“My Fiona tells the poignant story of grief and loss, while exploring sexual identity in today’s reality. In the wake of an unexpected suicide, Jane finds herself overwhelmed by the loss of her best friend, Fiona. As she begins helping Fiona’s widow Gemma care for their seven-year old son, the relationship helps them cope but threatens their ability to heal.”
******
Holy buckets, Folks. Prepare to experience them feels! My Fiona has a premise that seems pretty direct able, but it certainly is not. It’s a complex and emotional journey, and it is told absolutely wonderfully! Writer and Director Kelly Walker has created an absolute masterpiece, if I am being blunt. And the stars seemed to have aligned beautifully, as the film centers around two incredibly interesting characters who both happened to be portrayed wonderfully by two amazing performers.
What got me the hardest about My Fiona is the relatability that I wasn’t expecting to have with the character of Jane. Sure, there are wildly specific differences, but ultimately, the film is about grief. Plain and simple (well, not that simple, but you get it). And we as humans experience grief differently, but it is a commonplace emotion for all of us, and sometimes we have to allow ourselves to heal. And for some of us, that can be harder than it seems.
The dynamic and tension displayed between Corbin Reid and Jeanette Maus is absolutely phenomenal. Clearly it’s well written, but there is a chemistry between Reid and Maus that is simply undeniable. It’s an absolute pain to know that Jeanette Maus recently passed away following an eight month long battle with colon cancer, and that the world will be deprived of her brilliance.
So Folks, I implore you all to check out this incredible film. I’m saying it now, although I know it’s only April, My Fiona is one of the best films of 2021, if not the best thus far. And with the world being as insane as it is now, it’s actually quite possible that you don’t have to wait too long to see it!
I have to start this off with an apology. I had every intention of having this up the morning prior to the Oscars that premiered last night. But, as it always seems to be these days…COVID fucked that up. My wife got her second dose, and it completely wrecked her shit, to say the least. Therefore, I got busy taking care of her and then replacing her for volunteer swim duties the day of the my daughters’ swim meet. So, I guess we are going to make this a day after event, should it continue to go on. With that in mind, let’s begin….
So, I got a wild proverbial hair up my ass and decided that I would like to know what a different sort of Oscar outcome would look like. The Oscars are often criticized. I believe the hashtag this year was #OscarsSoLame. In previous years, it was #OscarsSoWhite. The latter was very appropriate. And it still kind of is, but strides are being taken. Look, I’m not here to defend or debunk the Academy. They vote how they want, and that is just fine. But, I would be lying to myself and all of you fine people if I said that if Oscar nominated films were a genre in themselves, it wouldn’t be my favorite. I’ve always loved the majority of the films that win the big, and small, awards. In will always remember the 1998 Oscars fondly. I fucking hated Titanic. It took 11 Oscars that year. But, like 8 of them they deserved, because it was for technical stuff. But, the performance and writing awards went to films I absolutely loved. As Good As It Gets and Good Will Hunting got exactly what they deserved at a minimum. Although, hindsight showed me that Elliot Smith should have overpowered Celine Dion, but that I wouldn’t have been my thought that at 13, as I was far too chipper of a boy to listen to Elliot Smith, and the internet was new, and I only knew what was on MTV. Elliot was not. Basically what I mean is that with some exceptions, Oscar winning films tend to be some of my favorite films. From Annie Hall to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, to Hustle and Flow and South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut. Many of the films I love and treasure have been at least nominated. Many have not. Sure, the outcomes sometimes suck (Looking at you Green Book), but overall, Oscar movies tend to bring me joy. I enjoy a good old fashion blockbuster as much as the next bruv, but this is where my wheelhouse rests.
So, with that in mind, I decided it would be fun to put together my own Academy. I reached out to many people who have been either featured on TWS, or are associated in some way. Many people didn’t care to opt in, and I get it. It’s not for everyone. But, I did manage to pull together a very respectable and amazing crew of folks who wanted to pitch in. I made a poll, and let the new Trainwreck’d Society Academy of Motion Pictures and Science decide who they thought was the best. And, I have to say, with the actual Oscars event over with, it wasn’t that far off. And I also have to say, we actually did better.
