Devin Wachs: Three Reasons Why I Love Oscar Night

Bryn Mawr Film Institute is gearing up for its The Best Exotic Oscar Party on Sunday, February 24, featuring the Academy Awards simulcast on the big screen, a gourmet buffet dinner, exotic décor, raffle drawings, and more. Learn why Public Relations Manager Devin Wachs loves this special night.

---

Three Reasons Why I Love Oscar Night
By Devin Wachs, Public Relations Manager, BMFI

One of the first Oscar ceremonies I vividly remember involved Roberto Benigni climbing over chairs to reach the stage to accept his award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, the first given to a male performer in a non-English-speaking role. That was fourteen years ago, and I’ve tried to watch at least some of the broadcast every year since.

Why do I love the Academy Awards? Here's my countdown:

3) The glitz and glamour.
When every fashion faux pas or bad hair day that an actor has is broadcast around the world instantly online and in celebrity gossip magazines, it’s nice to see a little bit of the classical Hollywood glamour return, even if it’s just for one big night each year. Seeing starlets posing in designer gowns with their hair done just so is a nice dose of fantasy. I know that I’ll see a shot of them in yoga pants running to the mini-mart when I open my browser the next day, but they really do appear larger than life for a little while.

2) It’s a game.
I may not always see every nominated “Best” film or performance, and until the short films began being distributed to theaters (we’re showing the Oscar-nominated animated and live action shorts starting today), I never saw any of those. Even so, I love making predictions about who is going to win. It’s like a giant, global game for film buffs and anyone can join in on the fun. Several years ago I even won a prize for getting the most predictions right in our office. (Which isn’t to say I got them mostly right—I didn’t—I just had more luck than some of my colleagues did.) Even when prizes aren’t on the line, it’s fun to test yourself to see how well your cinematic ideals match up with the Academy.

1) Dreams come true.
What child or teen who loves film hasn’t imagined winning an Oscar and practiced their victory speech? I know I certainly did. (It is a very gracious speech.) Winning is still the ultimate validation of one’s work in the film industry. Although the value of that endorsement and how it is determined can be seriously debated, “And the Oscar goes to…” is the stuff dreams are made of. When I watch the Oscars, I imagine what it must be like for the people called to the stage. Some might think displays like Benigni’s are showy or crass, but I love it when winners show how excited they are. It makes me think that my own dreams can happen too, however unlikely or improbable. And that’s the real reason why I love the Oscars.

Those are three reasons why I make watching the Oscars a yearly ritual, and why I’ll be catching as much of this year’s ceremony as I can at BMFI’s The Best Exotic Oscar Party. I’d love to compare ballots with you.

What do you love about the Oscars? Tell me in the comments below.

---

Devin Wachs is the Public Relations Manager for Bryn Mawr Film Institute. She joined BMFI in 2005, following her graduation from Bryn Mawr College. If you send BMFI a message on Facebook or Twitter or are interested in onscreen sponsorships, she's the one who'll be in touch!

The Best Exotic Oscar Party Contest: We Have a Winner!

By Devin Wachs, Public Relations Manager, BMFI

Thank you to everyone who entered our contest to win two tickets to BMFI's The Best Exotic Oscar Party! We enjoyed reading about which Best Picture nominee you thought should walk home with the Academy Award on Sunday, February 24.

Entries were judged on how persuasive and creative they were. We enjoyed all of them, but one proved to be a resounding favorite.

Whether or not Beasts of the Southern Wild wins the gold, film fan Robin Terry is our winner!

It is without a doubt I support Beasts of the Southern Wild for Best Picture of the year. Asking us to probe deeply into our own fears and dreams, in a way redolent of Where the Wild Things Are, this movie challenges our notion of safety, complex interpersonal reactions and joy. In a manner akin to magical surrealism, this movie transcends the ordinary in a way that makes you believe, just a little bit, that our inner monsters are real and our dysfunctional life is normal. The music, acting, directing and general tone of the film trigger all sorts of feelings in the watcher and it is fairly riveting in nature. I saw this movie twice and promoted it by writing the producers and having post cards to hand out to my therapy clients (I am a psychologist). I want to come to your party and jump for joy when they call this picture's "family" to the stage.

I don't know if the film will win Best Picture, Robin, but you and a guest will be able to watch in style at The Best Exotic Oscar Party as our guest. Congratulations! Please call me at 610-527-4008 x105 to claim your prize.

You can read all of the entries in the comments here.

