to exhibit poses with statuette

18. Subsequent public visitor to exhibit poses with statuette and walks off camera

MEET THE OSCARS!

Now, everyone can come to Hollywood and get their hands on an Oscar.

This morning marked the Los Angeles opening of "Meet the Oscars," an installation in honour of the annual Academy Awards.

"Well, here we are," noted Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "We're at Hollywood & Highland -- just up the escalator from the Kodak theatre, where, on February 25th, we'll be handing out the Oscars," Ganis continued. "So, come here anytime between now and February 25th, and we have a display of the 50 Oscars, which we're actually going to give out on Oscar night -- are here! Right here in this room! In addition to that, I'm holding this baby in my hand, but, actually, you can pick it up, have your picture taken with it, have a good love at it, understand it, and, of course, feel the heft of it: eight-and-a-half pounds of Oscar right here. And it's a rare, and kind of nice, experience. I mean, I'm a movie producer and I hope I win one one of these days. But, in the meantime, I can hold it in my hand, and so can everybody else."

In addition to the 50, unengraved competition-category statuettes for this year's telecast, there are the two engraved honorary Oscars already earmarked for composer Ennio Morricone and, for her philanthropic efforts, movie producer and studio exec Sherry Lansing.

The installation also includes an Oscar trivia game, video presentation and photo displays.

As for any hints about what to expect from the Oscar telecast, Ganis was pretty much mum. "We're live on February 25th: 5 o'clock on the west coast, 8 o'clock on the east coast," he said, offer just one hint: "I promise you, tune in at the top of the show because the producer, Laura Ziskin, has a surprise that is going to set us off in a great direction."

ANOTHER DAY OF SUN AT OSCARS FOR 'LA LA LAND'?

Will the 89th Academy Awards be a parade of political speeches or landslide for "La La Land"? Probably both.

The Oscars on Sunday night (26 February 2017) are shaping up to be one of the most turbulent and politically charged ceremonies in recent memory.

Media gathered on the red carpet and streets were closed as final preparations were underway outside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

The three-hour-plus telecast begins at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC in the U.S. It is expected to resemble one very glitzy protest against President Donald Trump, whom award-winners - like Meryl Streep at the Golden Globes - have railed against throughout Hollywood's awards season.

An unusually tense atmosphere has coalesced before the ceremony, with protests, rallies and boycotts swirling around this year's Oscars.

Even the normally sunny California weather has been stormy, with rain drenching Los Angeles early Sunday - though only clouds are expected for red carpet arrivals.

Los Angeles, 26 February 2017

1. Wide Hollywood and Highland intersection with Dolby Theatre, Oscars signage

2. Wide pan left Hollywood Boulevard and Dolby Theatre exteriors

3. Medium Oscar statue and signage on red carpet entrance

4. Wide pan left Oscars red carpet scene

5. Wide Oscars red carpet with media gathered

6. Medium Oscars signage

7. Close Oscars signage

8. Medium Oscar statue with signage

9. Wide Oscar statue with signage

10. Wide Dolby Theatre entrance with Oscar statue

11. Close Oscar statue head

12. Wide audience in bleachers on red carpet cheers

13. Wide tilt down entrance to Dolby Theatre

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 2047653

FOR COTILLARD, OTHER NOMINEES, OSCAR IS SIGNIFICANT

One minute you're a part-time secondary-school teacher in Northern Ireland. The next, you're a part-time secondary-school teacher in Northern Ireland, who is also an Oscar nominee.

That's how life changed 15 January 2015 for screenwriter Ronan Blaney, when he and the film's director, Michael Lennox, were nominated for their live-action short film "Boogaloo and Graham."

"When I got the nomination, my brother rang me, 'You're nominated for an Oscar,'" Blaney recalled at the nominees' luncheon earlier this month in Beverly Hills. "I walked in the school and a teacher came up to me and she was talking about a bus duty after school that I was supposed to be on. And I just said, 'I just got nominated for an Oscar.' The kids went crazy in the corridors, and all the rest of them. It's surreal. It's absolutely surreal. It's amazing."

French actress Marion Cotillard already has an Oscar, for her lead performance in "La Vie en Rose" (2007). She is nominated again this year for her lead in the drama "Two Days, One Night," and, she said, this road-to-Oscar experience, its significance, is just the same as the last.

"You know, it means that members of the Academy have seen the work we did with the Dardenne brothers (who wrote and directed "Two Days"), and appreciated," she explained. "And (the Academy) wanted to tell us that they appreciated the work. And, so, it means a lot.

"But the competition is kind of weird in this job," Cotillard added. "You know, in sports, when you have a football team, they play the same game. But, here, it's kind of a weird thing to compare Reese Witherspoon and Julianne Moore, who are both amazing in their movies. So, this is the weird part. But at the same time it's the way that people tell you they appreciate your work and it's something important."

Travis Knight, who, as a producer, is one of three nominees for the animated feature "The Boxtrolls" (the others are directors Anthony Stacchi and Graham Annable).

"You know, animation takes a long time to produce," Knight said. "It's a glacial process. On a week, we'll do maybe a minute, two minutes of footage. And, so, you work on these things for years in this little bubble, and then you put it out there and you don't know how people are going to react. And, so, when people react positively to our work, it's an extraordinary feeling. And then to be recognized on top of that by a group of our peers at the highest level of the industry, it's as good as any artist could ever ask for."

For Argentinian Damian Szifron, director of the foreign-language feature nominee "Wild Tales," the significance of Oscar being part of the award's history.

"I'm not the kind of director who is thinking of the prizes, etc., etc.," Szifron noted. "But to be nominated for an industry that makes all those films that I love and I grew up watching, it is a big deal. It means a lot to me."

The 87th Oscars is set for Sunday in the Hollywood second of Los Angeles.

AP ENTERTAINMENT

Beverly Hills, Calif., 3 Feb. 2015

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Ronan Blaney (on right, sitting with co-nominee Michael Lennox)/Academy Award Nominees, on the significance of Oscar:

"It's just crazy. Like we were talking about it earlier on. I'm a secondary-school teacher, a high-school teacher. And I work part time. When I got the nomination, my brother rang me, 'You're nominated for an Oscar.' I walked in the school and a teacher came up to me and she was talking about a bus duty after school that I was supposed to be on. And I just said, 'I just got nominated for an Oscar.' The kids went crazy in the corridors, and all the rest of them. It's surreal. It's absolutely surreal. It's amazing."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Marion Cotillard/Academy Award Nominee, on the significance of Oscar:

"You know, it means that members of the Academy have seen the work we did with the Dardenne brothers, and appreciated. And (they) wanted to tell us that they appreciated the work. And, so, it means a lot. But the competition is kind of weird in this job. You know, in sports, when you have a football team, they play the same game. But, here, it's kind of a weird thing to compare Reese Witherspoon and Julianne Moore, who are both amazing in their movies. So, this is the weird part. But at the same time it's the way that people tell you they appreciate your work and it's something important."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Travis Knight/Academy Award Nominee, on the significance of Oscar:

"It's really, it's an incredible thing. You know, animation takes a long time to produce. It's a glacial process. On a week, we'll do maybe a minute, two minutes of footage. And, so, you work on these things for years in this little bubble, and then you put it out there and you don't know how people are going to react. And, so, when people react positively to our work, it's an extraordinary feeling. And then to be recognized on top of that by a group of our peers at the highest level of the industry, it's as good as any artist could ever ask for."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Damian Szifron/Academy Award Nominee, on the significance of Oscar:

"Actually, it means a lot. I'm not the kind of director who is thinking of the prizes, etc., etc.. But to be nominated for an industry that makes all those films that I love and I grew up watching, it is a big deal. It means a lot to me."

B-ROLL

AP ENTERTAINMENT

Beverly Hills, Calif., 3 Feb. 2015

6. Ronan Blaney and Michael Lennox poses for photographers at the nominees luncheon for the 87th Oscars

AMPAS POOL

Beverly Hills, Calif., 15 Jan. 2015

7. Still image of graphic showing Oscar nomination for Ronan Blaney and Michael Lennox

AP ENTERTAINMENT

Beverly Hills, Calif., 3 Feb. 2015

8. Travis Knight poses for photographers at the nominees luncheon for the 87th Oscars

AMPAS POOL

Beverly Hills, Calif., 15 Jan. 2015

9. Still image of graphic showing Oscar nomination for Travis Knight

AP ENTERTAINMENT

Beverly Hills, Calif., 3 Feb. 2015

10. Damian Szifron poses for photographers at the nominees luncheon for the 87th Oscars

AMPAS POOL

Beverly Hills, Calif., 15 Jan. 2015

11. Still image of graphic showing Oscar nomination for director Damian Szifron's film, "Wild Tales"

AP ENTERTAINMENT

Beverly Hills, Calif., 3 Feb. 2015

12. Marion Cotillard poses for photographers at the nominees luncheon for the 87th Oscars

AMPAS POOL

Beverly Hills, Calif., 15 Jan. 2015

13. Still image of graphic showing Oscar nomination for Marion Cotillard

English/Nat

Two people have been arrested in the U-S-A following the recovery of the majority of Oscar statuettes stolen ten days ago from a loading dock in Los Angeles.

The suspects work for the trucking company that had been hired to deliver the Oscars from the Ohio company where they were made to Los Angeles.

The statuettes, which were due to be presented at next weekend's awards show, were discovered in a rubbish bin by a salvage man on Monday.

First, there was mystery and intrigue, followed by a solid detective story - and now, the happy ending.

The blockbuster of the missing Oscars became as big a deal as any of the movies Hollywood has been releasing recently.

But, with just a week to go before the ceremony, the world famous statues have been found by a rubbish collector in the early hours of Sunday, hidden in a rubbish tip.

A 50 thousand U-S dollar reward had been put forward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves.

Willie Fulgear, the man expected to benefit from the pay-out, said he hopes to use the money to help his son put a down payment on a home.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"One of the boxes was open. I knew it was something but I didn't know if it was real or not. There were so many of them there you know. And that is when I saw the news and I called my son and I told him to get on his computer and see what he could find out about this. That is about it."

SUPER CAPTION: Willie Fulgear, Discoverer of Oscars

At a press conference on Monday, the Los Angeles Police Chief, Bernard Parks, was keen to highlight how hard his burglary division had been working on the case.