So, before we get into the list, I wanted to let you all know, and pay my thanks, to the TWS Academy. These brave folks took the time out of their busy schedules to become a part of a historic effort on my part, that sort of bombed, but hey, we had fun. So, here is your Academy:
Bill Briles (filmmaker/actor, A Private Dancer in Mom’s Kitchen) Aimee Lynn Chadwick (actress, Return of the Living Dead 2: Rave to the Grave) Zed Cutsinger (podcaster, Views From the Vista) Chris Eaves (filmmaker/writer/bearded hero, Trainwreck’d Society) Elsa Faith (musician, Soul Distraction) David Joyner (actor, Barney & Friends) Myq Kaplan (comedian) Laura Madsen (publicist/actress, Shooting Clerks) Kelly Masterson (writer, Snowpiercer) Honor Nezzo (musician/podcaster, Views From The Vista) Chad Opitz (comedian) Bob Saenz (writer, Extracurricular Activities) Anna Shields (actress/writer, Monstrous) Jacob Stafford (USAF vet, midwest fashion icon) Timothy Tanner (actor, At the House of Madness) Gabriel Theis (filmmaker, The Curse of Professor Zardonicus) Ron Trembath (duh?) Craig B. Warmsley (actor, Unchained) Frank Whaley (actor, Pulp Fiction) Austin Whiting (USAF vet, Barenaked Ladies enthusiast)
So here they are Folks! A damn good group, if I do say so myself. Hopefully they will return next year, and we will add some folks, should this continue. And again, I apologize for my tardiness. Maybe next year I will include some photos. But, for now, I hope you enjoy what we have for you all. Take care!
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ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
NOMINEES
RIZ AHMED
Sound of Metal
CHADWICK BOSEMAN – WINNER –
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
ANTHONY HOPKINS
The Father
GARY OLDMAN
Mank
STEVEN YEUN
Minari
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
NOMINEES
SACHA BARON COHEN
The Trial of the Chicago 7
DANIEL KALUUYA – WINNER –
Judas and the Black Messiah
LESLIE ODOM, JR.
One Night in Miami…
PAUL RACI
Sound of Metal
LAKEITH STANFIELD
Judas and the Black Messiah
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
NOMINEES
VIOLA DAVIS
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
ANDRA DAY
The United States vs. Billie Holiday
VANESSA KIRBY
Pieces of a Woman
FRANCES MCDORMAND
Nomadland
CAREY MULLIGAN – WINNER –
Promising Young Woman
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
NOMINEES
MARIA BAKALOVA – WINNER –
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
GLENN CLOSE
Hillbilly Elegy
OLIVIA COLMAN
The Father
AMANDA SEYFRIED
Mank
YUH-JUNG YOUN
Minari
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
NOMINEES
ONWARD
Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae
OVER THE MOON
Glen Keane, Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou
A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON
Richard Phelan, Will Becher and Paul Kewley
SOUL – WINNER –
Pete Docter and Dana Murray
WOLFWALKERS
Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants
CINEMATOGRAPHY
NOMINEES
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH – WINNER –
Sean Bobbitt
MANK
Erik Messerschmidt
NEWS OF THE WORLD
Dariusz Wolski
NOMADLAND
Joshua James Richards
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
Phedon Papamichael
COSTUME DESIGN
NOMINEES
EMMA
Alexandra Byrne
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
WINNER
Ann Roth
MANK
Trish Summerville
MULAN
Bina Daigeler
PINOCCHIO
Massimo Cantini Parrini
DIRECTING
NOMINEES
ANOTHER ROUND
Thomas Vinterberg
MANK
David Fincher
MINARI
Lee Isaac Chung
NOMADLAND
Chloé Zhao
WINNER
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Emerald Fennell
DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)
NOMINEES
COLLECTIVE
Alexander Nanau and Bianca Oana
CRIP CAMP
Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder
THE MOLE AGENT
Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibáñez
MY OCTOPUS TEACHER
Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
WINNER
TIME
Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino and Kellen Quinn
DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)
NOMINEES
COLETTE
Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard
A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION
Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
WINNER
DO NOT SPLIT
Anders Hammer and Charlotte Cook
HUNGER WARD
Skye Fitzgerald and Michael Scheuerman
A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA
Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan
FILM EDITING
NOMINEES
THE FATHER
Yorgos Lamprinos
NOMADLAND
Chloé Zhao
WINNER
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Frédéric Thoraval
SOUND OF METAL
Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
Alan Baumgarten
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
NOMINEES
ANOTHER ROUND
Denmark
WINNER
BETTER DAYS
Hong Kong
COLLECTIVE
Romania
THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN
Tunisia
QUO VADIS, AIDA?