Even if you didn't win this contest, you can still attend The Best Exotic Oscar Party. Tickets are available online here and in person at the Box Office. See you on Oscar night!

Win Two Tickets to BMFI’s Oscar Party!

By Devin Wachs, Public Relations Manager, BMFI

If you have visited our atrium lately, you've seen that we've been busy decorating for our Best Exotic Oscar Party on Sunday, February 24. On that special night when filmmakers and stars gather together in the Dolby Theatre, local cinephiles will celebrate Hollywood artistry and glamour in style at Bryn Mawr Film Institute's Oscar Party!

This year, two film fans will attend as our guests! To win two tickets to BMFI's Best Exotic Oscar Party, make your case for which Best Picture nominee should win the Oscar this year. Submit your entry as a comment on this post by Thursday, February 7 at 6 pm.* Our staff will pick a winner based on the entries' persuasiveness and originality. The winner will be announced next Friday, February 8!

If you can't be in Los Angeles to rub elbows with Jessica Chastain and Daniel Day-Lewis in person, there's no better view than at BMFI; the stars will truly appear larger than life on the big screen during our live simulcast of the Academy Awards. Guests will sip cocktails from the cash bar and dine on a gourmet buffet dinner prepared by Catering by Design amidst exotic decor provided by Garden Accents and Janice Martin Couture. Traditional Indian dancers, music by the Philadelphia Mandolin & Guitar Ensemble, and a bazaar-style festival sale sponsored by Ten Thousand Villages will help transform the evening into something truly memorable.

*Please Note: When posting your comment, you will be asked to select a log-in from a list. If you do not have a Google account, etc., please select either 1) "Name/URL", which requires that you have a valid website address of your own, or 2) "Anonymous". If you select the latter, please be sure to sign your name in the post.

Announcing BMFI's Oscar Party Winner!

By Devin Wachs, Public Relations Manager

We may not know which films are going to win at the Oscars, but we can tell you which BMFI patron has won two tickets to BMFI's fourth annual Oscar Party! We enjoyed all of the entries, but we could only give the grand prize to one (much like the Academy).

The Task: To make a case for which nominated film you thought should win the Best Picture Oscar this year in 140 characters or less, judged on persuasiveness and panache.

The Prize: Two tickets to watch the Academy Awards in style at BMFI's Oscar Party on Sunday, February 26!

The Winner: Elana Starr for Hugo:

Hugo is beguiling as a paean to early cinema, as a personal statement from our greatest living director, and as a timeless (excuse the pun) work of art.

Congratulations, Elana!

Runners up: Much like the nominees swag bags at the Oscars, our favorite runners up also will go home with a little something: two tickets to a regular movie screening at BMFI.

1) Emily:
The Tree of Life needed Help; War Horse was Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close; Hugo made a Moneyball; I loved every Artist in Midnight in Paris; but The Descendants was transcendent.

2) Kristin Kimmell:
Hugo delighted my senses
With effects viewed through two 3D lenses
Mixing old with the new
It beguiled as it flew
Through a series of stunning sequences!

Runners up, please contact me, Devin Wachs, for information about how to collect your prizes by calling 610-527-4008 x105.

You can read all of the entries in the comments section here.

Thanks to everyone who participated. If you didn't win this time, there will be other contest opportunities in the future. If you'd like to come to the Oscar Party, you can still get tickets here.

Win Tickets to BMFI's Oscar Party!

By Devin Wachs, Public Relations Manager
The Oscar nominations have been announced! One of these films will become a "Best Picture" winner. They could make you a winner, too! Make a case for which Best Picture nominee you think should win in 140 characters or less. You could win two tickets to BMFI's fourth annual Oscar Party!

Cheer as your favorite front-runners win their statuettes (and you win your bragging rights) as the Academy Awards play on our big screen. Enjoy a delicious dinner as you chat with your fellow film fans. And treat yourself to something fun from our silent auction when you're proven right about a dark horse. Because on Hollywood's biggest night, you deserve to feel like a star, too.

Submit your entry as a comment on this post. Our staff will pick a winner based on the entries' persuasiveness and panache. (Who knows? Maybe the Academy will agree with you, too.)

I look forward to reading your entries and seeing you at the Oscar Party!

Please note: When posting your comment, you will be asked to select a log-in from a list. If you do not have a Google account, etc., please select either 1) "Name/URL", which requires that you have a valid website address of your own, or 2) "Anonymous". If you select the latter, please be sure to sign your name in the post. Thanks!

BMFI's Oscar Party a Winner!