He also said it looked like the theft was an inside job.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We arrested Mister Anthony Keith Hart and Lawrence Edward LeDent, both employees of Roadway Express. The suspects have been booked at this facility, and are being held on 100 thousand dollars bail."

SUPER CAPTION: Bernard Parks, Los Angeles Police Chief

With two employees in prison on remand, the company charged with transporting the Oscars did its best to stress this was a unique incident.

The Security Manager also stated that there are probably more criminals involved than just the two that have been arrested.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"What you see here is basically the tip of the iceberg I believe as far as how many people were involved in this case and working it."

SUPER CAPTION: John Gerloff, Security Manager, Roadway Express

It has been a harrowing time for the Oscars organisers, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

Earlier this month, four thousand Oscar ballots were misplaced at a post office in the same neighbourhood as where the Oscars were stolen.

This forced the printing of new ballots and voting was extended by two days, to this Thursday.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"When this happened just a week ago we called them and they jumped in, they solved this in a week and it was a very important week, the week before the Oscars, and the show will go on, so thank you all."

SUPER CAPTION: Robert Rehmy, President, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences

Three Oscars are still missing, leaving police to ponder - will there be a sequel?

Los Angeles, USA - March 20, 2000

1. Close-up of statues placed by police on packing cases

2. Various of police officers working next to rubbish bin

3. Police packing statuettes into boxes

4. Set-up Willie Fulgear

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Willie Fulgear, Discoverer of Oscars

6. Mid shot of statuettes behind police line

7. Wide shot of police and police cars

8. Exterior of Police Headquarters

9. Various of officers pulling Oscars from case, putting them on display

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bernard Parks, Los Angeles Police Chief

11. Press cutaway

12. Wide shot of stage and podium

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Gerloff, Security Manager, Roadway Express

14. Row of Oscars

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Robert Rehmy, President, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences

16. Robert Rehmy holds Oscars for cameras.

English/Nat

HOLLYWOOD GEARS UP FOR THE BIGGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR

Oscar fever has hit Los Angeles, with the big event now less than three weeks away.

-

And like every year, it's not only about movies, it's about the glitz, the food and the fashions.

-

With the elaborate preparations for the Oscars ceremony well underway, Hollywood is getting excited.

-

Glamour and hype - the trademarks of the Oscar season - hit the runway here at the Academy of Motion Pictures in Beverly Hills just three weeks before the big show.

-

Thirty models showed off the latest couture from some of the biggest names in fashion, from Giorgio Armani and Christian Dior to Shanghai Tang.

-

Most of these outfits probably won't be seen on Oscar night, although if they do it could mean huge business for those who dress the winners.

-

After all, the Oscars is the world's biggest fashion show and there's no better exposure to potential buyers than to the millions who tune in to the awards show every year.

-

Typically, Oscar nominees and presenters borrow and wear these fashionable gowns for one night only.

-

And to designer Fred Hayman, a winning look is nearly as important as winning an award.

-

Smoked salmon and sturgeon will be on the menu at the Governor's Ball - the official post-Oscar party.

-

It's become a legendary appetizer from renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, who will lead the culinary team at the Governor's Ball for the fourth year in a row.

-

Puck's menu features elegant fare that's still simple enough to prepare for the 1- thousand-650 guests.

-

Sketches of the Governor's Ball reveal a romantic setting that looks like it's come straight out of one of the two Elizabethan films that are up for Oscars.

-

The ball is the first stop on the party tour for the winners to show off their trophies and for the losers to drown their sorrows.

-

But win or lose, it's the stars' looks that will no doubt grab the attention of the media and the fans.

-

In past years, certain female stars have made memorable faux pas by going for extreme hair styles that didn't work.

-

Renowned hair stylist Frederic Fekkai is in charge of hair styling for the models in the Oscar preview fashion show.

-

He claims to know the secret of a sexy hairdo on Oscar night.

-

But nothing happens until each of the 5-thousand-557 Academy voters cast their final ballots at the offices of Price Waterhouse Coopers.

-

Voters have until Tuesday, March 16th to return their ballots to the auditing firm that carries out the counts.

-

Many studios take out huge advertisements in the Hollywood trade magazines to persuade Academy members to vote for their films.

-

Roberto Benigni's 'Life is Beautiful' has been nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Actor, Best Director and Best Film.

-

Miramax, the studio behind the Italian film, is hoping its aggressive campaign in the trade magazines could make the difference.

-

And with three weeks to go before the Oscars, there's still time for plenty of hype.

Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, U-S-A - 2 and 3 March 1999

1. Various of models walking down catwalk inside Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Fred Hayman, Coordinator of Oscars Fashion Preview

3. Chef Wolfgang Puck preparing Oscar-shaped hors d'oeuvres

4. Wide shot of Puck

5. Close-up of Puck putting caviar on lox

6. Puck pouring dressing on tuna platter

7. Scroll down the menu for the Academy Awards Governor's Ball

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Wolfgang Puck, Governor's Ball Chef

9. Sketches of bar decoration for Governor's Ball

10. Sketches of entrance to Governor's Ball

11. Pan of proposed tablesetting for Governor's Ball

12. Close up of model's lips being brushed with lipstick

13. Wide shot of model having lipstick applied

14. Close-up of lipstick applied to model

15. Set up shot of hair stylist Frederic Fekkai

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederic Fekkai, Hair Stylist for Oscars Fashion Preview

17. Pull out from Oscar statue to group mailing Academy ballots

18. Sample envelope containing ballot

19. Close-up of ballot for Best Actor

20. Wide shot of Hollywood trade magazines

21. Close up of "FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION" - "Elizabeth"

22. Benigni's "Life is Beautiful" on cover of The Hollywood Reporter

23. Pull out from Oscar statue to models posing for photo on runway

English/Nat

Oscar fever has hit Los Angeles, with the big event now less than three weeks away.

And like every year, it's not only about movies, it's about the glitz, the food and the fashions.

With the elaborate preparations for the Oscars ceremony well underway, Hollywood is getting excited.

Glamour and hype - the trademarks of the Oscar season - hit the runway here at the Academy of Motion Pictures in Beverly Hills just three weeks before the big show.

Thirty models showed off the latest couture from some of the biggest names in fashion, from Giorgio Armani and Christian Dior to Shanghai Tang.

Most of these outfits probably won't be seen on Oscar night, although if they do it could mean huge business for those who dress the winners.

After all, the Oscars is the world's biggest fashion show and there's no better exposure to potential buyers than to the millions who tune in to the awards show every year.

Typically, Oscar nominees and presenters borrow and wear these fashionable gowns for one night only.

And to designer Fred Hayman, a winning look is nearly as important as winning an award.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"It's almost as much about clothes as it is for the awards itself. I know the award is an amazing achievement but then when you dress well and get an award you get much more mileage."

SUPERCAPTION: Fred Hayman, Coordinator of the Oscars Fashion Preview

Smoked salmon and sturgeon will be on the menu at the Governor's Ball - the official post-Oscar party.

It's become a legendary appetizer from renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, who will lead the culinary team at the Governor's Ball for the fourth year in a row.

Puck's menu features elegant fare that's still simple enough to prepare for the 1-thousand-650 guests.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I think we make it tasty every year so every year is exciting. It's like with the movies, people don't make movies bigger and better every year. Once in a while you get a movie like Titanic which sells more tickets than any other movie but then you have wonderful smaller movies, and I think with food it's the same. You know we just try to make each year special for what it is."

SUPER CAPTION: Wolfgang Puck, Governor's Ball Chef

Sketches of the Governor's Ball reveal a romantic setting that looks like it's come straight out of one of the two Elizabethan films that are up for Oscars.

The ball is the first stop on the party tour for the winners to show off their trophies and for the losers to drown their sorrows.

But win or lose, it's the stars' looks that will no doubt grab the attention of the media and the fans.

In past years, certain female stars have made memorable faux pas by going for extreme hair styles that didn't work.

Renowned hair stylist Frederic Fekkai is in charge of hair styling for the models in the Oscar preview fashion show.

He claims to know the secret of a sexy hairdo on Oscar night.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"It's prepared but not overdone. It's slick, it's long hair, it's straight, there are pieces attached to the hair, there is hair accessories, there is hair up, hair down, there is hair curly, it's a very real thing and you know what, it's a great way of showing that everyone is different."

SUPER CAPTION: Frederic Fekkai, Hair Stylist for Oscars Fashion Preview

But nothing happens until each of the 5-thousand-557 Academy voters cast their final ballots at the offices of Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Voters have until Tuesday, March 16th to return their ballots to the auditing firm that carries out the counts.

Many studios take out huge advertisements in the Hollywood trade magazines to persuade Academy members to vote for their films.

Roberto Benigni's 'Life is Beautiful' has been nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Actor, Best Director and Best Film.

Miramax, the studio behind the Italian film, is hoping its aggressive campaign in the trade magazines could make the difference.

And with three weeks to go before the Oscars, there's still time for plenty of hype.

Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, U-S-A - 2 and 3 March 1999

1. Various of models walking down catwalk inside Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Fred Hayman, Coordinator of Oscars Fashion Preview

3. Chef Wolfgang Puck preparing Oscar-shaped hors d'oeuvres

4. Wide shot of Puck

5. Close-up of Puck putting caviar on lox

6. Puck pouring dressing on tuna platter

7. Scroll down the menu for the Academy Awards Governor's Ball

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Wolfgang Puck, Governor's Ball Chef

9. Sketches of bar decoration for Governor's Ball

10. Sketches of entrance to Governor's Ball

11. Pan of proposed tablesetting for Governor's Ball

12. Close up of model's lips being brushed with lipstick

13. Wide shot of model having lipstick applied

14. Close-up of lipstick applied to model

15. Set up shot of hair stylist Frederic Fekkai

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederic Fekkai, Hair Stylist for Oscars Fashion Preview

17. Pull out from Oscar statue to group mailing Academy ballots

18. Sample envelope containing ballot

19. Close-up of ballot for Best Actor

20. Wide shot of Hollywood trade magazines

21. Close up of "FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION" - "Elizabeth"

22. Benigni's "Life is Beautiful" on cover of The Hollywood Reporter

23. Pull out from Oscar statue to models posing for photo on runway

NICOLE KIDMAN SAYS HER OSCAR NOMINATION GETS BETTER WITH AGE

Nicole Kidman's already received her Oscar invitation in the mail and admits it only gets better the older she gets, but also 'weirder with age.'

