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February 16, 2007
Looking for Oscar
Near the beginning of every broadcast of the Academy Awards, the host or hostess remarks on how the show is seen live by a gazillion people around the world. I sometimes wondered just a little bit what that was like, especially if you are watching the show in a country where English isn't spoken, and the time zone makes viewing all three or five hours a bit awkward. I found this link at the official Academy Award website that lists all the television stations around the world that will broadcast or cablecast the show. What this means for me is that I MIGHT be able to watch the Academy Awards this year. Being in Thailand, plus being in Chiang Mai rather than Bangkok, are two reasons to feel uncertain. Adding to the uncertainty is the controversy that occurred at the Thailand Film Awards on February 9. Chotiros "Amy" Suriyawong, a young actress, upset some people by wearing a dress that was deemed offensive to Thai sensibilities. Somsak Techaratanapraser of Sahamongkol Film ordered that scenes featuring Chotiros be cut from a film currently in production. Somsak is quoted stating of his company, the biggest producer of Thai films, "We are not a porn company." I guess I can only hope that any fashion disasters at this years Oscar show will be kept to a minimum. And if all of this wasn't enough, the Academy Awards will be broadcast at Eight a.m. here in Thailand. Yes, I will stock up on coffee . . .
In the meantime, click on the links at the right. At Film Experience, Nathaniel R is hosting an Oscar Symposium. And if you haven't read Edward Copeland's posting of a few days ago, he has information regarding several vexing Oscar related questions from the official source, the Academy library.
Posted by Peter Nellhaus at February 16, 2007 09:54 AM
Comments
The fashion disasters are one of the main reasons I watch the Academy Awards broadcast!! I fondly recall the year a bunch of guys nearly talked me into dressing up in drag as a Geena Davis Disaster!
Posted by: Maya at February 18, 2007 03:34 AM
When I was in Southeast Asia in 1999-2000, I happened to be on a visa run in Phnom Penh during the 2000 Oscar broadcast, so I didn't get to see Michael Caine's speech live. I was able to keep tabs on the results over the internet though.
When I returned to Chiang Mai the next week, I was happily surprised to see one of my favorite local VHS (and VCD) rental shops carrying a tape of the broadcast, so I rented it.
The past couple of years I've hosted a small Oscar party. But this year I do not plan to do so. I'm feeling bit burnt out on the ceremony to tell the truth. Perhaps I'll catch the Altman double-bill (Nashville and Buffalo Bill and the Indians, the latter of which I've never seen) playing that night at the Castro instead.
Posted by: Brian at February 19, 2007 03:05 AM