Student Filmmaker’s, Civic & Visionary Honorees Honored at 19th Annual MMPA Oscar Week

On Friday, February 24, 2012 The Multicultural Motion Picture Association hosted their 19th Annual Oscar Week Student Filmmaker’s Scholarship Luncheon and Civic Awards.  The lunch and award show was hosted by Radio and TV Personality Sam Phillips.

The event was held at Sofitel Los Angeles from11:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The Civic and Visionary Honorees for the 19th Annual MMPA Oscar Week Student Filmmaker’s Scholarship Luncheon and Civic Awards Recipients are Viola Davis (2012 Oscar Nominee), Octavia Spencer (2012 Oscar Nominee), Kami Zargham McAdam (Award Winning Photograher/Filmmaker), Bobbie Chance (Actress/Acting Coach) and George Zakk (Producer). The Student Filmmaker’s Finalists from The LA Film School are: William Rouse, Justin Benson, Jamel Benson, Anthony Mitchell, Daemon Stashko, Yoshi Tran and Joseph Schmitz.

The Student Filmmakers and honorees present made public speeches of appreciation and including Academy Award Nominee Sally Kirkland did a speech at the event.

Pam Schmid (Actor, speaker, author), Recording Artist Fawn, book author John Palisano, Recording Artist Arnold G, Actress Bai Ling were among the notable guests at the event.

There was live entertainment performance by Recording Artist Izzy Chait and Band, a red carpet, scholarship and civic awards presentation, lunch and official gift bags.

As a part of the annual afternoon affair, awards are presented annually, to filmmakers selected for their creative achievements, vision and technical talent, and in addition to financial awards toward their tuition, film companies traditionally arrange gifts of technical support for scholarship recipients.

In previous year honorees were Oscar Winner Sandra Bullock, Academy Award Winner Louis Gossett Jr., Oscar Nominee Ruby Dee, Academy Nominee Sally Kirkland, Kate Linder (Actress, Philanthropist), Renee’ Valente (Producer, Valente Productions), Michelle Phillips (Actress, Singer) and A.C. Lyles (Paramount Pictures).

Some of the event sponsors were American Society of Young Musicians, Sofitel LA Luxury Hotels, World Wide Vital Marketing and Public Relations, Diversity News Magazine, A&G Entertainment Productions, Hot Talk LA, Rose Breast Cancer Society, Sherwood Florist and many more.

Some of The Multicultural Motion Picture Association executive committee are: Rita Moreno, Rupert Murdoch, Edward James Olmos, Oliver Stone, Sally Kirkland, Dr. Mark Valinsky and City of Los Angeles Mayor Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa.

About The Multicultural Motion Picture Association: 
The MMPA is a 501 © 3 non-profit* arts organization that provides scholarships annually to a certain number of qualified film students and trade guild apprentices who have shown dedication and talent for furthering their studies in the cinematic arts. The MMPA’s annual Oscar Week Luncheon is always a highly anticipated afternoon event amid sumptuous mid-day dining where talented young filmmakers intermingle with Academy Award® nominees and studio executives. The MMPA utilizes committed individuals who bring their skills and commitment to schools, as well as youth and civic organizations, where teens and young adults need career mentoring, coupled with equipment and technical support. The Multicultural Motion Picture Association is also the producer of the Diversity Awards. For more information visit http://www.thediversityawards.org

*Not a verified charity organization, please check with your State Attorney General and Secretary of State for non profit status.

Sources: Diversity News Magazine, Diversity News TV & World Wide Vital Marketing and Public Relations

Photo credit to: Carlos Zeron and Sonny Sun for Diversity News Magazine & Diversity News Publications.

Editor’s Note: Diversity News Magazine published by Diversity News Publications was the event official media partner sponsor and World Wide Vital Marketing and Public Relations as the media event coordinator providing marketing and public relations services.