Bosnia and Herzegovina
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
NOMINEES
EMMA
Marese Langan, Laura Allen and Claudia Stolze
HILLBILLY ELEGY
Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle and Patricia Dehaney
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
WINNER
MANK
Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri and Colleen LaBaff
PINOCCHIO
Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli and Francesco Pegoretti
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)
NOMINEES
DA 5 BLOODS
Terence Blanchard
MANK
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
MINARI
Emile Mosseri
NEWS OF THE WORLD
James Newton Howard
SOUL
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste
WINNER
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
NOMINEES
FIGHT FOR YOU
from Judas and the Black Messiah; Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
HEAR MY VOICE
from The Trial of the Chicago 7; Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
HUSAVIK
from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga; Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson
IO SÌ (SEEN)
from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se); Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
SPEAK NOW
from One Night in Miami…; Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
WINNER
BEST PICTURE
NOMINEES
THE FATHER
David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, Producers
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers
WINNER
MANK
Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, Producers
MINARI
Christina Oh, Producer
NOMADLAND
Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao, Producers
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers
SOUND OF METAL
Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, Producers
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers
PRODUCTION DESIGN
NOMINEES
THE FATHER
Production Design: Peter Francis; Set Decoration: Cathy Featherstone
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara and Diana Stoughton
MANK
Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
NEWS OF THE WORLD
Production Design: David Crank; Set Decoration: Elizabeth Keenan
TENET
Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas
WINNER
SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
NOMINEES
BURROW
Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat
GENIUS LOCI
Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU
Will McCormack and Michael Govier
WINNER* (actually forgot to include this one, so the Academy can have the final say)
OPERA
Erick Oh
YES-PEOPLE
Gísli Darri Halldórsson and Arnar Gunnarsson
SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)
NOMINEES
FEELING THROUGH
Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski
THE LETTER ROOM
Elvira Lind and Sofia Sondervan
THE PRESENT
Farah Nabulsi and Ossama Bawardi
TWO DISTANT STRANGERS
Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe
WINNER
WHITE EYE
Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman
SOUND
NOMINEES
GREYHOUND
Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman
MANK
Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin
NEWS OF THE WORLD
Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett
SOUL
Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker
SOUND OF METAL
Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michellee Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh
WINNER
VISUAL EFFECTS
NOMINEES
LOVE AND MONSTERS
Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox
THE MIDNIGHT SKY
Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins
MULAN
Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN
Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez
TENET
Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher
WINNER
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
NOMINEES
BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM: DELIVERY OF PRODIGIOUS BRIBE TO AMERICAN REGIME FOR MAKE BENEFIT ONCE GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad
WINNER
THE FATHER
Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller
NOMADLAND
Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI…
Screenplay by Kemp Powers
THE WHITE TIGER
Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
NOMINEES
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
WINNER
MINARI
Written by Lee Isaac Chung
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Written by Emerald Fennell
SOUND OF METAL
Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, FOLKS! HEAD ON OVER TO OUR FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE AND CAST YOUR VOTE FOR WHO YOU BELIEVE HAD THE BEST PREDICTIONS FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN SOME EXTREMELY AVERAGE PRIZES! ENJOY!
TO VOTE, SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE EVENT PAGE STATING WHO YOU BELIEVE PICKED THE BEST.
******
Introduction from Mr. Eaves:
I will always remember the night the State Lock Down announcements began. It was March 11th, 2020 and I was at the Rose Garden (Moda Center) in Portland, Oregon. My friend Brice had gifted me a ticket to see Tool with him – a band I have loved since Jr. High but had never found an opportunity to see perform live. An exceedingly kind gesture and one I will always treasure. The show was a mesmerizing spectacle of sound and sight collectively experienced by 20,000 people. A soul shocking juxtaposition slamming right into the coming uncertainty and isolation of the developing pandemic. What would ultimately become a Marathon without mile markers.
The first people to feel the pains of the Lock Down were those who operated our favorite neighborhood establishments. The places we seek out, to hang out, with our friends and family, build comradery and share experiences with each other. Our favorite restaurant, the Friday night movie theater and the local music venue all shuttered their doors. Somethings’ importance is not easily recognized until it is no longer around. How important these neighborhood institutions are to our culture and fueling our humanity.
The first few weeks of the pandemic carried a sense of optimism as we worked to flatten the infection curve. Although, weeks turned into months and waves 2 and 3 began hammering our cities. What we had thought and naively hoped for early on was a quick return to the old world, instead, missed the stealthily acceleration of convenience into our homes. And as the world stayed at home the streaming of content presented an opportunity for most to find moments of escapist entertainment.
We all learned about Tiger King and how Nicolas Cage would star in the film adaptation. Disney+ returned us to a past, and frankly quaint, approach to television, with their crazy notion of releasing a single episode each week. Disney+ dominated the pop culture conversation for weeks on end with The Mandalorian, WandaVision and The Falcon & the Winter Soldier. Warner Brothers decided to release all their Feature Films onto HBO Max at only 14.99 a month without informing their movie creators. And “The Snyder Cut” was finally released digitally after only a small additional 70-million-dollar investment and three years of Twitter outrage. Streaming became the race to acquire new Subscribers at all costs via fracturing content into hundreds of new Fill-In-The-Blank + apps.
