FeedUsing the Oscars: Why I Love Them and Watch Them
February 25, 2013 in character education, Elementary Educators, Fighting world poverty, Helping Girls and Women Around the World, High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers Tags: Documentaries, inspiration, Movies, Oscars
by TimShoesUntied flickr.com
Yesterday when I posted on Facebook for WOW! and on my Editor 911 page about The Oscars, we got fewer responses than I figured we would, and many of them were negative. It turns out everyone doesn’t love this night as much as I do–I confess I like the Hollywood glam, I like to see the people we see on the silver screen interacting with other people, and I like the emotion of the winners. I do realize that these people are being awarded for pretending to be other people and for a life that is already rich and full of rewards. But I still love it.
When I realized I wanted to write about The Academy Awards on my blog today, instead of a book, I realized that you can use the awards with kids/teens/other adults, just like you can a book. You can use some of the stories from last night to inspire others to follow their dreams, to reach for the stars, and to persevere through anything. There are two stories/award winners in particular that I feel share this theme, and their stories are below.
- Winner of Best Documentary: The winner of the Best Documentary category last night (Feb. 24, 2013) was Searching for Sugar Man about a Detroit singer-songwriter, Rodriguez, who was popular in South Africa in the 1970s (never popular in the U. S.). The singer has a strange but true story–I won’t get into that here–but what’s interesting about this film is that the director, Malik Bendjelloul, ran out of money before he finished shooting the documentary. So, instead of trying to borrow more or do a Kickstarter campaign, he downloaded a $1.99 app on to his smartphone and shot the scenes he needed on his phone! Now that’s resourceful! That’s persevering; and last night, his spirit paid off because THE MOVIE WON AN OSCAR! To read the full story and share with your middle school/high school/college students and or children, go to this link: http://news.doddleme.com/equipment/director-runs-out-of-money-turns-to-iphone-to-finish-oscar-film/
- Best Documentary Short: This moment brought tears to my eyes last night, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one! The filmmakers who won this category for the documentary, “Inocente,” brought the subject, a 19-year-old Latino girl, of their film on stage with them. The woman (whom I believe was one of the directors) who accepted the award also had tears in her eyes and said that the girl was homeless a year ago, and now she was here in front of all of these people because of her art. That caught my interest–how about you? Art is powerful, just like music, and this girl’s passion is obviously going to change her life. On Huffington Post.com, an article states: “The documentary follows the life of Mexican-born, 15-year-old Inocente Izucar, an artist living San Diego, California, who with brilliant colors and unique pieces uses art to rise from her challenging reality and pursue her dreams of becoming a professional painter.” Now Inocente is 19 and has been given a chance to display her art and make an income. The website Nonprofit Quarterly has more of the story because of the nonprofit organization, Shine Global, which is dedicated to end abuse and exploitation of children around the world through film, made the documentary. For more info on this important subject and to see why the arts are important and we should encourage our children to do them, go to this link: http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/21847-nonprofit-produced-film-inocente-wins-oscar.html
Sure, it was fun last night to see Ben Affleck and George Clooney on stage accepting for Argo (an excellent film in my opinion) and to see one of my favorite, beautiful actresses, Jennifer Lawrence, win best actress. I thought Seth MacFarlane was funny most of the time, and of course, loved to see Jennifer Hudson belting out her famous song from Dreamgirls.
However, the stories that will stick with me from here on out are the two I mentioned above. I hope they touch you, too; and I hope you can find a way to share them with the young people in your life!
Don’t forget the middle-grade novel I am holding a contest to giveaway until March 1. Check out the super easy contest here.
February 25th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
I always get annoyed when I watch the Oscars…over some little thing, i.e. that Jennifer Lawrence, who tripped for the third time on a dress at award show…won for a role that was dwarfed by actors in practically all the other roles/pictures for Best Actress category. The show is so political, it is disgusting…always was…and the actors know it and put up with it because they have to. Fabulous films were never even nominated…performances, etc., because of revenge, baloney and no amount of small and pitiful garbage. Now Jennifer Lawrence is riding the gravey train. The media has built her up to destroy her to create interesting copy for the future. Yuk and blahc.
February 25th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Hi Margo, watched the Oscars with my daughter — an aspiring animation artist — she wants to take me with her when she wins for animation! I also liked the two inspirational stories you mentioned — give kids a chance to dream big. Also liked that many won for the first time. Mostly enjoyed the show, though it’s long (shorten the fashion stuff — plus a little of Seth goes a long way — not my fave comedian. Poking fun is fun, but not always the best humor.) Agree the Oscars are too political. Haven’t yet seen “Silver Linings Playbook,” so maybe Jennifer L was deserving, but why get the Globe and the Oscar? Spread it around a bit. I loved “Argo,” enjoyed “Skyfall, found “Flight” wrenching/scary. Looking forward to seeing “Lincoln” and “Silver Linings.” Thanks for opportunity to comment.
February 26th, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Thanks, Carole and Penelope, for your input. I always enjoy comments.
Carole, although I agree with you, I try to look at the positive side. I said when I saw Silver Linings Playbook that it was a good movie and I enjoyed it, but is Jennifer Lawrence really the BEST ACTRESS out of every movie made this year? She did a great job in her role and she was believable, and I saw none of the other movies. But I remember Meryl Streep winning for completely changing herself into another person–I’m not sure that happened this year. That said, I really like Jennifer L. because I am a Hunger Games fan, I have read several interviews with her, and she seems to not take herself too seriously. She seems “real” or as real as you can be in her profession. I think she is a breath of fresh air!
Penelope: I hope you do get to go to the Oscars one day with your daughter.What an experience that would be!
February 27th, 2013 at 10:39 pm
I loved it when Quentin Tarantino, said 2013 is “the writer’s year, man”!!
Yay for us writers!!
February 27th, 2013 at 11:29 pm
I don’t care much for the Oscars, but did enjoy your blog posts Margo. Thanks for sharing such inspiring stories.
February 28th, 2013 at 9:24 am
@Becky, I don’t usually love Quentin Tarantino, but yes, what he said there was AWESOME!
LOL
@Susan–thanks. There are some feel-good stories from the awards’ season every year.