Post by caitlen on Nov 28, 2008 10:17:56 GMT -5
Smaller pics groom actors for Oscar
Every year, indies vie for awards glory
By ANNE THOMPSON
Wed., Nov. 26, 2008
Ever since Sally Kirkland landed a supporting actress Oscar nom for 1987 micro-indie "Anna" by throwing a few parties for her actor friends and by taking out some "for your consideration" ads, it is widely believed inside the Hollywood community that it is possible for a long-shot actor to score a nomination -- even without spending scads of cash.
Every year, a batch of indie underdogs vie for awards glory -- knowing in advance that they lack the deep pockets that come with studio affiliation. What they have are a few good actors who might be able to grab enough attention from their peers to gain some awards traction. A successful actor push requires a few hundred grand-- the cost of a minimal Oscar campaign -- plus real passion, elbow grease and canny campaign finesse.
Press agent Mark Pogachefsky says the one thing an actor needs to get in the Oscar race is recognition from a critics group or guild. Pogachefsky was hired by micro-distrib Bleiberg Entertainment to land Jeff Goldblum an Oscar nomination for Paul Schrader's "Adam Resurrected." It is the sort of juicy role that could score a slot, with a bit of luck and the right avid supporters, Pogachefsky says.
The trick is to get the Screen Actors Guild nominating committee and the Academy actors' branch to see the film. So Bleiberg has shipped "Adam Resurrected" DVDs to both groups, as well as to the Directors Guild and Academy directors. Even so, the screener could easily wind up lost in piles of discs, along with Overture's "Traitor" and "Last Chance Harvey," Samuel Goldwyn's "Elegy" and Oscilloscope's "Wendy and Lucy."
At this stage, many people may not even have heard of all these films, some of which have already been released and need to be raised from the dead. For a small movie, it's worth taking a chance on a longshot because an Oscar nom means the difference between a blip at the box office and a branded title that will score big ancillary sales all over the world.
Weak competitors. Unfortunately, the 2008 best actor field is more crowded than usual. Longshots Goldblum, Hoffman, Jenkins, Brolin and Benicio Del Toro (who won best actor at Cannes for Steven Soderbergh's arty "Che") are going up against heavyweights Sean Penn ("Milk"), Frank Langella ("Frost/Nixon"), Brad Pitt ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler"), Clint Eastwood ("Gran Torino"), Will Smith ("Seven Pounds") and Leonardo DiCaprio ("Revolutionary Road").
On the best actress side, "Wendy and Lucy's" Williams faces Meryl Streep ("Doubt"), Kate Winslet ("Revolutionary Road"), Nicole Kidman ("Australia"), Angelina Jolie ("Changeling"), Cate Blanchett ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Kristin Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long") and Anne Hathaway ("Rachel Getting Married").
In order for an unexpected name to sneak into the nominations announcement, the competitive field has to be weak. "There is always a surprise," Pogachefsky insists.
More on the article here:
www.variety.com/article/VR1117996505.html?categoryId=2508&cs=1
Every year, indies vie for awards glory
By ANNE THOMPSON
Wed., Nov. 26, 2008
Ever since Sally Kirkland landed a supporting actress Oscar nom for 1987 micro-indie "Anna" by throwing a few parties for her actor friends and by taking out some "for your consideration" ads, it is widely believed inside the Hollywood community that it is possible for a long-shot actor to score a nomination -- even without spending scads of cash.
Every year, a batch of indie underdogs vie for awards glory -- knowing in advance that they lack the deep pockets that come with studio affiliation. What they have are a few good actors who might be able to grab enough attention from their peers to gain some awards traction. A successful actor push requires a few hundred grand-- the cost of a minimal Oscar campaign -- plus real passion, elbow grease and canny campaign finesse.
Press agent Mark Pogachefsky says the one thing an actor needs to get in the Oscar race is recognition from a critics group or guild. Pogachefsky was hired by micro-distrib Bleiberg Entertainment to land Jeff Goldblum an Oscar nomination for Paul Schrader's "Adam Resurrected." It is the sort of juicy role that could score a slot, with a bit of luck and the right avid supporters, Pogachefsky says.
The trick is to get the Screen Actors Guild nominating committee and the Academy actors' branch to see the film. So Bleiberg has shipped "Adam Resurrected" DVDs to both groups, as well as to the Directors Guild and Academy directors. Even so, the screener could easily wind up lost in piles of discs, along with Overture's "Traitor" and "Last Chance Harvey," Samuel Goldwyn's "Elegy" and Oscilloscope's "Wendy and Lucy."
At this stage, many people may not even have heard of all these films, some of which have already been released and need to be raised from the dead. For a small movie, it's worth taking a chance on a longshot because an Oscar nom means the difference between a blip at the box office and a branded title that will score big ancillary sales all over the world.
Weak competitors. Unfortunately, the 2008 best actor field is more crowded than usual. Longshots Goldblum, Hoffman, Jenkins, Brolin and Benicio Del Toro (who won best actor at Cannes for Steven Soderbergh's arty "Che") are going up against heavyweights Sean Penn ("Milk"), Frank Langella ("Frost/Nixon"), Brad Pitt ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler"), Clint Eastwood ("Gran Torino"), Will Smith ("Seven Pounds") and Leonardo DiCaprio ("Revolutionary Road").
On the best actress side, "Wendy and Lucy's" Williams faces Meryl Streep ("Doubt"), Kate Winslet ("Revolutionary Road"), Nicole Kidman ("Australia"), Angelina Jolie ("Changeling"), Cate Blanchett ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Kristin Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long") and Anne Hathaway ("Rachel Getting Married").
In order for an unexpected name to sneak into the nominations announcement, the competitive field has to be weak. "There is always a surprise," Pogachefsky insists.
More on the article here:
www.variety.com/article/VR1117996505.html?categoryId=2508&cs=1