Everything is so convenient now. Restaurant food delivered right to your front door. Groceries delivered right to your front door. Pencils and pressure washers delivered right to your front door. A new car delivered and parked right in your driveway. I just refinanced my home via signing all my documents with an E-Signature. And this is such a sorrowful notation for me. In person interactions create empathy. Human contact builds empathy just like a bench press builds muscular strength. Empathy requires practice and work, or it will wither away. Convenience has its cost. And this is coming from an introvert who conceals his anxiety.
If you have made it this far you are probably wondering why I am rambling on like this for an Academy Award Ballet Prediction write up. The Movies are cultural markers. They shine a light on our accomplishments as well as our tragedies. The Movies make us laugh and they make us weep. Movies are wonderful empathy machines. And the medium of theaters is an institution for building empathy through collective experience. A comedy is never as funny as when you watch it with a group of people fueling each other’s enjoyment.
The Theater Experience is like a restaurant or a music hall or a museum or an air show or a dozen other similar places. A place for us to share experience with one another and to experience the humanity within each other’s unique perspectives. These places are our cultural watering holes. While 2020 delivered an overabundance of collective pain and hardships, it also isolated us from one another and allowed for are more devilish instincts to bubble to the surface.
Late showing summer movies are my favorite experience. When the theater house lights come up and everyone starts looking around the auditorium, reading each other’s experiences across their faces. Some people clapping and others laughing. People slowly start to rustle their way towards the lobby. Small groups form up to talk about what they just witnessed. And my absolute favorite feeling – the rush of warm summer air upon my face as we step out of the air-conditioned lobby, the last bits of orange twilight shining above the horizon line. The conversations of the lobby have continued out under the Marquee and then meander their way out into the parking lot. All our social institutions have these similar kinds of experiences.
The theater experience will not be snuffed out by 2020 but it will forever be changed. The prerequisite for an OSCAR qualification is a theatrical release. The 2021 Academy Awards have made the exception for streaming nominations if the film had a planned theatrical release prior to the Lock Down. And as Subscription continues to dominate and watching from home continues to grow, the weight of Netflix, Amazon Prime and HBO Max’s consolidation of power over the Theatrical Exhibitionists of AMC, Regal, Cinemark and NATO (National Association of Theater Owners) will undoubtedly lead to more changes in how the Academy will operate. The theater will not die but the power of the theater has greatly diminished like an old bulb of a projector.
My goal was not to be a downer on the subject. Chloé Zhao and Nomadland deserve to win big this year! Zhao captures the complexities of humanity without judgment. Chadwick Boseman will win posthumously. Judas and the Black Messiah is a positive kick to the soul and should also win big. Delroy Lindo’s snub for Best Actor is nothing less than outrageous and a front to his craft. A few of the nominated films received limited releases but most found their way onto Premium Streaming VOD Platforms to which like most years most people still did not watch.
Cinema is a medium of storytelling. At one point Movie Palaces sold out 5,000 seat auditoriums each night before television found its way into every home. But what makes the act of Cinema so powerful was the experience of witnessing the spectacle of sight and sound collectively. Without the human interaction, a movie struggles to be more than just flickering light. Of course, a film will still affect you at home, but the reinforcement of the experience will solidify it as part of you. Just like that kind gesture of my friend Brice to see Tool with him. Just like the time Ron, I, Adam, Mike and Tyler all saw the Midnight showing of Inglourious Basterds (2009) at Cinetopia and Mike yelled out “Oh Fuck” after Hitler got blow away (because that is always the correct response after that scene). Or the first date I had with my wife to see The Hangover (2009). Or the time I saw the unforgivable trash heap that was Independence Day 2 (2016) with Adam, Cody, Brett, and Zac. Sharing the misery of that bullshit with those Sirs brought me so much joy. If I had watched Resurgence at home, it would have just been another forgotten memory.
The world is changing. We have been on this path for a while and 2020 simply accelerated its pace. Please keep watching movies. It is okay to watch movies at home. But remember why we watch movies. We watch to experience these emotions with other people. We still want to connect with people. And if the opportunity arises, please support your local theater. I hope to see you in the lobby and want to hear all about what you experienced. Until then – safe journey.
Introduction from Mr. Trembath:
Fuck COVID. Let’s all go the movies (soon?). Also Trial of the Chicago 7 was absolute trash. I recommend the 3 part podcast episode that our friends at The Dollop about Abbie Hoffman. And get vaccinated. NOW.