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer to receive honor at 19th MMPA Oscar Week Student Filmmaker’s Scholarship Luncheon & Awards

On Thursday, February 23, 2012 The Multicultural Motion Picture Association announced the Civic and Visionary Honorees for the 19th Annual MMPA Oscar Week Student Filmmaker’s Scholarship Luncheon and Civic Awards. The Civic and Visionary Awards Recipients are Viola Davis (2012 Oscar Nominee), Octavia Spencer (2012 Oscar Nominee), Kami Zargham McAdam (Award Winning Photograher/Filmmaker), Bobbie Chance (Actress/Acting Coach) and George Zakk (Producer).

The event will be held at prestigious and luxury Sofitel Hotel Los Angeles located at 8555 Beverly Boulevard in Beverly Hills, CA 90048 on Friday, February 24, 2012, from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm. The event will feature live entertainment performance by Recording Artist Izzy Chait and Band, a red carpet, scholarship and civic awards presentation, lunch and official gift bags. The event to be hosted by Radio and TV Personality Sam Phillips.

As previous announced Student Filmmaker’s finalists are William Rouse, Justin Benson, Jamel Benson, Anthony Mitchell, Daemon Stashko, Yoshi Tran and Joseph Schmitz.

As a part of the annual afternoon affair, awards are presented annually, to filmmakers selected for their creative achievements, vision and technical talent, and in addition to financial awards toward their tuition, film companies traditionally arrange gifts of technical support scholarship recipients.

Per the MMPA, a dual purpose in recognizing these outstanding individuals is the ability to benefit the Multicultural Motion Picture Association’s Educational and Development Scholarship Fund. This fund was established by their Executive Committee as a means of helping underprivileged students seeking entry into the film and television professions, develop and foster quality education, leadership, and talent.

The scholarship committee funds and matches students with mentors at production companies, trade guilds, and with directors, as they gain further knowledge and entry into their chosen disciplines in the motion picture industry. The MMPA utilizes committed individuals who bring their skills and commitment to schools, as well as youth and civic organizations, where teens and young adults need career mentoring, coupled with equipment and technical support.

They have announced that some of the attending and invited guests for the afternoon are Academy Award Winner Louis Gossett Jr., Academy Award Nominee Sally Kirkland, Dr. Mark Valinsky (Actor Producer, MMPA Board Member), Pam Schmid (Actor, speaker, author), Demian Lichtenstein, Fawn (Actress, Recording Artist), Actress Bai Ling and many 2012 Oscar Nominees and various celebrities will be on hand to support the young upcoming student filmmakers.

The prestigious organization of actors, cinematographers, editors, writers, and directors has in the past played host to an array of celebrities and nominees from Salma Hayek,Robert DeNiro, Kate Winslet and Djimon Hounsou to Sandra Bullock, Denzel Washington, and Leonardo DiCaprio among others.  The luncheon is always anticipated and remembered for its spontaneous surprises of high-profile guests and the goodwill shared among colleagues, coming out in support of talented emerging artists.

Previous year honorees were Oscar Winner Sandra Bullock, Academy Award Winner Louis Gossett Jr., Oscar Nominee Ruby Dee, Academy Nominee Sally Kirkland, Kate Linder (Actress, Philanthropist), Renee’ Valente (Producer, Valente Productions), Michelle Phillips (Actress, Singer) and A.C. Lyles (Paramount Pictures).

The MMPA is encouraging 2012 Academy Award nominees, past and present to come out in full force to support the 19th Annual MMPA Oscar Week Student Filmmaker’s Scholarship Luncheon and Awards.

GENERAL TICKETS: Limited amount of tickets are available for sale from $150 and Up purchase them online at http://thediversityawards.org/

The Annual MMPA Oscar Week Student Filmmaker’s Scholarship Luncheon and Civic Awards is a production of The Multicultural Motion Picture Association. Jarvee Hutcherson is the President of The Multicultural Motion Picture Association.

Event sponsors include American Society of Young Musicians, Sofitel LA Luxury Hotels, WTV Networks, World Wide Vital Marketing and Public Relations, Diversity News Magazine, A&G Entertainment Productions, Hot Talk LA, Rose Breast Cancer Society, Sherwood Florist and Lamborghini Gold Champagne and many more.