PGA nominees have historically been a good predictor for which films will receive Academy Award nominations for best picture. This year's Oscar favorites "La La Land," ''Moonlight" and "Manchester by the Sea" were nominated by the Producers Guild of America as best picture. The guild's 10 nominees for its best picture honor, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award, also included "Deadpool," "Arrival," ''Fences," ''Hacksaw Ridge," ''Hell or High Water," ''Hidden Figures" and "Lion."

"Lion's" producers were recognized Saturday night in addition to the six Oscar nominations earlier in the week.

"It's so lovely to share it with the film and the other actors and the writer," said Nicole Kidman of the night's honors. "I wish Garth (Davis), but he was nominated for a DGA so that's a huge thing for him. Just to share it with everybody, that's glorious. I've had it where I've been in films where I haven't been nominated. I've where I've been in films where I've been the only one nominated, so to have it where you share it, it's really beautiful. For a film like this that we all just love and love people's response to because it's deeply emotional. It's so not work going out and promoting this movie."

Kidman's was also nomination for her fourth Oscar, this time as best performance by an actress in a supporting role in "Lion". In 2003 she won the Oscar as best actress for "The Hours".

This year the academy also hit a record with six black nominated actors. However there is still a lack of women honored as directors and other technical Oscar categories.

"I mean we're working on it which is all you can say," responded Kidman.

"Lion" star and Oscar nominee Dev Patel was thrilled to support his film at the PGAs, but admitted he's already feeling "overwhelmed" with the movie's success.

"Look I'm so overwhelmed already. Any more excitement and my head is going to pop off my neck so, yeah," he teased.

Patel will compete for the best supporting actor Oscar alongside Mahershala Ali ("Moonlight"), Jeff Bridges ("Hell or High Water"), Lucas Hedges ("Manchester by the Sea") and Michael Shannon ("Nocturnal Animals").

He said he's simply taking the journey day by day.

"I think so, it's a lot to process for me so I'm taking it very slowly. Bite, bite, bite," he said.

This year's Academy Award black nominated actors include "Fences" stars Denzel Washington and Viola Davis, Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris of "Moonlight," Ruth Negga of "Loving" and Octavia Spencer of "Hidden Figures." Including Patel, there were seven actors of color nominated out of 2, which made for a stark contrast to the last two years of all-white acting nominees.

"I mean I feel this year it's really been incredible to go on this amazing process. I just bumped into Common there, John Legend is right there, Mahershala (Ali). There are so many - it feels like such a diverse bunch and also I've seen a lot of the performances and they deserve to be here. They are not being thrust into the limelight because of the color of their skin. They are being thrust into the limelight because of talent and that's beautiful. It's not about the awards, it's about the creators, the actual birth of those stories and that's becoming more and more diverse as storytellers," Patel said.

John Legend was on hand to support "La La Land," which he appeared in and served as an executive producer on.

Many believe the film is an Oscar front-runner after its impressive awards season run. But Legend said he isn't feeling the pressure of those expectations.

"You know, I don't worry about the pressure. I'm just happy that 'La La Land' has gotten the reception that it's gotten. I really think it's a beautiful film. It's special, it's unique and it's struck a chord with a lot of people that have seen it. We'll see how the awards shake out right now, everybody is voting right now and they'll make their own decisions. But the art is the art and hopefully people receiving it and enjoying it," Legend said.

The retro musical "La La Land" reaped a record-tying 14 Academy Award nominations and was also vying for top honors at Saturday's PGAs.

Beverly Hills, Calif., 28 Jan. 2017

1. Wide exterior of the Beverly Hilton Hotel

2. Justin Timberlake poses for photographers

3. Taraji P. Henson poses for photographers

4. Mahershala Ali poses for photographers

5. Nicole Kidman poses for photographers, joined by her husband Keith urban

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicole Kidman/Actress, on the PGA Awards:

"It's so lovely to share it with the film and the other actors and the writer. I wish Garth (Davis), but he was nominated for a DGA so that's a huge thing for him. Just to share it with everybody, that's glorious. I've had it where I've been in films where I haven't been nominated. I've where I've been in films where I've been the only one nominated, so to have it where you share it, it's really beautiful. For a film like this that we all just love and love people's response to because it's deeply emotional. It's so not work going out and promoting this movie."

(Reporter: Are you ready for the Oscars? Do you have any expectations for the night?)

Nicole Kidman/Actress:

"I got my invitation and I was like, wow this still means so much to me. More, more as I get older it means more which is probably - it gets weirder with age."

7. Wide of Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel speaking on arrivals line, Kidman and Patel pose together

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicole Kidman/Actress, on the lack of women directing and technical Oscar nominees:

"That we are all working on it. I mean we're working on it which is all you can say. You keep talking about it and we all keep pursuing it and making a change."

9. Common greets Dev Patel on arrivals line

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Dev Patel/Actor, on his Oscar nomination:

"Look I'm so overwhelmed already. Any more excitement and my head is going to pop off my neck so, yeah."

(Reporter: Have you had a chance to think about the Oscars or are you taking it one day at a time.)

Dev Patel/Actor:

"I think so, it's a lot to process for me so I'm taking it very slowly. Bite, bite, bite."

11. Dev Patel speaks to reporter

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Dev Patel/Actor, on Oscar diversity:

"I mean I feel this year it's really been incredible to go on this amazing process. I just bumped into Common there, John Legend is right there, Mahershala (Ali). There are so many - it feels like such a diverse bunch and also I've seen a lot of the performances and they deserve to be here. They are not being thrust into the limelight because of the color of their skin. They are being thrust into the limelight because of talent and that's beautiful. It's not about the awards, it's about the creators, the actual birth of those stories and that's becoming more and more diverse as storytellers."

13. Wide push and John Legend and Chrissy reigns posing for photographers

14. SOUNDBITE (English) John Legend/Recording Artist-Actor, on whether the success of 'La La Land' adds more pressure:

"You know, I don't worry about the pressure. I'm just happy that 'La La Land' has gotten the reception that it's gotten. I really think it's a beautiful film. It's special, it's unique and it's struck a chord with a lot of people that have seen it. We'll see how the awards shake out right now, everybody is voting right now and they'll make their own decisions. But the art is the art and hopefully people receiving it and enjoying it."

Chrissy Teigen/TV Personality:

"Hey what's up?"

John Legend/Recording Artist-Actor

"Hello."

Chrissy Teigen/TV Personality:

"Oh hi AP"

15. Janelle Monae poses for photographers

16. Mimi Valdes and Pharrell Williams pose for photographers

THIS YEAR'S BALL PUTS THE 'PICTURE' BACK IN MOTION PICTURE

As if it's not challenging enough to get into the annual Oscars, held at the Dolby Theatre, only about half of those invitees get a ticket to come upstairs to the ballroom to the post-ceremony Governors ball, where 1500 are dined by Wolfgang Puck, wined by Sterling Vineyards and, this year, will get a blast of images from the Academy library.

This year's ball puts the "picture" back in motion picture.

"There actually is a story behind the story," explained Academy member Jeffrey Kurland, who came up with the concept of a ball decorated with photographs of filmmakers.

"I was working out of town and we finished shooting and went to a bar with people from the crew I was working with," Kurland recalled. "And we walked into this bar. It was kind of this dive bar -- you know, brick walls, peeling paint, this, that and the other. But they had photos pasted up on the walls, just everywhere, just kind of randomly put up -- layers of them, just on top of one another, which obviously were patrons going back decades. And I thought, 'This is like amazing. You feel so much energy in this room. The layers of the decades of the people that have been in this room, sitting in this very spot -- 10s or 20s years ago, more so. This idea is unbelievable.' So I called Cheryl (ball producer Cecchetto). And I said, 'I think I have what I want to do. I know what I want to do.'"

Fortunately, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hosts the annual Oscars, is caretaker of the Margaret Herrick Library, which houses thousands of elements related to cinema, and is world-renowned for its photographs. For the exhibit, hundreds of the library's images were duplicated -- some blown up to billboard size, other framed as keepsakes for ball guests.

"So, you're not only going to see photos of actors and actresses, but of costume designers, animation, editors, sound, directors, producers, everyone," Cecchetto said. "And isn't it apropos that we're featuring the library with the archives of cinema, which follows the telecast? I mean, it completely makes sense. And for those who are in the room, they're celebrating film. So, we're doing that with them."

Master chef Wolfgang Puck returns to serve hungry guests -- this time a lot of little things.

"We're going to have tapas, more Spanish style -- not in flavor," he said. "You know, it's more small plates. It's very famous all over the world today. People don't want to eat one big plate anymore. They love the variety. And we make 32 different dishes this year for the Oscars. About 500 of each one. About 16,000 dishes. So, it's a lot -- from traditional dishes, like our chicken pot pie, macaroni and cheese, and then we have some exciting Santa Barbara prawns Thai-style with a little spice in it. Tell them to shut up over there! And then we have a lot of vegan dishes. For example, we have parsnips with charred eggplant, we have risotto, so there's something for everybody."

The 87th annual Oscars will be held on 22 February.

AP ENTERTAINMENT

Los Angeles, 4 February 2015

1. Wide exterior Dolby Theatre

2. Medium shot exterior Dolby Theatre

3. Close-up shot marquee Dolby Theatre

4. Wide shot of Roy Dolby ballroom

5. Medium-wide shot preview of 87th Oscars Governors Ball press preview

6. Oscar statuette flank podium with microphone

7. Medium shot of table

8. Close-up shot of montage of celebrities, with actor Cary Grant largest and in center

9. Setup shot 87th Oscars Governors Ball producer Cheryl Cecchetto

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Cheryl Cecchetto/Producer, 87th Oscars Governors Ball:

"We're at the 87th Annual Governors Ball press preview. And this is sort of like what everyone's going to experience on February 22nd."

