Sunday's Academy Awards Being Held at New, Smaller Venue
Aired March 22, 2002 - 09:17 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: We go to Hollywood now, land of money and facelifts, and Oscar's new home. This weekend's Academy Awards ceremony is being held at a new, smaller venue, the Kodak Auditorium. It's going to be hard to fit all those big heads in there. For a little more on that, we go now to Los Angeles and Daryn Kagan.
Hey, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, how come you mention big heads and then you go to me? What's up?
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: No, no, no, not at all. We love you.
KAGAN: My little small head here, you're all right.
COOPER: I must say I'm glad you're not wearing those glitter rhinestones things anymore. I was a little scared by those yesterday.
KAGAN: Well, speaking of scary, I think you'll should be glad I put a little bit of makeup on for my first shot. That was first and last we will do that.
Hey, I want to show what's going on here. I'm right at the sight of where the Academy Awards are going to be taking place on Sunday, and we actually, even though it's only about 6:15 in the morning here, have some action going on. The Miramax photographers can take a look and show you. They're putting the big banner up.
How about this? Jack would be interested in this in terms of a money issue. Kodak goes and pays all this money to be the sponsor of this family, and what's going up? A big banner that going to cover the big thing that say "Kodak Theater." And why is that? Well, long before Kodak was a sponsor of this theater, the Academy made deal, and said, this is where we have our Oscars every year. We put up the big banner, and so it will say "74th Annual Academy Awards," and it won't say "Kodak Theater."
Let's take you inside and show you what this new theater looks like. Intimacy, this is what they're going for, a more old-fashioned, in-close feeling for the Kodak Theater. Well, intimate means fewer seats, and as you were mentioning, Anderson, that's kind of a problem here in Hollywood, because Everybody who wants to come to the Oscars won't be able to. Let's talk about who gets tickets. Two tickets go to the nominees, presenters, sponsors, and members of the board of governors of the Academy.
But when you do the math, compared to places they've had it in the past, about 275 members of the Academy won't be coming to the Oscars on Sunday because there is just isn't room for them.
But there is room for security, and tons of it. They aren't taking any chances. Very tight.
And, Anderson, let me just show you one more thing, behind me, the bleachers, this is where the fans go. Every year you see the scenes of people camping out on the sidewalk. Not happening this year. This year, you had to put in an application, and there will only be 400 people lucky people allowed to go in the bleachers, precleared, had to go for a background check to come cheer on the stars that come in Sunday.
COOPER: Wow. Daryn, I know you will be joined by Leon Harris for our Oscar coverage.
KAGAN: On Sunday.
COOPER: That's right. You can join us for a one-hour special "Oscar Gold Rush," live from the red carpet Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
I hope you're not going to be as mean as those Rivers people.
KAGAN: No, no, no, no. We're the one to watch. That's out. That's five minutes ago, that other cable channel. We are the hip channel to watch on Sunday.
COOPER: Joan Rivers is just so September 10th, as the kids say today.
KAGAN: Passe.
COOPER: Right, exactly. All right, thanks very much, Daryn.
And the winners are? Some of the Oscar races are so close, it's really anyone's guess. So who are the Hollywood insiders picking?
Joining us now with that, and his own Oscar choices, Sam Rubin, entertainment editor for KTLA in Los Angeles.
Thanks for being with us, Sam.
SAM RUBIN, KTLA ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: Happy to, Anderson. Good morning.
COOPER: So is the buzz heating up in these final days?
RUBIN: I think what's happening now is we're really narrowing these races down. As you know, of course, everyone knows, five nominees for each category, but in many of the categories, you can narrow it down to one, maybe two or three. In terms of best picture race, I think you've got five movies nominated, but it really comes down to two or three, and what people are talking about to a large degree of course are "A Beautiful Mind," which we've discussed the whispering campaign here several times.
So is it going to really be "A Beautiful Mind?" Did that whispering campaign hurt or help?
"Moulin Rouge," which has really surged in winning some of these Oscar precursors, that producers awards, among others.
Or the most nominated Oscar film, of course, "Lord of the Rings," 13 nominations, and in terms of all those precursors, has not done well. So I think those are definitely the three people are narrowing that category down to.
COOPER: Who do you think -- what are insiders saying for best actor and best actress?
RUBIN: All right, for best actor, I think it's primarily a two- man race, and this is between of course the winner last year Russell Crowe, and then, of course, a man who has one before, Denzel Washington, both who you know generally you think of as not being particularly forthcoming, were hilarious at the Oscar luncheon. Denzel Washington talking about his nerves the first time he went to the Oscars, how he wouldn't jump out of limousine and run down the red carpet to make it on time.
Russell Crowe for "A Beautiful Mind" of course came in -- of course, he read a poem during an English awards, the BAFTA awards. He came to a luncheon and recited another poem that I won't repeat here.
So they are courting the press to a degree between those two.
The actresses, Sissy Spacek, is it a career achievement award for Sissy? Or is it for her work "In the Bedroom?" And I think it really goes down between Sissy Spacek on the actress side and Halle Berry. Halle, of course, a glamour girl to a degree, and now an extraordinary meaty role in "Monster's Ball." Will her work opposite Billy Bob Thornton and Peter Boyle carry the day? I think that's how you can define that race as well.
COOPER: All right, Sam, I want to hear from the ultimate insider from you, I want to put you on the hook here. Who are you going to pick?
RUBIN: All right, I tell you what, for best movie, when all is said and done, and I think it's almost a default win, I'm going to say "A Beautiful Mind." For best actor, Denzel Washington had a terrific performance. The movie wasn't that great. He was. Best actress, I say this selfishly. If Halle Berry wins, I promise you, Anderson, that will be the moment of the evening. She's a very emotional person, and to see her going on stage will be extraordinary. That's what I'm really looking forward to the most. COOPER: You probably are not aware of this, but I'm actually the second ultimate Hollywood insider, although I don't actually enjoy going to Hollywood.
I think you're right about Halle Berry. But I got to tell you, I think "Moulin Rouge" is going to get best movie, and best actor, I'd say Russell Crowe, even though I'm not really sure he should. I'm not sure anyone wants to hear from him, but what the heck, I think they'll give it to him. Those are my picks.
RUBIN: The thing about "Moulin Rouge," really polarizing movie, people loved it or hated it. So it will interesting to see what happens with that movie.
COOPER: I just think it's creative and interesting. It probably won't win it, but I think it should. Anyway, the goody bag, I hear people are trying to get their products noticed. They are giving out free products to the stars, like they need them. What do the stars get?
RUBIN: Well, said. It is Khachies (ph) galore, Anderson. The goodie bag, we showed you the one at the Grammys a couple of weeks ago. This one isn't been made available yet, but it's worth about $20,000-$25,000. Several things inside. Of course, you have to have a $5,000 Victoria's Secret bra. We know about that.
Daryn has been hanging with all of the fashion people. I've got a few of the Khachies in front of me. Let me show you. Well, there you're looking at the bra, I believe, and from there, we will go from that to this fancy box. This is for Halle Berry. That will hold her cellular phone, which each of the nominees and presenters are getting. Cingular wireless is giving the service, and then a cute and clever little phone you can't get in stores, all the reason for us to take up an acting career, don't you think.
COOPER: The stars get...
RUBIN: They get everything.
And then the -- everybody is trying to pile on. A beer company, Foster's from Australia, is saluting the Australian nominees with their own version of the Oscar. I think Jack will be disappointed, because unfortunately, the can is empty. Nothing good there. See you out there on the red carpet.
COOPER: Sam Rubin, thanks for joining us. KTLA entertainment editor. We always enjoy talking to Sam.
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