How Would *You* React to an Oscar Nomination?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 10:05PM 
Today is the Great Day of Press Releases, of Oscar nominees or their people issuing brief outbursts of joy and pride from their good fortune. Rarely are the quotes anything but generic 'it's such an honor!' cries followed by a deferrment of praise to other people involved. If you'd like to see a ton of them, In Contention has a plentiful roundup.
But here are six that stood out for me from all the emails that I'd like to say one or two sentences about.
I woke up to a text and thought, 'Am I still dreaming?' What an absolute honor to be nominated. Thank you to the Academy on behalf of the entire cast, crew, our swashbuckling cat and his boots! This is beyond a thrill...and I'm pretty sure I'm awake."
-Chris Miller (Animated Feature) Puss in Boots
Funny is always good. And we're always suckers for that old standby classic intro 'I just woke up' . P.S. I'm pretty happy at the way the animated category worked out, aren't you?
It's an honor to be nominated a second time, it is a personal accomplishment and triumph for women and women of color. I'm so glad the film has been recognized, it was a labor of love from the moment it was conceived and it is rewarding to see the impact it is having."
-Viola Davis (Best Actress) The Help
This one is fairly standard until you realize how rare this truly is and why shouldn't Viola point it out!
Only one other woman of color has been twice nominated and that would be Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple and Ghost). Women of color seem to only get one shot at the Oscar. The same is fortunately not true for the men, who have had better luck with career longevity and multiple visits with Oscar.
I am humbled and over-joyed to learn of my Oscar nomination. Last week I came to Hollywood for the first time in my life, which in of itself, was a dream come true. I started playing the accordion when I was 8 years old, I wish I could go back in time at tell myself about today, the dream continues!"
Ludovic Bource (Original Score) The Artist
Time-travel! Accordions!!! This is wonderfully attuned to the theme of the 84th Oscar which is totally NOSTALGIA-MANIA.
It’s a shot in the arm for a young kid of 82 to receive an Academy Award nomination this morning. My gratitude to writer/director Michael Mills, the Academy, and to everyone involved with Beginners.”
-Christopher Plummer (Supporting Actor) Beginners
Plummer has settled on this "I'm young again" motif for his campaign, speeches and it's kind of wonderful. He's been working in movies since he was 29 years old in 1958. Pretty soon he'll be shooting his 100th movie.
It is an incredible honor to be nominated this morning. We set out to do something different with 'Rango,' and this distinction is a testament to everyone who tirelessly dedicated themselves to creating our neurotic lizard. 'Rango' was looking for an audience who shared his love of cinema and I’m humbled that he found one. It has been a remarkable journey, and one that I am grateful to share with our entire creative team, Paramount, and all of the virtuosos at Industrial, Light and Magic."
- Gore Verbinski (Best Animated Feature), "Rango"
Verbinski is totally anthropomorphizing his digital lizard here, turning him into the animated equivalent of Michel Hazanavicius and Marty Scorsese. "He loves the cinema, too!" Rango hopes to some day be the first reptile to be nominated for Best Director.
"I was actually working on a 'Skyfall' scene that films in London tomorrow, so had to run from my computer to watch the nominations and then right back to 007. I'm enormously honored to have heard my name read alongside those other talented writers. It's a head-spinning company. 'Hugo' has been one of the great joys of my writing life and I'm beyond proud the movie has been so recognized."
John Logan (Adapted Screenplay) Hugo
This is a surprising new spin on humility, express your disbelief at your good fortune while bragging about your busy career and hot new project! I kind of love it. Why shouldn't you brag if you're a freaking Oscar nominee.
Congratulations to all!
WHAT WOULD YOUR PRESS RELEASE LOOK LIKE IF YOU WERE NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR?
Who would you thank? Would you pretend you just woke up rather than lying awake all night with your eyes wide open worrying about whether or not they'd call your name?
Reader Comments (27)
What always annoys me is the "I forgot it was even happening!!" people. Yeah right.
Of course I'd be watching them live, with a bit more nervousness than usual. After I composed myself, I'd have my PR team write a suitably classy quote.
"Working on Bridesmaids 3 was a dream come true for me, and to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the same year that the legendary Jonah Hill receives his 5th nomination is an honor in itself. Oh, and suck it, Daniel Day-Lewis!"
If I had any chance of winning, I wouldn't be so cheeky. I'd save that for the speech.
Of course I'd be watching them live, with a bit more nervousness than usual. After I composed myself, I'd have my PR team write a suitably classy quote.
