OSCAR LUNCHEON

Jeri Jacquin
Movie Maven

Today was the Oscar Luncheon where all the stars met and mingled for lunch and a little face time with the press. Here are some of the nominees discussing acting, directing and the film industry as a whole.

Kathryn Bigelow on THE HURT LOCKER – “It kept becoming more realized as we moved through the various phases of production. But it was perfectly realized from page to screen, very linear, exactly how we wanted it.”

Jeremy Renner, nominated actor from THE HURT LOCKER

What did you learn making “The Hurt Locker”?

What I learned is that, it’s a loaded question, my views have grown as far as my respect for the military. With the warfare and knowing more about what it is and actually physically doing the training they are doing and being there, sharing their lives with me is something I’ll never forget. They made it all very palatable. It made me a moviegoer to a civilian soldier. For the men/women servicing our country – I walk up to every military personal I can find and thank them for their service.

At the Academy Award they show the scene, which would you pick and why?

Do I have to be in it? <laugh> I kind of prefer if I wasn’t. It is interesting that I have a hard time watching toward the end it is the suicide bomber scene. That sequence is pretty harrowing and it gives you an idea of the intention of the movie. It gives a face to the war.

How do you feel about soldiers in the field who use this to mentally escape the battle?

If they use it for escapism? I hope they like it, that’s all that matters. What I really kind of take with the highest honor is when the serviceman says “I show this to my wife or family to show them how it is” and that puts it in that perspective.

Have you ever thought participating in the USO tour?

I am going in September to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Is there any part of this film when in the theatre watching this that you thought, “wow, I deserve an Oscar for this!”

No, I don’t think so. I knew that this role was a role of a lifetime and I knew the script was fantastic about the conflict. I knew that was great. We thought we won when we were in theatres…we won when we wrapped shooting…it has been a winner from the beginning. The fact that I’m standing here now is bananas but a wonderful feeling.

The moment that stood out to you, that one thing, in the experience.

From then till now? Sitting in Washington watching it with people from the DOD and TAPS. It was the most powerful and lasting experience. You realize how people’s lives were affected by people watching the film. This is people’s lives we are talking about. What an amazing gift that was being among this real sweet family who lost their father. They are thanking me and they are crazy but they feel like they have a little peace in seeing what their family did in the DOD. My life will be forever changed by that. Thank you.

Christoph Waltz, nominated actor for INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

What is the sentiment about playing a Nazi role?

Absolutely identical to your feelings, why just Nazi roles. I could explain it but it would be frustrating. Years ago I was in a panel discussion with an American studio festival in Germany and I asked the same question but they refused to answer. I said ‘don’t you consider us worthy from regular parts’ and she said ‘would you be happy that we didn’t come at all?’  I’d love to see us doing other roles.

What a way to discover America. To come here with such acclaim, what do you think you’ve been able to learn about America and Americans?

I have to admit I’m totally Americanized already. I lived here a long time ago for a few years. I was married to an American for a long time and if that doesn’t do it then a nomination won’t either <laugh>.

What teasing your are getting from the “Inglorious Basterds” crew.

That’s one of the fantastic things you get from November to now. There is no pistol going off and we are all running. We do this together. This is a really beautiful camaraderie that I have never experienced. But then I’ve never been in this. Its lovely to see these people who turn into friends. The outcome…we will see. No one will begrudge anyone anything.

Is there anyone here that you are really looking forward to meeting?

I have no idea whose coming. Every time I come to one of these I meet people I never thought I would. I don’t mean to sound disrespectful but I’m interested in meeting everybody.

Its hard not to learn one language much less four or five, did you ever think this would come in handy one day in one film.

How so? It comes in handy when you travel; it comes in handy when you are trying to seduce someone so why should it not come in handy for a movie. I never thought about it when I learned the languages. Not everything in my life is exclusively geared to the usefulness in professional terms.

You have been working for a few years now in this business, I’d like to know the impact of working with Tarentino through this work you have gotten international exposure.

To meet Quentin after 33 years is not only an exceptional experience but its absolutely highlight of my artistic career. I wouldn’t know how it would have continued if Quentin not, had I not met him rather, I don’t mean the director but the person Quentin.

How many languages do you speak?

In all honesty? Three and a bit. Italian is a language that is so communicative in its basic design that you don’t even have to talk at all.

Describe how it feels to play a hateful character that everyone loved?

That’s actually, to come back to Quentin; it’s in his writing. He wrote this character. It is, if you don’t mind me repeating myself, such a wonderful sound bite. It is wonderful poetry. Quentin is not writing film scripts but writing dramatic poetry that he makes movies from. The hatefulness is the connotation and that connotation happens in the audiences mind, it’s not something that I do. Thank you.

Colin Firth, nominated actor for A SINGLE MAN

What advise would you give to fellow actors?

I have no idea how I feel since people started talking about this its all in circles. I am sure I’m ecstatic. I’ll have a flash back in about six weeks time so ask me then. Advice? I have no wisdom on this. I’ve spoken to people who have been nominated several times and they tell me that its something you don’t get use to. This is the first time and I’m unfamiliar with it. Its all good but I’m in a perpetual daze.

When it comes to Oscar night, how are you going to make sure you are not in a daze?

I will be in a daze, but it is quite a good place to be!

This movie, everything about it is an unlikely success story, is there something you read that says this is something I have to do.

I read it and I thought and I thought this would be a great big style fest. I want to look good and for the last time in my life I will be literally well and I want to be beautiful and utterly superficial. It will be 21 days and I’ll get great suits out of it. Unfortunately I showed up and I had to do some acting. I found it absolutely a gripping prospect because of all the probabilities. I’m not one of the actors wanting to be a director – so I found it an invigorating prospect to see Tom Ford want to be a director. The story could not be further from the more frivolous world of fashion. The fact that he chose me did a lot for my vanity.

Did you have any expectations about today’s luncheon?

I didn’t know much about it really. I didn’t even know you were all in this room. So I have no idea what to expect or what’s on the menu.

Do you have any advise to aspiring actors or filmmakers.

I don’t think anyone should ask actors how to do anything. We are not really a paradigm for it. <laugh> I think that you shouldn’t get to bogged down in the tiny, tiny minutia of negative judgment. Every 99 wonderful comments you’ll always remember the bad one. Don’t fall into it!