And the Oscar Goes to…

The 81st Annual Academy Awards went off without a hitch this year, and benefitted from production design & staging that, on several occasions, reflected the categories for the awards being presented—an obvious but effective choice we haven't seen in previous ceremonies.
Hugh Jackman proved an able host, deftly blending comedy with a song & dance routine with top hat and cane. Thanks to his Broadway experience, Jackman demonstrated that he's as comfortable walking in the shoes of Gene Kelly as he is wielding the retractable claws of Wolverine.
Still, the ceremony was simplified this year to reverse years of declining TV ratings. A record low 32 million people tuned in last year. This year’s viewing figures will be announced Monday. Advertisers such as General Motors and L’Oreal withdrew their support, ostensibly due to the current recession and unfavorable television demographics (the average US viewer is 49), though these reasons sound suspect, and in GM's case, their precarious financial situation is more likely to blame.
As to the winners themselves, there were few surprises this year. Slumdog Millionaire was the Academy Awards champion, wrapping up its rags-to-riches story by taking home not only the Best Picture Academy Award, but also Best Director for Danny Boyle, along with awards for adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing, and both music Oscars for score and song.
The other top winners: Kate Winslet, Best Actress for the Holocaust-themed drama The Reader; Sean Penn, Best Actor for the title role of Milk; and Penelope Cruz, Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
In a move that many anticipated — and hoped for — the Academy chose to honor Heath Ledger as Best Supporting Actor for his demented reinvention of the Joker in Chris Nolan's The Dark Knight, becoming only the second actor ever to win an Oscar posthumously. (The previous posthumous Oscar recipient was Peter Finch, who won Best Actor for 1976's Network two months after his death.)
Ledger's Oscar for the Warner Bros. blockbuster was accepted by Ledger's parents and sister on behalf of the actor's 3-year-old daughter, Matilda. "I have to say this is ever so humbling, just being amongst such wonderful people in such a wonderful industry," said his father, Kim Ledger. "We'd like to thank the academy for recognizing our son's amazing work, Warner Bros., and Christopher Nolan in particular for allowing Heath the creative license to develop and explore this crazy Joker character."

Amanda Tapping Seeks Sanctuary for Kids

In the spirit of the Syfy series Sanctuary in which she stars, actress Amanda Tapping (Stargate SG-1,Stargate Atlantis) has helped to found a non-profit organization aimed at giving children a better life.
The organization, called Sanctuary for Kids, was started by Tapping, Sanctuary creator and writer Damian Kindler and Jill Bodie. The idea was borne out of their collective desire to use the public profile ofSanctuary and the active fan base of the show to make a difference.
"We all feel very lucky and honoured to be able to do jobs we love with people we love in this industry," said Tapping. "Jill, Damian and I all felt a very strong desire and real responsibility to do something with the reach and audience we have through Sanctuary and the sci-fi community. We didn't want to waste the influence that the series has, or the meaningful connections we personally have made with so many people around the world."
Tapping plays Dr. Helen Magnus in Sanctuary, which airs on Friday nights on Syfy in the United States and SPACE in Canada. Magnus runs the titular establishment to provide shelter and medical treatment for 'abnormals.' These mutant creatures stay in hiding or live out in the open but keep their differences a secret out of fear of persecution.
Sanctuary started life in 2007 as a series of 15-minute Webisodes and is currently in its second television season. Tapping and Kindler are also executive producers on the show. Using it as a platform for a a good cause is something that Kindler hopes will start a trend in Hollywood.
"Ultimately, we want to set an example and make charitable giving and outreach a standard practice in the television and entertainment industry," he said. "We all feel that it would be irresponsible to ignore that influence."
Sanctuary for Kids will host three auctions throughout the year selling "priceless" items as well as meet and greet opportunities with Sanctuary actors and producers. The first auction is taking place now until November 22, 2009. On offer are such items as a behind the scenes set tour and lunch with Amanda Tapping, a personal Skype chat with Amanda Tapping, Damian Kindler and director and fellow executive producer Martin Wood, a well known prop used in the series (the "Sonic Stunner"), and an opportunity to name a new character in the show.
"This is an initiative that is based on relationships and working as a community at large," said Jill Bodie, Director of Sanctuary for Kids. "It's about doing something very real and tangible for children and youth who desperately need protection. Sci-fi fans are so connected and loyal. We will be relying on their connectivity and passion to help spread the word about the work we are doing."
Sanctuary for Kids has chosen the Nepal Orphans Home and Watari's TTIP (Transitioning to Independence Program) and TIPPY (Transitioning to Independence Program for Parenting Youth) Programs to launch the foundation. The Nepal Orphans Home (www.nepalorphanshome.org) attends to the welfare of children in Nepal who are orphaned, abandoned or not supported by their parents. Watari's Programs (www.watari.org) work with the homeless youth population in Vancouver to help stabilize single, pregnant and parenting youth in safe, affordable housing and encourages commitment to their treatment plans.