"Working on Bridesmaids 3 was a dream come true for me, and to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the same year that the legendary Jonah Hill receives his 5th nomination is an honor in itself. Oh, and suck it, Daniel Day-Lewis!"
If I had any chance of winning, I wouldn't be so cheeky. I'd save that for the speech.
Apparently, I'd be so happy that I would release two identical press releases.
What's more interesting to me are the reactions of people who had reason to get their hopes up for a nomination but ended up getting snubbed (i.e. Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Albert Brooks, David Fincher, etc.). It must really suck to experience all the buzz and momentum garnered since a few months back and end up disappointed this one morning (poor Michael...)
Anyway, on another note, if Viola Davis and Brad Pitt win the leading categories, they both would have starred in two Best Picture nominees. Sweet, right?
Peter Straughan's hit me more than some movies I've seen this past year. I knew Bridget O'Connor had passed away, but didn't realize they were husband and wife. This nomination must feel really special for him.
Ok, that's all. ;)
I've loved Viola Davis since I saw her in Solaris. Her acceptance statements are full of grace, composure, and truth. Sometimes I think that working so much where all her parts were barely sound bites has given her the skill of putting across a thoughtful and human presence in just a few sentences. It is ridiculous that this is her first leading role.
Now, although Viola is a model to aspire to, if in an alternate world I was composing my own acceptance speech, I'd like it to be more along the lines of honored I am to receive my ninth nomination for directing (having already won twice).
How kind of the Academy to remember that scores with singing are still original scores. Maybe I can serve as a reminder that someone writes all the music in a musical, not just two or three songs.
Whilst Im hoping for a Viola Davis win, sometimes it annoys me how often she brings up the "woman of colour" line.
Daniel B -- LOL and twice over. I love your soundbyte.
Robert G -- oooh, can we expect your first movie musical soon?
^ Why? It's an important issue. She's only the second black actress to reach that milestone of a second Oscar nomination, and minorities need better representation and roles in film. I don't see how it could be annoying, especially since she doesn't bring it up that often. I feel like it was completely suitable for this moment.
Personally I'm loving the picture of Jessica Chastain at the fashion show, I just want to hug her and be all "I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU"
Matt -- to what are you referring?
Julie Andrews is the Jessica Chastain.
I'd like to thank you for having Sarandon up there. My God she's one of \American's most awesome. She may return again to Oscar next year in her supporting turn as Jason Segel's mother! Yes but Annette Bening is playing Kristen Wiig's mother so we'll just have to deal with it.
I would thank God, the Academy and my director who ever he or she may be.
BVR:
I'm sure if you ask Tilda, she would say: "Learn this from me: If you want to get nominated, don't get your name fucked up by Meryl ... So thank you, Meryl. Thank you very much."
Nathaniel, Matt's talking about the picture of Jessica near tears on the phone telling a loved one about her Oscar nom at a fashion show she was at when she found out. Super cute. Google it.
Poor Plummer, I see an upset by Von Sydow, that is even more legendary, has a more oscarbait performance, is equally old and starsis in a Best picture nominee. I'll feel so sorry for him (but I love von Sydow even more).
Well, in Europe the nominees are revealed when it's past lunchtime so the whole "Oh, I just woke up!" thing just doesn't work.
Glenn Close spends half of her press release praising McTeer. She's classy.
Love that Viola brings the "women of color" issue every time. The door Berry claimed to be opened during her speech doesn't look that wide open to me at all... that is unless you're fat, sassy and supporting.
I actually liked Albert Brook's reaction best: "You don't like me. You really don't like me."
Nothing will ever beat Joan Allen's "I was showering with my parrot when I heard the news." Nothing.
OMG.....were the nominations TODAY??????
Nathaniel, I wish. I have a few ideas I've been working on that would make better films than stage shows. They won't pop up for quite some time, though.
"At last, I made that Oscar-freak uncle of mine proud!"
Here's the picture I was talking about
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/news/jessica-chastain-gets-standing-ovation-at-fashion-show-for-2012-oscar-nomination01.jpg
That stat about black actresses is so depressing on so many levels.
What I really wanna hear is Meryl Streep speech, after 29 years loosing that would be one hell of a speech.
Ladies and Gentlemen, if there were any question, Ludovic Bource has now wrapped up the Oscar win. Can you imagine the speech he could give if Harvey just tells him to leave the piece of paper at home? I was almost in tears just reading that reaction to his nomination.
Jess, it'd be pretty funny if could read from the notes she made in case she won the Oscar in 1983 (or in subsequent years). You're right- she'd be awesome.