By Devin Wachs, Public Relations Coordinator

Bryn Mawr Film Institute celebrated its third annual Oscar Party in style on Sunday, February 28. Over 240 guests watched a big screen simulcast of the 83rd Academy Awards in the theater and enjoyed a gourmet buffet dinner, La Colombe coffee, a cash bar, and a silent auction. All proceeds benefited Bryn Mawr Film Institute. We met our fundraising goals for the party and had fun doing it! Check out some of our photos below. You can also find more photos online at Bryn Mawr-Gladwyne Patch.

Guests were serenaded by String Variations' Barbara Murray and Gael Abbasi.

Guests were encouraged to wear their red carpet best or come in costumes inspired by one of the nominated films. Joan Shrager (posing here with our Oscar ice sculpture) spent two hours getting her Black Swan makeup just right.

Allyson Gaht and Shannon Leahy-Miller took their costume cue from nominee True Grit, while Debra McKaibben  (center) was ready for the red carpet.

JPM Catering and Events catered our Oscar Party. The menu included braised beef shortribs, lemon chicken, and chilled spinach tortellini.

Oscar Party volunteer committee members Toby Blender and Gus Cileone manned the upstairs bar.

Joel Shoulson chats with event co-chair Phyllis Liebert and event chair Betsy Klausman.  

Our Oscar Party Contest winner Janice Marini (right), who got our vote for "Best Acceptance Speech", posed with friend Lisa Longo. 

Chris Daly and Brian Crawley study the silent auction items. Guests bid on everything from gift certificates to Margaret Kuo's and The Capital Grille to a deluxe vacation in Aruba.  

Lee Cummings posed with her silent auction find: an "Oscar statue" of her very own!

Our committee members posed with BMFI President Juliet Goodfriend (seated) before the event. A big thank you to our volunteers!

We hope that everyone enjoyed themselves. Our sincere thanks go out to all of our guests, members, sponsors, and volunteers! We appreciate your support of BMFI and look forward to seeing you at next year's Oscar Party!

Check out this week's issue of City Suburban News and next week's Main Line Times and Main Line Suburban Life for more photos from our Oscar Party.

Photos by Devin Wachs and Emmy Chotalal for Bryn Mawr Film Institute

Another Winner Will Walk Our Red Carpet on Oscar Night

By Devin Wachs, Public Relations Coordinator

Only nine days until BMFI celebrates the 83rd Academy Awards with its third annual Oscar Party! on Sunday, February 27. Guests will watch a big-screen simulcast of the Oscars and enjoy a gourmet buffet dinner, drinks, cash bar, and silent auction. Tickets are going fast! Have you bought your ticket?

Last week we announced a contest to win two tickets to our Oscar Party! Thirty-one contestants made their cases for the award category that they'd most like to see added to the ceremony. All of the entries were creative and entertaining. But, like the Best Picture Oscar, only one can take home the prize: Lawrence, you've won two tickets to BMFI's Oscar Party! The winning award category: Best Movie We Forgot to Nominate a Decade Ago.

The three runners up were Brenda McFadden (Best Break-Out Role), Miranda (Best Low-Budget Picture), and Rhianna Shaheen (Best Meryl Streep Performance of the Year). Runners up will receive two free passes to BMFI! Read the winning entries below and the rest of the entries in the comments here.

The Winner:
Lawrence for Best Movie We Forgot to Nominate a Decade Ago
What do movies like Metropolis, Scarface, King Kong (1933 version), Modern Times, Sullivan’s Travels, The African Queen, The Searchers, Some Like it Hot, Psycho, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Wild Bunch, The Empire Strikes Back, and Blade Runner all have in common? They would arguably be considered classic and/or great movies that were never recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with a nomination for Best Picture. This award has been created to correct such injustices. This award for the “Best Movie We Forgot to Nominate a Decade Ago” goes to the movie that 10 years ago should have been recognized with a Best Picture award nomination (or win) but received neither. This film has stood the test of time, and has continued to receive critical and popular acclaim, and finally deserves to be recognized. Partly to avoid this omission, the Academy has now expanded the number of nominees for Best Picture from five to ten films, so it will be harder to find a winning picture starting in 2019 (although Star Trek stands a chance). The award considers films released 10 years ago, so that the 2010 Academy Award would go to a film released in 2000. My proposed six nominees (I had trouble whittling it down to five) for the 2010 award are: Almost Famous, Billy Elliot, Cast Away, Memento, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and Requiem for a Dream, although we would have to go through the formal nominee selection process (and only have five) to be fair.