About The Multicultural Motion Picture Association: 
The MMPA is a 501 © 3 non-profit arts organization that provides scholarships annually to a certain number of qualified film students and trade guild apprentices who have shown dedication and talent for furthering their studies in the cinematic arts. The MMPA’s annual Oscar Week Luncheon is always a highly anticipated afternoon event amid sumptuous mid-day dining where talented young filmmakers intermingle with Academy Award® nominees and studio executives. The MMPA utilizes committed individuals who bring their skills and commitment to schools, as well as youth and civic organizations, where teens and young adults need career mentoring, coupled with equipment and technical support. The Multicultural Motion Picture Association is also the producer of the Diversity Awards. For more information visit http://www.thediversityawards.org

Source: The Multicultural Motion Picture Association
Photos credit to: Rodrigo Vaz, Diversity News Magazine

Loretta Devine, Dennis Haysbert, Flo Rida Attend 43rd NAACP Image Awards Nominees’ Pre-show Gala Reception

On Thursday, February 16, 2012 The NAACP held their 43RD Annual NAACP IMAGE AWARDS Nominees’ Preshow Gala Reception at 2000 Avenue of the Stars in Los Angeles, CA 90067 from 7:45 pm to 9:30 pm.

Some of the nominees, celebrities and personalities who walked the red carpet were Louis Gossett Jr., Loretta Devine, Dennis Haysbert, Flo Rida, Mike Epps, Clayola Brown, Robert Townsend, Elise Neal, Sounds of Blackness, Jesse Jakson Sr., Jarvee Hutcherson and Dick Michaels.

Event sponsors include UAW/Chrysler, AARP, FedEx, Hyundai, Wells Fargo, Ford Motor Company, Walgreens, Bank of America, AT&T, Cadillac and American Airlines.

About The NAACP Image Awards: The NAACP Image Awards is the premier multicultural awards show. It celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. For more information visit http://www.naacpimageawards.net

About NAACP:
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and
the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal
opportunity in the public and private sectors. For more information about the organization visit http://www.naacp.org/

Photos credit to: Gisele Rebeiro from PartyBy5.com and Tatiana Davidov from  tatianasmagicphotos.com
Sources: Diversity News Magazine, Diversity News TV and The Lippin Group

Editor’s Note: We want to thank NAACP & The Lippin Group for inviting us to cover the 43RD Annual NAACP IMAGE AWARDS Nominees’ Preshow Gala Reception.

The 84th Annual Academy Awards Nominations Announcement

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012 Nominations for the 84th Academy Awards were announced by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak and 2010 Oscar® nominee Jennifer Lawrence.

Sherak and Lawrence, who was nominated for an Academy Award® for her lead performance in “Winter’s Bone,” announced the nominees in 10 of the 24 Award categories at a 5:38 a.m. PT live news conference attended by more than 400 international media representatives. Lists of nominations in all categories were then distributed to the media in attendance and online via the official Academy Awards website, www.oscar.com.

Academy members from each of the branches vote to determine the nominees in their respective categories – actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc. In the Animated Feature Film and Foreign Language Film categories, nominations are selected by vote of multi-branch screening committees. All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees.


Nominations ballots were mailed to the 5,783 voting members in late December and were returned directly to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the international accounting firm, for tabulation.

Official screenings of all motion pictures with one or more nominations will begin for members this weekend at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Screenings also will be held at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood and in London, New York and the San Francisco Bay Area.

All active and life members of the Academy are eligible to select the winners in all categories, although in five of them – Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject and Foreign Language Film – members can vote only if they have seen all of the nominated films in those categories.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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Nominations for the 84th Academy Awards

Performance by an actor in a leading role

• Demián Bichir in “A Better Life” (Summit Entertainment)
• George Clooney in “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight)
• Jean Dujardin in “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company)
• Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Focus Features)
• Brad Pitt in “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

• Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn” (The Weinstein Company)
• Jonah Hill in “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
• Nick Nolte in “Warrior” (Lionsgate)
• Christopher Plummer in “Beginners” (Focus Features)
• Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role

• Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs” (Roadside Attractions)
• Viola Davis in “The Help” (Touchstone)
• Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
• Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady” (The Weinstein Company)
• Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

• Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company)
• Jessica Chastain in “The Help” (Touchstone)
• Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids” (Universal)
• Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs” (Roadside Attractions)
• Octavia Spencer in “The Help” (Touchstone)

Best animated feature film of the year

• “A Cat in Paris” (GKIDS) Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
• “Chico & Rita” (GKIDS) Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
• “Kung Fu Panda 2” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) Jennifer Yuh Nelson
• “Puss in Boots” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) Chris Miller
• “Rango” (Paramount) Gore Verbinski

Achievement in art direction

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Production Design: Laurence Bennett, Set Decoration: Robert Gould
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (Warner Bros.) Production Design: Stuart Craig, Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Production Design: Dante Ferretti, Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
• “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) Production Design: Anne Seibel, Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) Production Design: Rick Carter, Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Achievement in cinematography

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Guillaume Schiffman
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Jeff Cronenweth
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Robert Richardson
• “The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight) Emmanuel Lubezki
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) Janusz Kaminski

Achievement in costume design

• “Anonymous” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Lisy Christl
• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Mark Bridges
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Sandy Powell
• “Jane Eyre” (Focus Features) Michael O’Connor
• “W.E.” (The Weinstein Company) Arianne Phillips

Achievement in directing

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Michel Hazanavicius
• “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) Alexander Payne
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Martin Scorsese
• “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) Woody Allen
• “The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight) Terrence Malick

Best documentary feature

• “Hell and Back Again” (Docurama Films) A Roast Beef Limited Production, Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
• “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” (Oscilloscope Laboratories) A Marshall Curry Production, Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
• “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory” An @radical.media Production, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
• “Pina” (Sundance Selects) A Neue Road Movies Production, Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
• “Undefeated” (The Weinstein Company) A Spitfire Pictures Production, TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

Best documentary short subject

• “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement” A Purposeful Production, Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
• “God Is the Bigger Elvis” A Documentress Films Production, Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
• “Incident in New Baghdad” A Morninglight Films Production, James Spione
• “Saving Face” A Milkhaus/Jungefilm Production, Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
• “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” A Supply & Demand Integrated Production, Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Achievement in film editing

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
• “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) Kevin Tent
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Thelma Schoonmaker
• “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Christopher Tellefsen

Best foreign language film of the year

• “Bullhead” A Savage Film Production, Belgium
• “Footnote” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Footnote Limited Partnership Production, Israel
• “In Darkness” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Studio Filmowe Zebra Production, Poland
• “Monsieur Lazhar” (Music Box Films) A micro_scope Production, Canada
• “A Separation” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Dreamlab Films Production, Iran

Achievement in makeup

• “Albert Nobbs” (Roadside Attractions) Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (Warner Bros.) Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
• “The Iron Lady” (The Weinstein Company) Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

• “The Adventures of Tintin” (Paramount) John Williams
• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Ludovic Bource
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Howard Shore
• “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Focus Features) Alberto Iglesias
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) John Williams

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

• “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” (Walt Disney) Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
• “Real in Rio” from “Rio” (20th Century Fox) Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown, Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Best motion picture of the year

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) A La Petite Reine/Studio 37/La Classe Américaine/JD Prod/France3 Cinéma/Jouror Productions/uFilm Production, Thomas Langmann, Producer
• “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) An Ad Hominem Enterprises Production, Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
• “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” (Warner Bros.) A Warner Bros. Pictures Production, Scott Rudin, Producer
• “The Help” (Touchstone) A DreamWorks Pictures Production, Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and    Michael Barnathan, Producers
• “Hugo” (Paramount) A Paramount Pictures and GK Films Production, Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
• “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Pontchartrain Production, Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
• “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) A Columbia Pictures Production, Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
• “The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight) A River Road Entertainment Production, Nominees to be determined
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) A DreamWorks Pictures Production, Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Best animated short film

• “Dimanche/Sunday” (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production, Patrick Doyon
• “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” A Moonbot Studios LA Production, William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
• “La Luna” (Walt Disney) A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Enrico Casarosa
• “A Morning Stroll” (Studio AKA) A Studio AKA Production, Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
• “Wild Life” (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production, Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Best live action short film