11. Long row of tables filled with framed pictures of film stars and filmmakers

12. Collage of images, including iconic portrait of actress Marlene Dietrich

13. Close-up shot of image of Marlene Dietrich

14. Tilt up frames photos of legendary actors

15. Academy governor Jeffrey Kurland speaks to reporter

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Kurland/Academy Governor, on how he came up with the concept for this year's Governors Ball:

"The story behind the story? There actually is a story behind the story. I was working out of town and we finished shooting and went to a bar with people from the crew I was working with. And we walked into this bar. It was kind of this dive bar -- you know, brick walls, peeling paint, this, that and the other. But they had photos pasted up on the walls, just everywhere, just kind of randomly put up -- layers of them, just on top of one another, which obviously were patrons going back decades. And I thought, 'This is like amazing. You feel so much energy in this room. The layers of the decades of the people that have been in this room, sitting in this very spot -- 10s or 20s years ago, more so. This idea is unbelievable.' So I called Cheryl (ball producer Cecchetto). And I said, 'I think I have what I want to do. I know what I want to do.'"

17. Close-up shot portrait of actress Hattie McDaniel, with pull out

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Cheryl Cecchetto/Producer, 87th Oscars Governors Ball:

"So, you're not only going to see photos of actors and actresses, but of costume designers, animation, editors, sound, directors, producers, everyone. And isn't it apropos that we're featuring the library with the archives of cinema, which follows the telecast? I mean, it completely makes sense. And for those who are in the room, they're celebrating film. So, we're doing that with them."

19. Table with framed photos of filmmakers

20. Tilt down poster with stars' autographed lipstick prints

21. Chocolate Oscar statuette surrounded by wild strawberry push pops

22. Tilt down chocolate film projector

23. Plate of mini American wagyu burgers

24. Wide of hors d'oeuvres

25. Close-up shot of smoked salmon Oscar matzo

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Wolfgang Puck/Master Chef:

"This year, we're going to have a whole smorgasbord. We're going to have tapas, more Spanish style -- not in flavor. You know, it's more small plates. It's very famous all over the world today. People don't want to eat one big plate anymore. They love the variety. And we make 32 different dishes this year for the Oscars. About 500 of each one. About 16,000 dishes. So, it's a lot -- from traditional dishes, like our chicken pot pie, macaroni and cheese, and then we have some exciting Santa Barbara prawns Thai-style with a little spice in it. Tell them to shut up over there! And then we have a lot of vegan dishes. For example, we have parsnips with charred eggplant, we have risotto, so there's something for everybody."

27. Tray of caviar-topped baked potatoes

28. Tray of smoked hominy toasts

29. Woman pours glass of champagne

30. Tilt up Oscar statue

OSCARS RED CARPET LOOKING 'VERY NOT GLAMOROUS' WITH RAIN PREPARATIONS

The Oscars red carpet was looking "very not glamorous" on Friday (28 FEB. 2014) as workers donned rain gear and covered arrivals area with a tent and plastic sheeting to protect it from a heavy rainstorm hitting Los Angeles.

Like the annual Tournament of Roses parade, the Oscars are usually blessed with standard Southern California weather: sunshine and blue skies.

That could be the case again this year, but it was raining heavily Friday and forecasters predicted showers Saturday that could continue through Oscar Sunday.

The whole arrivals area - the carpet, fan bleachers, interview stages and photographers' risers - is topped with a clear plastic tent that stretches from the intersection of Hollywood and Highland boulevards to the front of the Dolby Theatre.

Nominees in the foreign-language category gathered on a soggy red carpet Friday, with "The Hunt" star Mads Mikkelsen said he's hoping for sunshine Sunday.

"I'm looking forward to the big one. And hopefully it's not going to be raining too much," he said.

And Belgium's "The Broken Circle Breakdown" director Felix van Groeningen said: "It's a little wet. And it's a little chaotic because of that, I think. So they have some work for Sunday. � That's the crazy thing. There's something very not glamorous about it."

Even if Sunday promises perfect weather, things have to dry out by Saturday night for Oscar producers to remove the tent. Prep work continues overnight through Sunday morning, with lots of props and gear that need to stay dry.

AP Entertainment

Los Angeles, 28 February 2014

1. Wide high-angle view of Dolby Theatre and Hollywood Boulevard, with tent over Oscars red carpet

2. Close rack-focus raindrops on railing to workers on Hollywood Boulevard

3. Wide Oscars signage pan down to security guards in rain gear and plastic sheet on red carpet

4. Close zoom to wide red carpet covered in plastic sheeting

5. Wide pan left Oscars red carpet covered in plastic sheeting with media assembled

6. Close zoom to wide red carpet is seen under plastic sheeting

7. Wide zoom to medium Oscar statues covered in plastic

8. Medium worker painting railing

9. Wide Mads Mikkelsen talks with reporter

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mads Mikkelsen/Actor - on Oscars red carpet: "It's a small one right now and it feels really nice. I'm looking forward to the big one. And hopefully it's not going to be raining too much."

11. Wide Felix van Groeningen poses with actress Veerle Baetens with Oscar statue

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Felix van Groeningen/Director - on wet red carpet: "It's good. It's a little wet. And it's a little chaotic because of that, I think. So they have some work for Sunday. � That's the crazy thing. There's something very not glamorous about it."

13. Wide Oscar statue wrapped in plastic

14. Wide Hollywood Boulevard and tented carpet zoom to Dolby Theatre signage

AFGHAN OSCARS

SOURCE: AP TELEVISION

RESTRICTIONS: HORIZONS CLIENTS AND AP LIFESTYLE, HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 3.25

SHOTLIST

Afghanistan, Kabul, 6 February 2013

1. Various shots of Fawad Mohammadi, one of the main stars of Oscar nominated movie Buzkashi Boys, arranging his maps

2. Wide shot of Mohammadi walking the famous Chicken Street in Kabul

3. Mid shot of Mohammadi asking locals to buy maps

4. Close shot of Mohammadi's face

5. Mid pan shot from Mohammadi to people walking on the road

6. SOUNDBITE (dari) Fawad Mohammadi:

"When I work on the Chicken Street, there are lots of problems, people just know me as a map seller, but when I will go (The Oscars) it will be more comfortable and it will be a great pride for me and Afghanistan to meet the world's most famous actors, so there will be a huge deference compared to here."

7. Various shots of 14-years-old Jawanmard Paiz

8. Close shot of Paiz's face

9. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Jawanmard Paiz, Afghan child actor:

"Every actor dreams to walk the red carpet and get nominated for an Oscar personally, or for the film which he or she has acted in. I am very excited to be among the most famous and experienced actors and I am very excited for our film to be nominated for an Oscar."

10. Various shots of a group of afghan actors working shooting of a TV serial in Kabul

11. Mid shot of Director and cameraman talking

12. Close shot of actor in the camera monitor

13. Mid shot of Afghan film maker, Qadir Ariayee, watching his latest movie

14. Close tilt up shot from Ariayee's lips to his eyes

15. Close shot of computer screen

16. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Qadir Ariayee, Afghan film maker and actor:

"These actors managed to take the Buzkashi Boys movies to Oscars, top five movies, and to get nominated. I think it is a great step for Afghan cinema."

17. Wide shot of Mohammad on the back of the horse

18. Mid shot of Mohammadi getting off the horse

19. Close shot Mohammadi's face

20. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Fawad Mohammadi:

"For my work I used to know a lot of foreigners and I still do, before they knew me as a map seller and, but now they know me as an actor, most of them take pictures with me and sometimes even if they don't need any maps, they just buy them from me because they know me as a movie actor."

21. Various Mohammadi riding the back of a horse

LEADIN

Two teenage Afghan actors are getting ready for Hollywood.

The talented fourteen year olds appear in the film 'Buzkashi Boys' , which is up for an Oscar in LA.

STORYLINE

Fawad Mohammadi has spent half his life peddling maps and dictionaries to foreign visitors on Chicken Street, the main tourist district in Kabul, Afghanistan.

But now the glitz and glamour of Hollywood are waiting for him as he heads to the Oscars in Los Angeles.

Mohammadi was plucked from the gritty streets of the Afghan capital to be one of the main stars in the movie, which is a coming of age story that was filmed entirely in a war zone.

The movie, which is nominated in the Best Live Action Short Film category, sees the young star play Rafi, the son of a blacksmith - his father wants him to follow in his own footsteps, and give up his hopes of becoming a Buzkashi rider.

Mohammadi started selling chewing gum when he was about 7-years-old, after his father died, leaving him with his mother, five brothers and a sister.

He expanded his trade to maps and dictionaries soon thereafter.

After he learnt to speak English he built up a rapport with the many of the foreign visitors, gaining a reputation as somebody to trust, with his polite demeanor and helpful nature.

"When I work on the Chicken Street, there are lots of problems people just know me as a map seller, but when I go (the Oscars) it will be more comfortable and it will be a great pride for me and Afghanistan to meet the world's most famous actors, so there will be a huge deference compared with here," says Mohammadi.

Jawanmard Paiz, the youngest son of a well-known Afghan actor, is the other main star of the movie.

He plays the homeless boy Ahmad.

Paiz, also 14-years-old, is already an experienced actor, he's been appearing in films since the age of five and has already been to the Cannes Film Festival.

He said walking the red carpet at the Academy Awards will be a dream come true.

"Every actor dreams to walk the red carpet and get nominated for Oscar, personally or the film which he or she has acted in I am very excited to be among the most famous and experienced actors and I am very excited for our film to be nominated for Oscar," says Paiz.

Afghanistan had a burgeoning film industry, but it suffered from fighting during the civil war and the Taliban campaign to stamp out entertainment.

Actors and film industry workers fled from the country and returned only after the 2001 U.S. led assault that ousted the Islamic movement.

According to Afghan filmmaker Qadir Ariayee - who has appeared as an actor in 30 Afghan films and has produced six short films - exposure of Afghan movies at big events like Academy Awards could have a positive impact on the growth of Afghan cinema.

"These actors managed to take the 'Buzkashi Boys' movie to Oscar's top five movies and to get nominated. I think it is a great step for the Afghan cinema," says Ariayee.

The 85th annual Oscars take place on Sunday February 24th in LA.

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SHOTLIST

APTN

Los Angeles, Ca. 16 November 2004

1. Zoom Oscar 2005 poster

APTN

Los Angeles, Ca. 27 January 2004

2. Oscar statue

Fox Searchlight

3. Film clip - 'Kinsey'

APTN

Los Angeles, Ca. 16 November 2004

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Johnson, Syndicated Entertainment Journalist - on the 'Kinsey' chances:

"The subject matter is sex, basically. And that has not, traditionally, deterred the Academy from awarding it. However, it's a long, deep movie, and that may be problematic."