The Runners Up:
Rhianna Shaheen for Best Meryl Streep Performance of the Year: 
Obviouslyyy the Academy should give Meryl Streep her own category. How about Best Meryl Streep Performance of the Year…Yes/Yes? Let’s just face it; this woman should just get an award for simply EXISTING! First of all, her perfection on screen can make any so-so movie absolutely fabulous. Mamma Mia anyone? Secondly, what's an Oscar season without Meryl's magic? I mean really it feels a little empty this year. And lastly for having received an astounding total of 16 nominations over the course of her 34 year career the MOST deserving actress in Hollywood has only won TWICE!!! TWICE?? HOW DOES THIS EVEN HAPPEN? With her own category all can be forgiven, Academy. No worries! ☺
For your consideration:
Rhianna Shaheen

Miranda for Best Low-Budget Picture:
I’d like to see an award for Best Low-Budget Picture. Maybe use $5 million as a cut-off. A few of my favorites this year were Blue Valentine, Fish Tank, Tiny Furniture & Please Give, none of which cost more than $3 million and Tiny Furniture cost just $45,000! Compare that to the Oscar front runners - The King’s Speech at $15 million, True Grit at $38 million and Social Network at $40 million. Consider that ALL Academy members vote to nominate the ten Best Picture candidates and the production designers, costumers, cinematographers and sound designers probably have a lesser appreciation for low and micro-budget films, which by necessity have more technical limitations.

Brenda McFadden for Best Break-Out Role:
I would like to see a category for Best Break-Out Role--something like the Grammy for Best New Artist, though it would not necessarily have to be a brand new actor--just an actor or actress who has not had a Stand-Out performance in the past. It could be a young, new actor or it could even be a veteran who has always been cast in small roles or bad movies. This award is often stolen by a Best Supporting Actress nominee, sometimes leaving the true BSA without her Oscar. For instance, this year Hailee S. in True Grit would be one of the Break-Out (or Stand-Out or "Best Role") nominees (and in my opinion the Winner). Plus I like the idea of a category that includes male and female actors. Yes, we need to have an Oscar for "Best Role"!

Thanks for competing, everyone!

Another Chance to Win Two Free Tickets to BMFI's Oscar Party!

By Devin Wachs, Public Relations Coordinator

BMFI is awarding two free tickets to our third annual Oscar Party! on Sunday, February 27 to one lucky contestant! Great movies deserve to be watched on the big screen, and so do the 83rd Academy Awards. Enjoy a silver screen simulcast of Hollywood’s biggest night while you and a friend enjoy a gourmet buffet dinner, drinks, cash bar, and silent auction.

Every year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors meets to consider new categories. It's been ten years since they added a new award: Best Animated Feature. (Shrek took home the gold.)

Pretend that we’re on the Board. Make a case in for the award category that you’d most like to see added to the ceremony by commenting below. The person who submits the most creative and convincing entry, as judged by BMFI staff, will win two tickets to our Oscar Party! Perhaps you’d like to bring back awards long since eliminated (eg. Best Dance Direction, Best Assistant Director), or maybe you’re part of the campaign to recognize the work of stunt coordinators. Post your entry by Monday, February 14 at 5pm. We'll announce the winner next week.

And remember to buy your tickets before it's too late!

Please note: When posting your comment, you will be asked to select a log-in from a list. If you do not have a Google account, etc., please select either 1) "Name/URL", which requires that you have a valid website address of your own, or 2) "Anonymous". If you select the latter, please be sure to sign your name in the post. Thanks!

The nominations are in... and we have a winner!

By Devin Wachs, Public Relations Coordinator

It's official. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the contenders for the most coveted prize in Hollywood, Oscar gold. The King's Speech snagged the most Oscar nominations--a whopping twelve--and Black Swan has a chance to take home five prizes. But who will take home a statue? Who will give an acceptance speech? Who will become a part of Hollywood history?

Last week, we encouraged you to write your own Oscar acceptance speech for a chance to win two tickets to our Oscar Party! on February 27, which will feature a big screen simulcast of the Academy Awards, gourmet food, delicious drinks, a cash bar, and a silent auction. We received a number of wonderful (and very creative) entries, but it was Colin Firth and the cookies that put us over the top. Congratulations, Janice Marini, you've won!