******
BEST PICTURE
THE FATHER – David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, Producers
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH – Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers
MANK – Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, Producers
MINARI – Christina Oh, Producer
NOMADLAND – Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao, Producers
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN – Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers
SOUND OF METAL – Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, Producers
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 – Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
NOMADLAND
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
NOMADLAND
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
NOMADLAND
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
RIZ AHMED – Sound of Metal
CHADWICK BOSEMAN – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
ANTHONY HOPKINS – The Father
GARY OLDMAN – Mank
STEVEN YEUN – Minari
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
DELROY LINDO – Da 5 Bloods (Write In)
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
CHADWICK BOSEMAN – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
CHADWICK BOSEMAN – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
CHADWICK BOSEMAN – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
SACHA BARON COHEN – The Trial of the Chicago 7
DANIEL KALUUYA – Judas and the Black Messiah
LESLIE ODOM, JR. – One Night in Miami…
PAUL RACI – Sound of Metal
LAKEITH STANFIELD – Judas and the Black Messiah
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
DANIEL KALUUYA – Judas and the Black Messiah
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
DANIEL KALUUYA – Judas and the Black Messiah
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
DANIEL KALUUYA – Judas and the Black Messiah
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
DANIEL KALUUYA – Judas and the Black Messiah
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
VIOLA DAVIS – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
ANDRA DAY – The United States vs. Billie Holiday
VANESSA KIRBY – Pieces of a Woman
FRANCES MCDORMAND – Nomadland
CAREY MULLIGAN – Promising Young Woman
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
ANDRA DAY – The United States vs. Billie Holiday
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
VIOLA DAVIS – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
FRANCES MCDORMAND – Nomadland
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
FRANCES MCDORMAND – Nomadland
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
MARIA BAKALOVA – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
GLENN CLOSE – Hillbilly Elegy
OLIVIA COLMAN – The Father
AMANDA SEYFRIED – Mank
YUH-JUNG YOUN – Minari
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
MARIA BAKALOVA – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
MARIA BAKALOVA – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
AMANDA SEYFRIED – Mank
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
MARIA BAKALOVA – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
ONWARD – Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae
OVER THE MOON – Glen Keane, Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou
A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON – Richard Phelan, Will Becher and Paul Kewley
SOUL – Pete Docter and Dana Murray
WOLFWALKERS – Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
SOUL – Pete Docter and Dana Murray
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
SOUL – Pete Docter and Dana Murray
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
SOUL – Pete Docter and Dana Murray
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
SOUL – Pete Docter and Dana Murray
CINEMATOGRAPHY
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH – Sean Bobbitt
MANK – Erik Messerschmidt
NEWS OF THE WORLD – Dariusz Wolski
NOMADLAND – Joshua James Richards
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 – Phedon Papamichael
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
MANK – Erik Messerschmidt
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH – Sean Bobbitt
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
MANK – Erik Messerschmidt
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
NOMADLAND – Joshua James Richards
COSTUME DESIGN
EMMA – Alexandra Byrne
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – Ann Roth
MANK – Trish Summerville
MULAN – Bina Daigeler
PINOCCHIO – Massimo Cantini Parrini
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
MANK – Trish Summerville
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – Ann Roth
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
MANK – Trish Summerville
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – Ann Roth
DIRECTING
ANOTHER ROUND – Thomas Vinterberg
MANK – David Fincher
MINARI – Lee Isaac Chung
NOMADLAND – Chloé Zhao
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN – Emerald Fennell
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
NOMADLAND – Chloé Zhao
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN – Emerald Fennell
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
NOMADLAND – Chloé Zhao
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
NOMADLAND – Chloé Zhao
DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)
COLLECTIVE – Alexander Nanau and Bianca Oana
CRIP CAMP – Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder
THE MOLE AGENT – Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibáñez
MY OCTOPUS TEACHER – Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
TIME – Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino and Kellen Quinn
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
MY OCTOPUS TEACHER – Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
CRIP CAMP – Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
MY OCTOPUS TEACHER – Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
MY OCTOPUS TEACHER – Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)
COLETTE – Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard
A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION – Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
DO NOT SPLIT – Anders Hammer and Charlotte Cook
HUNGER WARD – Skye Fitzgerald and Michael Scheuerman
A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA – Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA – Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA – Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA – Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION – Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
FILM EDITING
THE FATHER – Yorgos Lamprinos
NOMADLAND – Chloé Zhao
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN – Frédéric Thoraval
SOUND OF METAL – Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 – Alan Baumgarten
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
SOUND OF METAL – Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
SOUND OF METAL – Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
SOUND OF METAL – Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
NOMADLAND – Chloé Zhao
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
ANOTHER ROUND – Denmark
BETTER DAYS – Hong Kong
COLLECTIVE – Romania
THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN – Tunisia
QUO VADIS, AIDA? – Bosnia and Herzegovina
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
ANOTHER ROUND – Denmark
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
ANOTHER ROUND – Denmark
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
ANOTHER ROUND – Denmark
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
ANOTHER ROUND – Denmark
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
EMMA – Marese Langan, Laura Allen and Claudia Stolze
HILLBILLY ELEGY – Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle and Patricia Dehaney
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
MANK – Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri and Colleen LaBaff
PINOCCHIO – Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli and Francesco Pegoretti