Focus

5. Film clip - 'The Motorcycle Diaries'

APTN

Los Angeles, Ca. 16 November 2004

6. SOUNDBITE (English) David Poland, Editor, www.moviecitynews.com:

"'Motorcycle Diaries' has fallen off a bit as the race has progressed. It was very strong when it started. It was the only movie that was great, really, this year at Sundance, and it had a great year. And it kind of peaked in September. And people are looking at Gael Garcia Bernal's performance. People started talking about Che Guevara being a political issue. And it just kind of lost a little of the lustre."

Fine Line

7. Film trailer - 'The Sea Inside'

Warner Independent

8. Film trailer - 'A Very Long Engagement'

Focus

9. Film clip - 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'

APTN

Los Angeles, Ca. 16 November 2004

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Anthony Breznican, Associated Press Entertainment Writer -on 'Eternal Sunshine' being released early in qualifying period:

"You know, that works against any film. It's out of sight, it's out of mind. It's on home video, it'll be on home video for months before most of the other Oscar contenders are even in theatres. But this is a movie that got huge critical raves. It's funny, it's got Jim Carrey in a semi-serious role that isn't maudlin. And I think that could appeal to Academy voters."

DreamWorks

11. Film clip - 'Shrek 2'

Walt Disney/Pixar

12. Film trailer - 'The Incredibles'

APTN

Los Angeles, Ca. 16 November 2004

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Johnson, Syndicated Entertainment Journalist:

"I think 'Ray' will get a least the nomination for Best Actor. Jamie Foxx's performance was unsurpassed. But I don't think, as a film though, that it'll hold together enough to get a Best Picture nomination."

Universal

14. Film clip - 'Ray'

Fine Line

15. Film clip- 'Vera Drake'

Columbia

16. Film Trailer - 'Closer'

Sony Classics

17. Film clip: 'Being Julia'

Miramax

18. Film Trailer - 'Finding Neverland'

19. Film Trailer - 'The Aviator'

Columbia

20. Film Trailer - 'Spanglish'

Paramount

21. Film Trailer - 'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'

Touchstone

22. Film Trailer - 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zossou'

APTN

Los Angeles, Ca. 16 November 2004

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeanne Wolf, 'Jeanne Wolf's Hollywood,' news service:

"You know that old Hollywood cliche, 'No one knows anything'? Well, this time, everybody knows just a little bit of everything, and not enough to really guess just who'll be on that list."

APTN

Los Angeles, Ca. 27 February 2004

24. Pans of red carpet from 2004 Oscars

INDUSTRY EXPERTS MAKE MORE OF THEIR OSCAR PREDICTIONS

The first of the 2005 Academy Awards posters rolling off the press are the starting flags to the Oscar race 2005.

Respected Oscar watchers have already begun a feverish debate over which movies are likely to make the grade.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES

It's rare when one Spanish-language picture can break into Oscar's list of Big Five nominees. But this year it appears two Spainsh language films have a shot: the fact-based tearjerker, 'The Sea Inside' and the historical road-trip coming-of-age Che Guevara biography, 'The Motorcycle Diaries.'

Critics have been buzzing about the latter since its North American premiere last January at the Sundance Film Festival.

David Poland, who edits the movie web site www.moviecitynews.com, explains that long-time talking may be precisely 'Motorcycle''s problem. "It had a great year. And it kind of peaked in September. And people are looking at Gael Garcia Bernal's performance. People started talking about Che Guevara being a political issue. And it just kind of lost a little of the lustre."

Poland adds that it's more likely that Javier Bardem's lead performance could sweep 'The Sea Inside' into the Best Picture category. Two of the Oscar watchers also had good things to say about 'A Very Long Engagement,' Amelie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's epic war romance.

THE LONG SHOTS

The Jim Carrey drama/comedy, 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,' was released so long ago it may feel, to some, as if it came out in time for last year's Oscars. But no: It was actually released 19 March 2004. Historically, most big Oscar winners are released in the last quarter of the year. But there have been exceptions, most notably 'The Silence of the Lambs,' a February 1991 release, which, a full year later, went on to sweep the top-four Oscar categories.

Associated Press writer Anthony Breznican says that nevertheless, an early release "works against any film.

"It's out of sight, it's out of mind. It's on home video, it'll be on home video for months before most of the other Oscar contenders are even in theatres. But this is a movie that got huge critical raves. It's funny, it's got Jim Carrey in a semi-serious role that isn't maudlin. And I think that could appeal to Academy voters."

So could 'Shrek 2' and 'The Incredibles,' two enormously popular movies that also earned many positive reviews. And the distributors of each, DreamWorks and Walt Disney/Pixar, respectively, are mounting substantial Oscar campaigns.

PERFORMANCES IN SEARCH OF A MOVIE

Poland has some harsh things to say about Kevin Spacey's Bobby Darin biopic, 'Beyond the Sea.' But, Poland adds, Spacey's performance is so strong, it's likely to land him in the Best Actor category. "Unlike, say, the case of Bardem and 'The Sea Inside,' I don't see Spacey's performance sweeping the film into other areas, and certainly not Best Picture."

Syndicated Entertainment Journalist Lisa Johnson sees the same situation with Jamie Foxx and his Ray Charles biopic, "Ray." "I think 'Ray' will get a least the nomination for Best Actor. Jamie Foxx's performance was unsurpassed. But I don't think, as a film though, that it'll hold together enough to get a Best Picture nomination."

The Oscar watchers mentioned other instances where the names above the titles are likely to do better than the titles themselves: Liam Neeson in the sexpert saga "Kinsey," Imelda Staunton in the abortion drama "Vera Drake," everyone except for Jude Law (leaving Julia Roberts, Clive Owen and Natalie Portman) in the romantic drama "Closer," Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet in the J.B. Barrie biopic "Finding Neverland," Sean Penn in "The Assassination of Richard Nixon and Annette Bening in the period drama "Being Julia."

ANYONE'S GUESS

No one had seen the Adam Sandler-Tea Leoni romance 'Spanglish,' Clint Eastwood's drama 'Million Dollar Babies' with Hilary Swank, the all-star family epic 'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events' or Bill Murray's comedy, 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.

So, your guess is as good as the experts'.

Veteran Hollywood reporter Jeanne Wolf of the "Jeanne Wolf's Hollywood" news service says that probably applies to all the previously mentioned categories, as well.

"You know that old Hollywood cliche, 'No one knows anything'? Well, this time, everybody knows just a little bit of everything, and not enough to really guess just who'll be on that list."

The 72nd Annual Academy Awards takes place on 27 February 2004 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

CLEARANCE DETAILS

Kinsey

Fox Searchlight

+ (20) 7437 7766

'Shrek 2'

DreamWorks Pictures

+1 818 777 4600

The Motorcycle Diaries

Pathe Films

+ 44 (0) 20 7462 4427

'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'

Focus Features

+1 212 343 9230

'Vera Drake'

New Line Cinema

+1 310 854 5811

Closer

Sony Pictures

+1 310 244 4000

'Being Julia'

Sony Classic Films

+1 310 244 4000

'Ray'

Universal Pictures

+1 818 777 1000

Finding Neverland

Miramax

+1 212 941 3800

'Un Long Dimanche Du Fiancailles'

Warner Bros

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zossou

Buena Vista

Spanglish

Sony Pictures

+1 310 244 4000

Lemony Snicket's A Unfortunate Series of Incidents

Paramount

+1 213 956 5000

The Aviator

Warner Bros

+1 818 977 6278

'ESSENCE' CELEBRATES BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD

Essence magazine celebrated black women in Hollywood on Friday (20 Feb), in less than three days before the Academy Awards.

"Selma" director Ava DuVernay will be walking the Oscar carpet celebrating her civil rights' movie with one final hoorah.

"Sunday's big day, I have a dress picked out," said DuVernay, . "I just tried it on yesterday from one of my very favorite designers who made something just for me so that special and an honor. It's a very sweet, simple dress because it's going to a sweet, simple night. I'm going to celebrate 'Selma' and then move on so I'm happy."

Director Ava DuVernay wasn't nominated for an Oscar this year but her movie "Selma" is represented in the Best picture and best song category.

John Legend and Common share the Oscar nomination for their song "Glory," featured in "Selma." Legend admits the best way not to get nervous about performing at the Oscars is by trying to play it down.

"Well you know it's really just gig on some level," said Legend. "It's another song I'm going to perform and this time hundreds of millions of people are watching so no big deal."

After the Oscars Legend will be performing in Dubai then returning home to work on his next album. Legend appreciates his Oscar nominations but admits he was highly disappointed "Selma" didn't receive more nominations.

"I was disappointed. I thought Ava (DuVernay) would probably get a nomination for best director," said Legend. "I thought David (Oyelowo) had a very good shot of getting a nomination as best actor but they didn't and we're a little disappointed by that but we are grateful for our nomination, we are grateful for the best picture nomination as well."

Ava DuVernay has moved on from her Oscar snub. DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey have become very close friends. They have also co-created a new series called "Queen Sugar" which will air on OWN, star Oprah Winfrey and be directed by DuVernay.

"I'm excited to do this series with Oprah," said DuVernay. "She's become a dear dear friend to me. Like a sister to me, a big sister to me and so to be able to create this on her network. She's a black woman who owns and network and I'm able to create a show for that network. It's an honor, it's a thrill. We are going to have a good time. I'm looking forward to it."

AP Entertainment

Los Angeles, 19 February 2015

1. Wide exterior of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel

2. Close-up of backdrop

3. Wide of David Oyelowo walking up to Ava DuVernay to greet her

4. Carmen Ejogo speaks to a reporter

5. Push in to Alfre Woodard speaking to a reporter

6. Wide of Laverne Cox posing for photographers

7. Wide of Ava DuVernay speaking to a reporter

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ava DuVernay/Director, "Selma" on Sunday's Oscars:

"Sunday's big day, I have a dress picked out. I just tried it on yesterday from one of my very favorite designers who made something just for me so that special and an honor. It's a very sweet, simple dress because it's going to a sweet, simple night. I'm going to celebrate 'Selma' and then move on so I'm happy."