Here's her winning entry:

Colin Firth reads the card. "And the Academy Award for Best Screenplay Adaptation goes to... JANICE MARINI for Salmon and Name Tags: My Life in Special Events, based on her novel of the same name..." I slink to the stage in red Prada. Somehow my hair stays perfect, and my mascara isn't running even though tears are slowly running down my face. Colin hands me the statuette and kisses me like it's the end of Bridget Jones's Diary. When I catch my breath, I look out toward the audience and camera and jokingly send a message to Ardmore: "Eat your heart out, Rosemary." Then I thank the studio, my agents, my publisher, my publicist, and the incredible cast, especially Keira Knightley, for bringing the main character to life. I thank my incredible director Ken Loach for his stunning work--since a slapsticky American comedy was a bit of a departure for him... I thank my former boss by name (which I won't do here!) for the endless supply of material and daily humiliations that beame the backbone of Salmon and Name Tags. I thank Archway Dutch Cocoa cookies for fueling the effort to write the screenplay. I acknowledge my family by name, all my friends in Philadelphia, and end by thanking my wonderful husband Joe. I couldn't have done it without his endless reserves of good humor, encouragement and love.

You can read all of the entries here (scroll down to the comments). And remember to buy your tickets before it's too late!

Win Tickets to BMFI's Oscar Party!

By Devin Wachs, Public Relations Coordinator

It's that time of year. Time for red carpet, champagne, and glitzy dresses. Time for the movie stars to truly shine. Time for BMFI's Oscar Party!

Join us on February 27 for BMFI's third annual Oscar Party! Celebrate Hollywood's hottest night in style. Enjoy a gourmet buffet dinner, drinks, a cash bar, and a silent auction, and watch the Oscars simulcast live on our big screen. Tickets are available at the Box Office and online here.

Want to be a winner yourself? Imagine that you're in the Kodak Theater and your name is called. Did you hear right? Yes, you won! You can hardly believe it, you've been dreaming of this day since you were a kid.

Tell us what you would say or do in your acceptance speech. Post it in the comments here. A jury of your peers will choose a winner to receive two tickets to our Oscar Party! Entries must be posted by Monday, January 24 at noon. We'll announce the winners next week.

Please note: When posting your comment, you will be asked to select a log-in from a list. If you do not have a Google account, etc., please select either 1) "Name/URL", which requires that you have a valid website address of your own, or 2) "Anonymous". If you select the latter, please be sure to sign your name in the post. Thanks!

And the Award Goes to... BMFI's Oscar Party 2011!

By Meredith Slifkin

“There’s no other way to describe it, it’s the moment of a lifetime.” Kathryn Bigelow uttered these heartfelt words at the 2010 Academy Awards after winning Best Director for The Hurt Locker, but she could easily have been referring to last year’s Oscar Party at BMFI!

The anticipation is mounting as Hollywood prepares to celebrate its best and brightest, and you can experience Oscar magic larger than life at BMFI’s third annual Oscar Party. The 83rd Academy Awards will be simulcast live from Hollywood on BMFI’s big screen on Sunday, February 27 at 7:00pm.

"Hello Gorgeous"

There’s no better way to experience Hollywood’s party of the year than right here where we’ll have all the glitz and glamour of the real thing, but with a better view. At the Kodak Theatre you’d be stuck in the nosebleeds, but you’ll be able to see every glorious pore on George Clooney’s face on the big screen at BMFI. You may not walk home with a gold statue, but there will be good food, good company, plentiful spirits, and a silent auction! Back for its third year by popular demand, this year’s Oscar Party will offer a gourmet buffet dinner prepared by JPM Catering, and a myriad of social-lubricating cocktails at the cash bar.

"You like me, you really like me!"

There will also be a silent auction featuring gift certificates to some of the Main Line’s best restaurants and businesses including Mediterranean Grill, LeBus, and Margaret Kuo’s. All proceeds will benefit Bryn Mawr Film Institute so really it’s a win-win—you'll get to enjoy dinner at a delicious restaurant, while helping to ensure that your favorite non-profit movie theatre can keep on keeping on.

Don’t forget to come in your red-carpet best—evening gowns, dapper suits—or costumes inspired by the films. I expect to see at least one Black Swan-inspired outfit, and maybe a few Western hats to channel True Grit, or Harvard sweatshirts from The Social Network. (But please, don’t go so far as to pull a James Franco in 127 Hours…) However you show up, this party will be an amazing event full of fun, food, and film, all leading up to that exciting final moment—Best Picture!

"I'm the king of the world!"

Tickets for the Oscar Party are $55 for BMFI members and $65 general admission, and are available now for purchase online or at the box office.