Despite Recent Setbacks, Ron Howard Still Bullish on Dark Tower

Tina Fey, creator and star of NBC’s sitcom30 Rock, has publicly expressed support for her co-star on the show, Tracy Morgan, amid a storm of controversy over a joke the actor/comedian is alleged to have made in a recent stage show. During the stand-up performance in Nashville, Morgan reportedly went on an ‘anti-gay tirade’ and is said to have joked that he’d “pull out a knife and stab” his own son if he were gay.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the allegations against Morgan were made by Kevin Rogers, who attended the show and said that before the show he was a fan of the Saturday Night Live alumnus. Rogers subsequently posted a piece on Facebook titled “Why I No Longer ‘Like’ Tracy Morgan – A Must Read.” The story was later picked up by the website of Truth Wins Out, a non-profit organization that campaigns against anti-gay extremism.
Morgan himself has since said sorry for any offense that he caused. In a statement to the trade paper he apologized to his fans and the gay & lesbian community for his “choice of words.”
“I’m not a hateful person and don’t condone any kind of violence against others,” Morgan said. “While I am an equal opportunity jokester, and my friends know what is in my heart, even in a comedy club this clearly went too far and was not funny in any context.”
Fey, also a former SNL star, has now offered her support to Morgan. Although she admitted that “the violent imagery of Tracy’s rant,” disturbed her, she indicated that homophobia was not something she associated with her co-star.
“It also doesn’t line up with the Tracy Morgan I know, who is not a hateful man and is generally much too sleepy and self-centered to ever hurt another person,” The Reporter quotes her as saying.
“I hope for his sake that Tracy’s apology will be accepted as sincere by his gay and lesbian coworkers on30 Rock, without whom Tracy would not have lines to say, clothes to wear, sets to stand on, scene partners to act with, or a printed-out paycheck from accounting to put in his pocket,” she added.
Meanwhile, NBC exec Robert Greenblatt had said he was pleased that Morgan has apologized. At the same time, however, he gave a thinly veiled warning to the actor and other stars of the network’s shows that NBC won’t take kindly to being embarrassed in this way again.
“We will always recognize an artist’s freedom to express him or herself, but not when reckless things are said no matter what the context,” said Greenblatt. “Unfortunately, Tracy’s comments reflect negatively on both 30 Rock and NBC – two very all-inclusive and diverse organizations – and we have made it clear to him that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”
The controversy may have exploded too late to make the judges at the 51st Monte Carlo Television Festival’s Golden Nymph Awards think twice about rewarding Morgan for his role in 30 Rock. The star was named Outstanding actor in a Comedy Series at the event on Friday night.

Distinguished ladies of entertainment

Some of them are talent managers, producers and still others play indispensable roles as scriptwriters . Others like Kate Henshaw-Nuttal who regularly deliver good tidings from Promised and Rita Dominic indisputably have built reputation for themselves as brand ambassadors. In this report, Samuel Olatunji explores what makes them tick.
Mildred Okwo
Very few will recognize her in public, but her work speaks volumes. She’s a talent manager par excellence and a wonderful producer and director. She manages Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, Jim Iyke and Mike Ezuronye . A recent movie she produced didn’t say less. Genevieve Nnaji, who played the lead role in the movie, said she’s never had it so good. Why Mildred has not released the AMAA rated movie is best known to her.
Peace Anyiam Osigwe
She’s been “a godmother” of sorts for movie makers. She came up with the idea of the AMAA a while ago and it’s been Africa’s Oscars . She’s also a reputable producer and as a matter of fact she produced The GRA Women, a soap now running in Nigeria and Ghana.
Amaka Igwe
Her fans call her “the queen of the soaps” but Amaka does more than that. In recent times she’s been organizing workshops for aspiring filmmakers. Amaka is among the brains behind Checkmate, Fortunes and many other soaps of note .
Joy Ilibeno
Joy is the toast of movie lovers. She’s Head of Operations at Pan African Movies, West Africa. Now that Joy is distributing African movies in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, Joy is the arrowhead of movie producers who know their onions.
Emem Isong
In a male-dominated Nollywood , Emem Isong has carved a niche for herself and paved the way for aspiring female movie producers. From Games Women Play to Reloaded, Emem has left non in Nollywood in doubt that she still has a lot up her sleeves. She is reputed to have given Stella Damasus her first lead role, an opportunity which surely was instrumental in placing considerably ahead her peers. Nse Ikpe Etim also benefited immensely from Stella’s repertoire.
Vivian Ejike
Vivian Ejike is a banker-turned movie maker. Amongst her works are Silent Scandal, Private Storm and When the Heart Lies. She has a reputation of improving with very movie she produces which means she’s quite creative and dynamic . One of Vivian’s creative energy is Chelsea Eze who featured in one of her movies and now gradually carving a niche for herself in Nollywood

Olivia Wilde shoots down romance rumors, gives advice to young actresses

 
Olivia Wilde has quickly become one of the hottest women in Hollywood.
The “Cowboys and Aliens” star is on the October cover of Allure magazine, where she opens up about her divorce, making out with Mischa Barton and all those pesky rumors about who she is dating.

 

On rumors about her dating life:
“In order to be dating all the people they think I am, I’d need four vaginas! It’s impossible!”
On her favorite beauty products:
“I steal from makeup artists a lot.”
On kissing Mischa Barton on “The O.C.”:
“We did a lot of kissing. It was a relationship. It wasn’t a weird sensationalized moment that was just for sweeps week. These two young women were really falling in love. Women tell me that it helped them figure out their sexuality.”
Her advice for young starlets entering the business:
“If I could tell young actresses anything, it would be to just be yourself through and through. I mean, really be hard-core about sticking to your identity, because what makes you unusual is what’s going to assure your success.”
On her divorce from Italian Prince and film director, Tao Ruspoli:
“(It was) the most difficult thing I’ve ever dealt with. I got married at a very young age, so I sort of jumped into a stage of adulthood prematurely. I learned quite a lot.”
The new issue of Allure hits newsstands September 20.