9. John Legend speaks to reporter

10. SOUNDBITE (English) John Legend/Recording Artist, on performing at the Oscars Sunday:

"Well you know it's really just another gig on some level. It's another song I'm going to perform and this time hundreds of millions of people are watching so no big deal (Laughs)."

11. Wide of Common greeting Ava DuVernay on arrivals line

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Common/Recording Artist, on performing at the Oscars Sunday:

"Well I mean it's an honor to be up there performing a song, 'Glory' for 'Selma'. Like more than anything I am grateful to be connected with the movie 'Selma' and to have a song that's an extension of what Dr. King and the people of the civil rights movement stood for, so that's what makes it the greatest honor. The Oscars is the biggest stage. It's the biggest stage and it's like something I dreamed of since I was a kid, just being at that level. But now to be able to be up there, doing something that I really feel in my soul, something that I feel I'm connected to that has and impact that is bigger than the art we do is important."

13. Gugu Mbatha-Raw speaks to reporter

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Gugu Mbatha-Raw/Actress, on receiving the Lincoln Breakthrough of the Year Award:

"It's wonderful. It's kind of overwhelming, this energy but it's really lovely. I feel very honored and privileged to be acknowledged here today."

15. Regina King speaks to reporter

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Regina King/Actress, on the lack of diversity in this year's Oscar nominees:

"Yeah it is unfortunate but the thing about it is we have to continue to keep the dialogue. To not act like it doesn't exist. The good news is that more people that don't have the same skin color as me or people who aren't considered a minority because I hate to just say black people because Asian men and women, Latino men and women experience the same neglect when it comes to roles and opportunities."

17. John Legend speaks to reporter

18. SOUNDBITE (English) John Legend/Recording Artist, on 'Selma' Oscar snubs:

"I was disappointed. I thought Ava (DuVernay) would probably get a nomination for best director. I thought David (Oyelowo) had a very good shot of getting a nomination as best actor but they didn't and we're a little disappointed by that but we are grateful for our nomination, we are grateful for the best picture nomination as well."

19. Ava DuVernay speaks to reporter

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Ava DuVernay/Director, "Selma" on her upcoming project with Oprah:

"I'm excited to do this series with Oprah. She's become a dear dear friend to me. Like a sister to me, a big sister to me and so to be able to create this on her network. She's a black woman who owns and network and I'm able to create a show for that network. It's an honor, it's a thrill. We are going to have a good time. I'm looking forward to it."

21. Wide pan left of arrivals area

HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE AS SITE OF 87TH OSCARS

The red carpet won't be down until mid-morning (Wednesday, 18 Feb. 2015), Los Angeles time, weather permitting.

But the block of Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Orange avenues is already beginning to look a lot like Oscar.

Since the area was blocked off at the beginning of this week, workers have put up the fan bleachers, hoisted the giant Oscar statues in front of the area housing the staircase that leads attendees into the Dolby Theatre. And they've even pitched a tent in case of rain. (For the record: There's just a 10-percent chance of precipitation and a predicted high of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, according to weather.com.)

Workers will be setting the scene around the clock through to so-called "red-carpet lockdown," 2 p.m. Sunday, when press, publicists and all Oscars crew must be in place, ready for the ceremony's first guests hit the arrivals line.

The 87th Oscars telecast is set for 5:30 p.m. PT. And, within minutes of ceremony's start, much of the setup outside will start being torn down -- with Hollywood Boulevard completely returned to its old self no later than sunrise Monday morning, as the countdown to the next Oscars begin.

AP Entertainment

Los Angeles, 17 Feb. 2015

1. Pan from Oscar-arrivals site under construction on Hollywood Boulevard to exterior of Dolby Theatre

2. Close-up shot of Oscar statue

3. Cases, forklift, workers in Oscar-arrivals construction site on Hollywood Boulevard

4. Medium reporter recording standup at Oscar-arrivals construction site on Hollywood Boulevard, with push in

5. Worker tying up cabling and working climbing up scaffold

6. Worker on scaffold

7. Close-up shot Oscars signage above bleachers with pull out to wide shot revealing Oscar-arrivals construction site on Hollywood Boulevard

8. Wide shot corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue

9. Medium 87th Oscars key art on billboard with push in to billboard featuring picture of host Neil Patrick Harris

SHOTLIST

APTN,

Los Angeles, California. 29 February 2004

1. Wide exterior with pan to outside of the party

2. TV wide screen with pan to crowd and back to screen

3. TV wide screen

4. Mid shot fan

5. Fans dressed as Rings characters

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Fan:

"What I found so impressive about this movie is how much they dedicated themselves to these stories and the amount of detail and just the amount of effort. They threw their lives into it for five to nine years and it all shows. They chose an amazing amount of material from JRR Tolkien."

7. TV wide screen - Best Director announcement pan to crowd pan back to screen

8. Host on stage

9. Wide screen - Best Picture announcement pan to crowd with pan back to screen

10. Fan crying

11. SOUNDBITE (English) John Rhys-Davies, Actor:

"We all actually decided that if we could give all of our awards back just to get one for Peter Jackson, we would have done so. That's a measure of the loyalty we have towards him. He's a great director and this is such a remarkable achievement."

12. Elijah Wood and Dominic Monaghan

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Dominic Monaghan, Actor:

"I think everyone around the world understands how much work he's put in, and to be recognized by his peers, which is, I think, something that Pete really treasures....welll you saw him on stage you know? He's the same guy, he's a normal guy who made these incredible films and they've just taken over. It's a phenomenon and we're just proud to be involved with it."

14. Wide Technical Oscar winners

15. Medium Elijah Wood posing

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Elijah Wood, Actor:

"I think half way through the evening there was a sense that it was suddenly becoming too good to be true, and that we'd probably lose the major awards. So yeah we were pretty shocked when we took up everything!"

17. Close up Oscar pull out to Nyla Dixon - Costume Design winner

18. Oscar winners

19. Wide Technical Oscar winners

LORD OF THE RINGS CELEBRATES 11 OSCAR WINS

It was clear. Oscar night belonged to 'The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King'

After their "clean sweep" at the Oscars, the 'Lord of the Rings' cast and crew were ready to party. What better place to do that then their very own Oscar after party?

This was not your traditional celebration. While 'Rings' studio, New Line Cinema, also threw an Oscar party, it seemed the place to be was 'The Return of the One Party'

This was the official celebration thrown by the fan club. Devoted fans from all over the world, including Sweden, Canada, England, and of course, New Zealand, flew in to watch as 'Lord of the Rings' tied records taking home 11 Oscars.

Over seven hundred party tickets were sold within a matter of 15 minutes. The tickets cost one hundred and twenty-five dollars. Fans were able to watch the Oscars together, eat, drink, and celebrate.

Elijah Wood, who played Frodo in the 'Rings' trilogy, was one of the first cast members to arrive at the after party.

He said he didn't know if the film would win Best Picture because it had failed to win this category in the past.

Wood said what was most important to him and the cast was the fact that 'Rings' director, Peter Jackson, took home the Oscar for Best Director.

This also seemed to be the most important fact to the dedicated fans watching.

With each win, applause at 'The Return of the One Party' grew louder. When Peter Jackson won for Best Director, the crowd exploded in applause.

That wasn't the only thing that exploded.

Mini cannons filled with confetti were set off in celebration.

While Jackson hadn't made an appearance at the after party yet, fans were still excited and ready to party into the night.

Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry Brandybuck, was jovial as he walked the red carpet. He said although he is happy with the big wins, a part of him is sad because a chapter in his life is closing.

John Rhys-Davies, who played Gimli, said he will forever be grateful to the fans for supporting 'Lord of the Rings'

While the actors made their way across the red carpet, so did the crew- holding their Oscars.

For 'Lord of the Rings' cast, crew, and fans, it was a bittersweet night filled with celebration and heartfelt goodbyes.

English/Nat

Two people have been arrested following the recovery of the majority of Oscar statuettes stolen 10 days ago from a loading dock in Los Angeles.

The statues, which were due to be presented at next weekend's awards show, were discovered by a salvage man in a Koreatown rubbish bin on Monday.

Police announced on Monday that two people have been arrested following the discovery of 53 out of the 55 stolen Oscar statuettes.

The missing Oscars were found by a rubbish collector in the early hours of Sunday, hidden in a Koreatown tip.

A tall wrought-iron fence topped with razor wire surrounds the parking lot, which serves as coin-operated laundry, smog-check station and grocery store.

Police do not know when the rubbish bins were last emptied.

Fifty-five of the gold-plated statues vanished and were presumed stolen on March the 10th from a loading dock in Bell.

This is the same Los Angeles-area community where 4 thousand Oscar ballots were misplaced at a post office earlier this month.

The statues were packed in 10 boxes and wrapped together on one palette, which weighed over 200 kilogrammes.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We received a phone call from a resident who lives in the area. He reported that he had found some packages in a dumpster in the market behind me. We went to his residence and...he actually took us to some packages that contained the Oscars. He then returned here with our officers and a supervisor to the scene and showed us where he found them. Some of the Oscars had been removed. He brought them back with the officers. Right now the detectives from our burglary auto theft division are going over the Oscars. They have some information from the Academy and they have verified that these are in fact the Oscars that were taken."

SUPER CAPTION: Captain David Powers, Los Angeles Police Department

A 50 thousand U-S dollar reward had been put forward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves.

Willie Fulgear, the man expected to benefit from the pay-out said he hopes to use the money to help his son put a down payment on a home.

But he was still feeling completely shocked about the whole event.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"One of the boxes was open. I knew it was something but I didn't know if it was real or not. There were so many of them there you know. And that is when I saw the news and I called my son and I told him to get on his computer and see what he could find out about this. That is about it."

SUPER CAPTION: Willie Fulgear, Discoverer of Oscars

The statuettes will be put on display and it is unlikely police will return them in time for Sunday's presentation.

However the show will go on as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences placed an emergency order last week for dozens of replacement Oscars after the theft was discovered.