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
MANK – Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
MANK – Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)
DA 5 BLOODS – Terence Blanchard
MANK – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
MINARI – Emile Mosseri
NEWS OF THE WORLD – James Newton Howard
SOUL – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
SOUL – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
DA 5 BLOODS – Terence Blanchard
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
SOUL – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
SOUL – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
FIGHT FOR YOU – from Judas and the Black Messiah; Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
HEAR MY VOICE – from The Trial of the Chicago 7; Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
HUSAVIK – from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga; Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson
IO SÌ (SEEN) – from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se); Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
SPEAK NOW – from One Night in Miami…; Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
SPEAK NOW – from One Night in Miami…; Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
FIGHT FOR YOU – from Judas and the Black Messiah; Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
SPEAK NOW – from One Night in Miami…; Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
SPEAK NOW – from One Night in Miami…; Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
PRODUCTION DESIGN
THE FATHER – Production Design: Peter Francis; Set Decoration: Cathy Featherstone
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara and Diana Stoughton
MANK – Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
NEWS OF THE WORLD – Production Design: David Crank; Set Decoration: Elizabeth Keenan
TENET – Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
TENET – Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM – Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara and Diana Stoughton
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
TENET – Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
MANK – Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
BURROW – Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat
GENIUS LOCI – Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU – Will McCormack and Michael Govier
OPERA – Erick Oh
YES-PEOPLE – Gísli Darri Halldórsson and Arnar Gunnarsson
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
GENIUS LOCI – Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU – Will McCormack and Michael Govier
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
GENIUS LOCI – Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
GENIUS LOCI – Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise
SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)
FEELING THROUGH – Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski
THE LETTER ROOM – Elvira Lind and Sofia Sondervan
THE PRESENT – Farah Nabulsi and Ossama Bawardi
TWO DISTANT STRANGERS – Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe
WHITE EYE – Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
WHITE EYE – Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
FEELING THROUGH – Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
WHITE EYE – Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
FEELING THROUGH – Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski
SOUND
GREYHOUND – Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman
MANK – Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin
NEWS OF THE WORLD – Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett
SOUL – Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker
SOUND OF METAL – Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michellee Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
SOUND OF METAL – Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michellee Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
SOUND OF METAL – Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michellee Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
GREYHOUND – Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
SOUND OF METAL – Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michellee Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh
VISUAL EFFECTS
LOVE AND MONSTERS – Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox
THE MIDNIGHT SKY – Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins
MULAN – Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN – Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez
TENET – Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
TENET – Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
THE MIDNIGHT SKY – Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
TENET – Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
TENET – Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM: DELIVERY OF PRODIGIOUS BRIBE TO AMERICAN REGIME FOR MAKE BENEFIT ONCE GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN – Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad
THE FATHER – Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller
NOMADLAND – Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… – Screenplay by Kemp Powers
THE WHITE TIGER – Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… – Screenplay by Kemp Powers
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… – Screenplay by Kemp Powers
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… – Screenplay by Kemp Powers
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
NOMADLAND – Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH – Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
MINARI – Written by Lee Isaac Chung
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN – Written by Emerald Fennell
SOUND OF METAL – Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 – Written by Aaron Sorkin
WHO CHRIS WANTS TO WIN:
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH – Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
WHO RON WANTS TO WIN:
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH – Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
WHO CHRIS THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN – Written by Emerald Fennell
WHO RON THINKS WILL ACTUALLY WIN:
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 – Written by Aaron Sorkin
Hello Folks! We have another absolutely wonderful interview to share with you all. We have a brilliant and legendary performer of the screen and stage, it’s Annette Arnold, Everyone! Annette jumped into the public eye when she performed in Tamara Jenkin’s Sundance Special Jury award winning film Family Remains, alongside fellow greats like Kevin Corrigan and Donna Mitchell. She was amazing in it, and has been taking on some amazing projects ever since. In fact, two of those projects were the original reason I initially reached out to receive the honor of having Annette grace our digital pages, and we will discuss them below. Suffice to say that they are two of my Top Ten films of all time, and whenever we have a cast member, or anyone who was involved with the project on the site, we simply HAVE to ask about it. Today will be no exception.
So, Folks, please enjoy some brilliant words from the even more brilliant performer, Annette Arnold!
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What inspired you to get into the world of performance? Was it something you had wanted to do since your youth? Or did you happen to find yourself in this world one day?
I don’t come from a family of performing artists, but, my father was always a great storyteller. I learned early on the power to move, excite, anger or captivate people through storytelling. I began putting on ‘backyard plays’ at a very young age. When you’re eight, and you create a living breathing character in front of your neighbors, then stand back and observe the very unique and different ways in which each of them reacts to or responds to it, well, let’s just say, that is very powerful and I’ve been enthralled ever since.
What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affect your work to date?