• “Pentecost” (Network Ireland Television) An EMU Production, Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
• “Raju” A Hamburg Media School/Filmwerkstatt Production, Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
• “The Shore” An All Ashore Production, Terry George and Oorlagh George
• “Time Freak” A Team Toad Production, Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
• “Tuba Atlantic” (Norsk Filminstitutt) A Norwegian Film School/Den Norske Filmskolen Production, Hallvar Witzø

Achievement in sound editing

• “Drive” (FilmDistrict) Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Ren Klyce
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (Paramount) Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

Achievement in sound mixing

• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
• “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (Paramount) Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson

Achievement in visual effects

• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (Warner Bros.) Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and  Alex Henning
• “Real Steel” (Touchstone) Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
• “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (20th Century Fox) Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (Paramount) Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier

Adapted screenplay

• “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Screenplay by John Logan
• “The Ides of March” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
• “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
• “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Focus Features) Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

Original screenplay

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Written by Michel Hazanavicius
• “Bridesmaids” (Universal) Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
• “Margin Call” (Roadside Attractions) Written by J.C. Chandor
• “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) Written by Woody Allen
• “A Separation” (Sony Pictures Classics) Written by Asghar Farhadi

About The Academy:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies. For more information visit www.oscars.org

Photo credit to: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.
Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Mary J. Blige Song ‘The Living Proof’ Featured on The Help, in theaters August 12, 2011

On Thursday, May 26, 2011 DreamWorks Pictures and Geffen Records announced today that multiple Grammy® Award–winning recording artist Mary J. Blige wrote and recorded an original song for the soundtrack of DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media’s THE HELP, a film based on the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name, opening in theaters August 12, 2011. “The Help” soundtrack – music from the Motion picture, will feature the original song from Mary J Blige “The Living Proof.”  The soundtrack, from Interscope Records, will be available Tuesday, July 26 at select Starbucks locations.

The song, “The Living Proof,” was written and recorded by Blige especially for THE HELP after she saw a screening of the film, which takes place in 1960s-era Mississippi and chronicles the journey of three very different women who come together and embark on a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. “The beautiful thing about these women is that they were very smart,” says Blige. “They chose to walk in love and forgiveness.”  The film really celebrates the courage to inspire change, “To speak to so many women with this song means a lot to me” says Blige. “I wanted to be involved with this film, because I think we need to encourage each other more, we are here to tell a story.” Blige has received 9 Grammy® Awards and four American Music Awards as well as recorded eight multi-platinum albums. Mary J. Blige has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and her next album “My Life Too….The Journey Continues” will be released Sept 20, 2011.

Starring: Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Mike Vogel, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures (Walt Disney Studios)
Release Date: August 12, 2011

Mary Jane Blige ( /ˈblaɪdʒ/; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. A recipient of ten Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, Blige has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. Blige has received the World Music Legends Award for combining hip hop and soul in the early 1990s. She was ranked number 100 in the list of 100 greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. In November 2010, Billboard Magazine ranked Blige as the most successful female R&B artist of the past 25 years, she ranked second, placing her ahead of Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston.

Blige started her musical career in 1992, releasing her multi-platinum US selling debut album,What’s the 411? on MCA Records and Uptown. What’s the 411? gave Blige her first Billboard 200 top ten album, which has continued since the release of her debut album until her latest album, Stronger with Each Tear (2009), which became Blige’s seventh consecutive album to debut at number one or number two on the Billboard 200. As of 2010, Blige has sold over 50 million albums and 15 million singles.^[1][2]

About The Help Movie: Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon,  “The Help” stars Emma Stone (“Easy A”) as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s,  who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed—even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times. Deeply moving, filled with poignancy, humor and hope, “The Help” is a timeless and universal story about the ability to create change.  From DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media, “The Help” is directed by Tate Taylor and produced by Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett, with screenplay by Tate Taylor. “The Help” releases in theaters August 12, 2011. For more information visit http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454029/


Sources: Wikipedia, Walt Disney Studios, EPK.TV
Photo credit to: The Help Facebook

Video courtesy of Walt Disney/TheHelpMovie