Los Angeles, USA - 20 March 2000 XFA

1. Various of police officers packing statuettes into boxes

2. Zoom out from statuettes to police officer

3. Various of police officers standing by rubbish bin with statuettes

4. Mid shot of Willie Fulgear, the man who recovered the statuettes

5. Mid shot of statuettes behind police line

6. Wide shot of police cars

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Captain David Powers, Los Angeles Police Department

8. Mid shot of Willie Fulgear

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Willie Fulgear, Discoverer of Oscars

10. Zoom out from Oscars to police officers

STARS ARRIVE FOR THE 86TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS

By mid-afternoon Sunday (2 MARCH 2014), the red carpet at the 86th annual Academy Awards was in full swing.

Actress Lupita Nyong'o, who went on to win Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of an abused slave in "12 Years a Slave," turned heads for her bold light blue gown.

"This is a Prada gown that was made for me," she said. "And I'm wearing Fred Layton jewelry. And it's a color -- I wanted to wear blue because blue reminds me of home -- of Nairobi. I grew up in classrooms with blue walls and things like that, so I just wanted to have a sense of home with me. And yeah, and also Champagne bubbles inspired this dress."

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch, part of two films nominated for various awards -- "12 Years a Slave" and "August: Osage County" -- joked that he didn't even know where he was. When told this was the Oscars, he replied:

"Is it? Oh shit, I'm at the wrong party. I can't believe I sweared already. That's terrible. Or swore, even. I'm kind of overwhelmed, as all that sentence just said. It's amazing. It's amazing. I mean, I was on the phone to my mom. I can't take this ridiculous grin off my face. Whatever you want to throw at awards ceremonies, the Oscars are an extraordinary event to be at."

Cumberbatch also joked that his next dance off would feature the cast of "12 Years a Slave."

"They're all groovers, they're all groovers," he said. "They've got the rhythm. Yeah. And I love going non-verbal. There's a lot of this that goes on, which is lovely by the way, but it's always nice when you can switch it off and just dance. And I hope that we'll have something to celebrate. Fingers crossed. Many fingers crossed. Yeah."

Actor Jared Leto, who went on to win the first major category of the night, Best Supporting Actor, was grateful to be part of the party.

"It's wonderful to be here. I'm so proud. It's such a tremendous group of nominees. A very, very, very, very magical night. And I'm super-excited to be here," he said.

AP Entertainment

Los Angeles, 2 March 2014

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Lupita Nyong'o/Actress - on her dress: "This is a Prada gown that was made for me. And I'm wearing Fred Layton jewelry. And it's a color -- I wanted to wear blue because blue reminds me of home -- of Nairobi. I grew up in classrooms with blue walls and things like that, so I just wanted to have a sense of home with me. And yeah, and also Champagne bubbles inspired this dress."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Benedict Cumberbatch/Actor - on Oscars: "Is it? Oh shit, I'm at the wrong party. I can't believe I sweared already. That's terrible. Or swore, even. I'm kind of overwhelmed, as all that sentence just said. It's amazing. It's amazing. I mean, I was on the phone to my mom. I can't take this ridiculous grin off my face. Whatever you want to throw at awards ceremonies, the Oscars are an extraordinary event to be at."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Benedict Cumberbatch/Actor - on dancing after show: "The entire cast of '12 Years A Slave.' They're all groovers, they're all groovers. They've got the rhythm. Yeah. And I love going non-verbal. There's a lot of this that goes on, which is lovely by the way, but it's always nice when you can switch it off and just dance. And I hope that we'll have something to celebrate. Fingers crossed. Many fingers crossed. Yeah."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Idina Menzel/Actor-Recording Artist, on 'Let It Go' success: "Yeah, it's such a gift to me. I had no idea. I knew it was a beautiful song but to see it evolve like that just exponentially everywhere. It's a beautiful thing. And it's what it means to people -- it's about liberating your soul and accepting yourself for who you are. And that's why it's so important to little kids."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) John Legend/Recording Artist - on Oscars: "I feel more like a visitor. All of these great actors and directors and filmmakers. And I'm just a lowly musician. But no it's exciting to be here. I'm a fan of a lot of these people here. And it's exciting to be here."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Pharrell Williams/Recording Artist - on Oscars: "I'm happy, man. I really am. I appreciate this. I do. I know it's the people. They have to vote for the songs. They have to download the songs. Or even in certain cases upload videos or whatever. And the fact that they have, is just -- done so much for me and I'm ever so grateful."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) June Squibb/Actress - on Oscar nomination: "Well it feels great and I don't want to say fulfilled because I intend to keep working. But this is great to have happened. And no matter what happens, if it happens again this will still be the first time, and that's very exciting."

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ethan Hawke/Actor-Writer - on Oscars: "For a movie like ours that came out in May that we made because we wanted to -- it's not a commercial endeavor -- this is a victory lap for us just to be here."

Julie Delpy/Actor-writer: "It's amazing. It's such an honor and we've worked on this together. It's true love - labor of love. And it's amazing that it gets recognized, you know."

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Kevin Spacey/Actor-Producer, on 'House of Cards' success: "Look, for us, it's an acknowledgement that what we're doing, we're doing all right. And people are enjoying it. I think it's an incredible experience for me as an actor to work with Beau Willimon and David Fincher and all of our cast. And to have an audience all over the world respond to it and be excited by it, particularly this new way to discover it, in which they're able to be in total control of how it's going to unveil to them -- binge-watching or however they want to watch it, it's very exciting."

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jared Leto/Actor - on Oscars: "It's wonderful to be here. I'm so proud. It's such a tremendous group of nominees. A very, very, very, very magical night. And I'm super-excited to be here."

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Paulson/Actress - on Oscars: "Me, I'm a person who has only ever been a fan -- has only ever watched this on my couch with a pint of ice cream and some burritos. So this is extraordinary. There's 'American Horror Story' fans screaming my name back there. That's a really exciting, fun time."

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Christoph Waltz/Actor, on Oscars: "You know, when you're nominated, you're nervous -- and so you should be. Today, I just take it in as a guest, so to say. It's very enjoyable."

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Naomi Watts/Actress - on fashion: "It's Calvin Klein collection, Francisco Costa. It was an easy pick. I just wanted to go clean and simple. And I'm a friend of Francisco and the brand for a long time, and Bulgari jewels."

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Naomi Watts/Actress - on advice: (Reporter: "As a nominee, what advice do you give to the newcomers? There's a lot of new nominees tonight?) "Enjoy it. Try to. You never completely do, because it's too scary. But yeah, it's a night to remember."

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Win Butler/Recording Artist (Arcade Fire), on bowtie: "Thank you. Some safety pins. If anyone needs any safety pins, just let me know. You never know if you're going to get a little tear in your dress."

THE OSCARS FINALLY HAVE A HOST: JIMMY KIMMEL

The Oscars finally have a host: Jimmy Kimmel will emcee the 89th Academy Awards.

The late-night host will be presiding over the ceremony for the first time. Kimmel has been a regular awards host, having twice previously hosted the Emmy Awards (including its broadcast in September) and once led ESPN's ESPY Awards.

The selection of Kimmel gives ABC, home of the Oscars telecast, the choice the network had long sought. His "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has previously followed ABC's Oscar broadcast. The network also has new muscle to flex; it signed a deal with the Academy of Motion Pictures in August to remain the Oscar broadcast home until 2028.

"Yes, I am hosting the Oscars," Kimmel said on Twitter. "This is not a prank. And if it is, my revenge on the academy will be terrible and sweet."

The academy waited much later than usual to name a host for the Feb. 26 ceremony. This year's show is being produced by veteran producer Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd, president of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's production company, Pearl Street Films. This is also their first time producing the Oscars.

The lengthy search has perhaps been a product of increasing pressure on the broadcast. Last year's show was hosted by Chris Rock and was dominated by backlash over its second straight year of all-white acting nominees. Its 34.3 million viewers marked an 11-year low for the telecast.

Whether Kimmel can spark a comeback will be a considerable test for the 49-year-old comedian. His Emmy Awards broadcast on ABC drew a mere 11.3 million viewers, a new low.

But ABC Television Group chief Ben Sherwood publicly lobbied for Kimmel. In September he said the network was "very hopeful that Jimmy will get" the Oscar hosting gig and that he had "elevated" the Emmys.

This year's Oscar favorites also don't appear to feature the kind of big, popular films that can drive audiences to watch the awards. The top contenders - "Moonlight," ''La La Land" and "Manchester by the Sea" - have together totaled less than $15 million at the box office, though "La La Land" hasn't yet opened.

Los Angeles, 14 Sept. 2016

1. Setup shot Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel speaking to reporter

2. Television Academy CEO Bruce Rosenblum, Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel, telecast producer Don Mistier and Kimmel's sidekick Guillermo roll out the Emmys 2016 red carpet

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jimmy Kimmel/Emmy host, on lessons learned from his first Emmy-hosting gig in 2012:

"The first time I hosted the Emmys, the basic lesson I learned was, 'Do not bring monkeys on stage. They don't do what you want them to do and they don't behave themselves and some of them have rabies.'"

4. Setup shot Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel speaking to reporter

New York, 23 April 2013

5. Wide of Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney posing for photos at the Time 100 event

6. Push in to medium of Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jimmy Kimmel:

"It's actually a great story. I was sitting at my desk and an email came and that was the end of it."

8. Medium of Jimmy Kimmel posing for photos

9. Zoom out to wide of Jimmy Kimmel posing, with wife McNearney watching

New York, 31 January 2014

10. Cutaway of Jimmy Kimmel talking to a reporter on a red carpet

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Jimmy Kimmel: "I'm more excited about this party than I am about the Superbowl. I mean this is a great night, everybody is coming together to show their appreciation for Howard, for what he's done over the years."

Los Angeles, 3 December 2015

12. Wide shot Jimmy Kimmel posing for photographers

OPRAH WINFREY CELEBRATORY AT OFFICIAL OSCARS AFTER PARTY

Her movie "Selma" failed to win best picture, but producer Oprah Winfrey said neither she nor anyone involved in the film expected victory there.

But Winfrey still had cause to celebrate: "Glory," the anthem from "Selma," earned Oscar gold for songwriters Common and John Legend, who also performed the song with a full choir in the Oscarcast.

"I was pretty emotional because - not just to see them on the Oscar stage with the Edmund Pettus Bridge behind them and then all that magnificent choir, but also it's the end of a journey for us," Winfrey said at the Governors Ball, the after party hosted by the Academy.