My very first paid gig in the entertainment world was the Sundance Jury Prize winning film Family Remains. I was honored to be directed by the very brilliant Tamara Jenkins for my debut film. It was also the very first time I stepped foot on a set. Tamara taught me so much then, about both film and artistic integrity. Tamara and Gabor (our cinematographer) would set up each and every shot, step back, call me over, and then have me look through the lens. Tamara allowed me to view each shot, assess my parameters, and understand and actually see what the camera was seeing. When does that ever happen to an actor?? Ummm…NEVER (and never has it happened again). The opportunity to learn about space, angles, close ups, to see the difference between a two shot, master, medium, and experience the importance of lighting, taught me lessons that still inform my work today. No matter what my approach to a role is, my goal is always a truthful performance. But, film is a medium and that lens is there for a reason. There is a world to view through/inside of it. I learned to know what it is, then forget it is there. It was the ultimate MASTER CLASS! I am so lucky to have worked with Tamara several more times after that. I’m not sure she would even remember those moments, but, I hope she knows how grateful I am.
You have done some amazing work on both big and silver screens, the stage, & beyond. With that in mind, what would you consider to be your most beloved type of performance?
Well…my most beloved role is yet to come! Having said that, at this stage in my life and creativity, I feel the most uninhibited, unencumbered and inspired, than I have ever been. I have a lifetime of stories, humor, love, anger, and unbridled rage to share. And, no walls. Maybe that came with age? I don’t know, but, I am able to access parts of me I didn’t know existed or didn’t want to, and it’s unpredictable and exciting. So my most beloved types of performances have been ones that both challenge me and are just that, unpredictable. I recently played a housewife who dreams of being a stand up comedienne. In the last minutes of [a particular] play, my character finally takes the stage and delivers her first crack at stand up. Although the play and that final routine was written by the wonderful Alyssa Haddad, just like real stand up, it could and would change every evening depending on the audience response. I often had to improvise or change things up, based off of their reactions, comments or even heckling. It was both terrifying and exhilarating!
In back to back years, you worked on two of my absolute favorite films of all time. The first would be the seminal indie classic film Trees Lounge, which also features our old friend Michael Buscemi. So, I am curious to know what drew you to this project? And how was your experience working on this project?
TREES LOUNGE!! One of my favorites too! I remain a huge fan of both Steve and Michael Buscemi. Steve drew me to this project. He had seen me in Family Remains (at Sundance I believe) and called me at home! Now remember, there was no internet, no email. Just an answering machine. My boyfriend Chris Wilson (now my husband) and I, came home to a message on the answering machine from Steve. Steve Buscemi!! My husband and I kept replaying the message and screaming…’Mr. Pink’!! I think we did that about 15 times before we actually listened to it. Steve invited me to be a part of a reading he was having at Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Again, because it was the old days, we met at a coffee shop so he could hand me the script (or else he would have had to send it snail mail, remember that?). The reading went extremely well and not surprisingly, the script was incredibly well received. It was about a year later I received a call offering me the role of Sandy. Not only did I get to work with an enormously talented cast that included Steve and Michael Buscemi, but Kevin Corrigan, Michael Imperioli, Seymour Cassel and Chloe Sevigny, but, I earned my SAG card!! I will never forget it.
The next year, you worked on another classic film, in my opinion, Deconstructing Harry, which features another dear friend of ours, Hazelle Goodman. So, same question basically, what drew you to the project, and how was your experience?
It seems like all roads lead back to Family Remains, so I guess, this is no different. Casting director Laura Rosenthal, who cast Family Remains, worked out of Juliet Taylor’s Casting office at the time. Juliet Taylor was the casting director on most, if not all, of Woody Allen’s films back then. A few years after Family Remains was released, Juliet Taylor called me in to audition for Deconstructing Harry. I read for her and was asked if I was available to meet with Woody Allen the very next day. I not only read for him, I read with him! I guess it went well because I was offered the role that evening. My experience was fantastic. You’ve seen the film, so you know, there are so many famous faces in it. For an actor in their early career, it can often be intimidating, but, every actoron set (famous or not) seemed equally nervous/terrified and excited to just be in a Woody Allen film.
If you were handed the opportunity to portray any legendary figure in American history, who would it be?
Carol Burnett. The very first woman ever to host a variety sketch show (and the most awarded tv shows of all time). She’s groundbreaking. She is fierce, fearless, and a superior physical comedian. Throughout her devastating personal tragedies, she revealed herself through her comedy. As a young girl I was always attracted to dark material: films, poetry, etc, art that revealed the darkest depths of the soul. Yet, every evening when I heard the musical opening of The Carol Burnett show, I knocked over whomever was in my way at the time and would sit directly in front of the television…it was transcendent. Like some of my favorite confessional poets, her humor always revealed her humanity. I NEVER felt like she was wearing a mask. She is one of the most influential women (and people) in television history.
What does the future hold for you? Anything our readers should be on the lookout for?