"We've been working on this movie since the beginning of last year."

"None of us thought we were going to win best picture tonight. We really didn't," Winfrey continued.

"We'd released that. But we really were hoping for John (Legend) and for Common that they would take home for 'Glory' and that would represent everything that we were trying to say in the film. So it was sort of the culmination of the journey of the film: coming out, being 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, everybody receiving it well, then the so-called controversy, then the so-called 'snub,' then all of the stuff and the conversation and the kids who went to see it and the conversations that continue, having it received by the public and then being on this occasion at the Oscars, which is just the hugest validation anybody who is an artist or filmmaker can receive."

Other ball attendees included Oscar host Neil Patrick Harris, as well as Oscar winners J.K. Simmons and Eddie Redmayne.

AP Entertainment

Los Angeles, 22 February 2015

1. Medium Margot Robbie posing for photographers with pull out to reveal wide exterior of Governors Ball

2. Oprah Winfrey chats with reporter

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Oprah Winfrey/Producer, "Selma," on the performance of the song "Glory" and win by writers John Legend and Common:

"I was pretty emotional because - not just to see them on the Oscar stage with the Edmund Pettus Bridge behind them and then all that magnificent choir, but also it's the end of a journey for us. You know, we've been working on this movie since the beginning of last year and so, for us, we knew that that was� None of us thought we were going to win best picture tonight. We really didn't. We'd released that. But we really were hoping for John (Legend) and for Common that they would take home for 'Glory' and that would represent everything that we were trying to say in the film. So it was sort of the culmination of the journey of the film: coming out, being 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, everybody receiving it well, then the so-called controversy, then the so-called 'snub,' then all of the stuff and the conversation and the kids who went to see it and the conversations that continue, having it received by the public and then being on this occasion at the Oscars, which is just the hugest validation anybody who is an artist or filmmaker can receive."

4. David Oyelowo speaks to reporter

5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Oyelowo/Actor, on "Selma":

"It was an emotional film to make. It was deeply meaningful to us. We made this film, not as a gig, not as a just another movie. We made it to remind people of how high the price was to get the vote and the truth of love in the face of hate."

6. Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed of the short animated film "Feast" hold up their Oscars

7. "Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1" producer Dana Perry shows off her Oscar

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexandre Desplat/Composer, on his Oscar acceptance speech for scoring "The Grand Budapest Hotel":

"You know, you try to be as humble as you can because you see in front of you a sea of incredible filmmakers and you don't want to embarrass yourself, so you try to be concise and quick and low profile as much as you can."

9. Wide entrance to Governors Ball

DIRECTOR AND CAST OF 'METRO MANILA' DISCUSS OSCARS

Britain's nominee as Best Foreign Language Film for the Oscars features an all-Filipino cast and a story that traces the sacrifices and hopes of an impoverished family from the countryside that tries its luck in the dark and squalid ghettos of the Philippine capital.

"Metro Manila," written and directed by Briton Sean Ellis, is one of three foreign language films nominated in the best foreign language category for next year's Oscars that delves into the lives of Filipinos.

The Philippines' nominee, "Transit," focuses on the struggles of migrant Filipino workers in Israel, while Singapore's entry, "Ilo Ilo," is about a Filipino nanny who works for a Singaporean family.

The U.S. film academy will select the finalists in January ahead of the Oscar ceremony on March 2.

"I thought it was a very beautiful and poetic story about family and about sacrifice and about hope," Ellis said of his movie, which won an audience award at the recent Sundance Film Festival.

The movie premiered in Manila this week and opens in Philippine cinemas on Wednesday.

It tells of the journey of farmer and former soldier Oscar Ramirez, played by veteran stage actor Jake Macapagal, and his young family, as they seek a better life, from the rice terraces in the rural north of the country, to the chaos of Manila.

In the city, they fall prey to various characters and are forced out of desperation to make difficult choices. Oscar's wife, Mai, played by Althea Vega, is forced to become a bar girl to feed her two young children.

Oscar manages to land a job as a driver for an armored truck company and is befriended by Ong, his senior officer. Ong - played by John Arcilla - is helpful and jolly, but it becomes clear he had been waiting for someone naive and trusting like Oscar to come along.

Ellis said the story was inspired by a scene he witnessed while visiting the Philippines. Two employees of an armored truck company, wearing bulletproof jackets and helmets and lugging M16 rifles, were screaming at each other. It ended with one of them kicking the truck before they both got in and drove off.

He said the scene remained with him when he returned to Britain and he kept on wondering what they were arguing about. That led him to develop a 20-page synopsis. He then flew to Los Angeles to flesh out the script with his friend Frank E. Flowers.

The script was in English, but Ellis allowed the actors to translate their lines into the Philippine language of Tagalog.

Ellis said it was strange to direct a movie in a language he could not understand, but for only "about five seconds, because then you start to see the performance and you're not worried about the words they're saying, you trust them to say the words that are in the script."

Macapagal, 47, who spent a decade in Europe working in the musical stage production "Miss Saigon," said the role was "challenging, but not very far from every Filipino's plight." Macapagal said he could easily relate to Oscar's life because he does not come from a privileged background.

John Arcilla just describes how overwhelming it is to be part of the production:

"If we get into the Oscar's, it's going to be the first time in in our history... for us, we're going to be representing two countries so it's really wow. It's huge."

Manila's dark side has been explored in several films by Filipino directors, including the classic 1975 film "Manila, in the Claws of Light" by the late award-wining director Lino Brocka, and more recently by noted director Brillante Mendoza.

"There's a texture in our city that we don't normally see because there are times we numb ourselves to the poverty," Macapagal said, adding that Ellis "looks at things you don't normally look at."

Arcilla said the poverty shown in the movie can be found in slums in many countries.

"For me it's not really about poverty, its more on human survival and more on human sacrifice," he said.

AP Entertainment

Manila, Philippines, 2 October 2013

1. Wide of guests at the press screening talking

2. Wide of the entrance to the cinema where the film will be shown

3. Wide of John Arcilla, one of the main characters of the film, talking to reporters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Arcilla/Actor:

"If we get into the Oscars, it's going to be the first time in our history... for us, we're going to be representing two countries so it's really wow. It's huge."

5. Mid of UK director Sean Ellis meeting guests

6. Mid of Sean Ellis with John Arcilla and guests taking a group photo

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Ellis/Director:

"What we did was gave the script to the actors and got them to translate their own lines into Tagalog... I think for about five seconds but then you start to see the performance and you're not worried about the words that they're saying. You trust them to say the words that are in the script but you're looking at the performance and so, as a director working with an actor, what you want is the performance and you trust the actor to give you good line delivery."

8. Wide of guests in the press screening

9. Wide of Althea Vega, actress, main character in the film, talking to a guest

10. Mid of Jake Macapagal, lead actor in the film, smiling at a photographer

11. SOUNDBITE (English and Tagalog), Jake Macapagal/Actor:

"It's challenging but it's not very far from every Filipino's plight. We know what it's like to be put in a desperate place... when you have no money. That doesn't need to be acted out because that's really the life in the Philippines. I don't come from a privileged background."

12. Mid of Vega and Arcilla talking and laughing, posing for photos

13. Wide of the cast and director Sean Ellis with one of the film's executive producers, Celine Lopez, taking a photo

14. Wide of the cast (L-R:Arcilla, Director Ellis, Macapagal, Vega) posing for a photo

English/Nat

With less than 48 hours to go before the start of the 71st Academy Awards ceremony, it seems like all of Hollywood is giddy with excitement.

But while the public mulls their picks for best film and actors, preparations at the site of the big event are still far from complete.

Nor have all the stars chosen what they'll be wearing for the biggest fashion show in the world.

These are the statues and this is the site where the intrigue of Sunday's 71st Oscars will unfold.

Winning a golden statuette has the potential to create a windfall of movie roles and a dramatic increase in an actor's market value.

And for the designers who dress the stars, the Academy Awards are the most closely watched fashion show in the world.

A designer who makes a splash on Oscar night could become the buzz of the fashion world the day after the show.

SOUNDBITE (English):

"It's the best publicity, it can make a name. And it will make a name if she wears a young new designer or new designer. It is awesome, the impact on fashion."

SUPERCAPTION: Fred Hayman, Fashion Designer

For jewellery, the dynamic is the same.

This year, the House of Harry Winston will bejewel 25 people involved in the awards - 10 of them nominees or presenters.

Winston staffers refuse to name names, but one of the stars will be wearing this 25 carat diamond ring valued in excess of one (M) million U-S dollars.

Another star will don this 350 carat diamond necklace that's valued at more than five (M) million dollars.

And where the stars go, tuxedoed security guards will follow.

The company markets the nominees' jewellery along the themes of the top films under consideration.

This year it's World War II and Elizabethan England - naturally they chose the latter.

SOUNDBITE (English):

"The necklace that we're seeing today is very reminiscent of the Elizabethan mode. When I look at it I immediately think of Queen Elizabeth. It's got over 300 carats of fancy intense yellow and white diamonds cascading in a waterfall down the neck and that was also the style that was used in the Shakespearean times."

SUPER CAPTION: Carol Brodie-Gelles, Spokeswoman, House of Harry Winston

Stepping back from the glitz and glamour reveals that construction of the red carpet area is still far from complete.

Flowers are still being placed along the perimeter of the arrivals zone while several Oscar statues remain under protective wraps.

Meanwhile, workmen are constructing a tarp over the arrivals area to protect the stars from possible rain.

It would not be the first time it's rained on Oscars night but it would certainly undermine the glamour of the big night.

Los Angeles, California, U-S, March 19 1999

1. Academy Awards site - Dorothy Chandler Pavilion - with Oscar statues in foreground

2. Oscar statue

3. Models

4. Model

5. Models and Oscar statues

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Fred Hayman, Oscar Awards Fashion Coordinator

7. Diamond ring

8. Diamond necklace

9. Model wearing necklace

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Carol Brodie-Gelles, Spokesperson, House of Harry Winston

11. Red carpet arrivals area under construction

12. Man carrying flowers walks by Oscar statue

13. Workmen constructing tarp over arrivals red carpet

14. Workmen pulling cables attached to tarp

15. Flowers brought down arrivals area

16. Engineer laying cables

17. Static of Oscar statue half-wrapped in plastic cover