With an actor/singer/filmmaker daughter and writer husband, we have many performing opportunities/collaborations on the horizon. However, these quarantine and pandemic times had me writing! I wrote a short film and a series pilot titled Apartment 3RN. Without giving too much away, I took the age old advice ‘write what you know’. It’s about a family of artists living in Hell’s Kitchen. They encounter a series of racial, fantastical and even violent missteps, all while seemingly never leaving their sofa.
What was the last thing that made you smile?
My daughter, Zoe Wilson, as I mentioned, is also a professional actor, just booked a great role. No matter how long you’ve been doing this, or even who got the gig, that feeling, that excitement, never gets old.
Hello Folks! Today we have an incredible interview that is well overdue. Mainly due to my very own inability to focus on multiple tasks during a move across the world, as you have all heard me whine about since it began. Anyway, today we have an absolute gem of a human being gracing our digital pages. It’s the amazing actor, Todd Robert Anderson!
Todd has been working both on and off the screen for over 20 years, and has worked on a plethora of the TV shows you know and love. A personal highlight, and probably for a lot of you as well, is his reoccurring role on the brilliant FXX series You’re The Worst. Some of you may remember that we have actually featured some pretty great folks who have appeared and re-appeared on this absolutely incredible show, such as Allen Maldonado, Robin Riker, and Johnny Pemberton. But, Todd was a fucking presence on this program, and was an absolute highlight of each and every episode he was on.
And another bit of inside baseball fun that we have for you all….we have another Becker siting! Yes, Todd is yet another of the insanely talented man who appeared, even if just for one episode, on the series we love and adore the most. So, of course we had to ask him about that as well.
So Folks, please enjoy some amazing words from our new friend and absolutely amazing actor, Todd Robert Anderson!
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What inspired you to get into the world of performance? Was it something you had wanted to do since your youth? Or did you happen to find yourself in this world one day?
It was a plan I had since junior high, to be an actor. A teacher encouraged me to do a play, The Butler Did It, and when I got all the attention and laughs, it got me past my shyness and social awkwardness. And created a bit of an addiction for performance.
What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affect your work to date?
My first paid gig was a commercial for Pacific Bell, in which we extolled the virtues of “three-way calling.” Yes, I’m ancient. My first theatrical gig was in Blast from the Past.
Much like our dear friends Allen Maldonado, Robin Riker & Johnny Pemberton, you were absolutely incredible on the equally incredible series You’re The Worst. I am curious to know what drew you to this project? And how was your experience working on such a funny and enlightening series?
Show creator Stephen Falk is one of my best friends, I’ve known him since college. He had a small, two-line part called “The Groom” that needed to be filled for the pilot. I went in and auditioned, ad-libbed a third line for the fun of it, and they cast me. The network liked me enough to flesh out the character and bring him on for more episodes. So, to answer your question, what drew me to it was my old friend and what draws me to most of the work I do: they were willing to pay me.
YOU’RE THE WORST — “The Heart is a Dumb Dumb” — Episode 213 (Airs Wednesday, December 9, 10:30 pm e/p) Pictured: (l-r) Janet Varney as Becca, Todd Robert Anderson as Vernon. CR: Byron Cohen/FX
You also appeared in an episode of my absolute favorite sitcom of all time, which I am always obligated to ask our guests about, even if it was only a brief gig. And that series is the one and only series Becker. You played “Pete” in the episode “One Wong Move”, which is honestly one of the most memorable episodes for me, & written by our friend Russ Woody. Anyway, I am curious to know how your experience was working this legendary (at least to me!) sitcom?
Doing Becker was very exciting for me because I was a Cheers fanatic and working with Ted Danson was a dream come true. He is genuinely a great guy as well as being a great actor, so meeting one of my heroes turned out to be a great thing. On taping night I got a very hard lesson when the biggest scene in the episode, with a lot of moving parts, got zero reaction from the studio audience. We were there until two in the morning trying to figure it out. I just assumed studio audiences would laugh at anything, but apparently they have minds of their own. I also got to meet Octavia Spencer who was working on the show, and she was a blast.
If you were handed the opportunity to portray any legendary figure in American history, who would it be?
Steve Martin, because I grew up dreaming about being him, and this would be the absolute closest I could get.
What does the future hold for you? Anything our readers should be on the lookout for?
I’ll turn up on this season of Good Girls here and there. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine. I wait for the auditions, and when they come, I get bookings. I never know too far in advance what I’ll be doing.
What was the last thing that made you smile?
My son was singing along to Juice Newton’s “Angel of the Morning”, and he got the lyrics wrong: “Just call me angel of the morning, angel. Just pull my teeth before you leave me, baby.” I laughed for an hour after that.
TRAINWRECK'D SOCIETY (2011-2021) 