A Feature Narrative:  Going to the Oscars

Final Draft 

April 6 2020

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every year the Governor’s Ball takes place right after The Oscars, in the Ray Dolby Ballroom on the top level of the Hollywood & Highland Center.  This year the celebration was held on February 9th.  I was there, after having attended the 92nd Annual Academy Awards show, as a guest of Scott Evans, co-host of Access Hollywood and host of World of Dance.  Once known as the party to attend, the Governor’s Ball is beginning to lose its flavor, as the notable Variety after party has sweetened and quenched the tastes of Hollywood’s celebrities.  The Governor’s Ball has become more of a walk through, rather than the finishing touch for many A-List celebrities.  I found myself in the middle of this beautiful affair with the exquisite, edible delights and decadent desserts prepared by Wolfgang Puck, giggling as the gentleman with whom Scott and I are chatting says, “Aaahhh, it’s good to be king!” A black-tie clad server shows up out of nowhere, takes his empty glass and replaces it with a new full one.  This gentleman, a veteran casting director, who has won Primetime Emmys and had been governor of the film Academy’s Casting Directors Branch for six years. David Rubin, the current President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was elected in August 2019. (variety)

 

“The job of president was once viewed as primarily ceremonial.

​

“The job of president was once viewed as primarily ceremonial. Previously held by luminaries like Frank Capra, Bette Davis and Gregory Peck, it is both unpaid and intended to be part time. The day-to-day management of the organization and its more than 300 employees falls to the chief executive, Dawn Hudson.  But the position of president has become much more public, and Mr. Rubin will have the unenviable task of dealing with crises when they arise.” (nytimes) Is he up for the tasks?  Only time will tell.  It was a pleasure chatting with David Rubin.  I am still amazed at having been there.

 

Saturday, the night before the event, I arrived in Los Angeles.  I am not a lover of the City of Angels.  Each time I have been, the beaches are beautiful, but it’s cold and rainy, leaving a bittersweet taste in my mouth.

​

Oscars Sunday arrives with quite the head banger concert.  It was raining cats and dogs and the wind was whipping quite a bit like Willow Smith’s hair in her “I whip my hair back and forth” video. Just as I am finishing my coffee,  Mandy arrives with a rolling bag full of tools for “beating” faces.  She is the makeup artist who was asked to glam up my look.  I had the pleasure of meeting Mandy before when she did my makeup for my big debut on Access Hollywood surprising Scott for a Mother’s Day segment.  A story for another time.  As she did my make-up, I asked questions, we each sipped a Bloody Mary made with Mario Lopez’s, Casa Mexico brand tequila.  A gift to Scott as they are friends and work together on Access. 

​

It takes a little while to get glamorized, because it’s roughly noon when makeup is done. It’s time to head to a “shoot”.  Scott is scheduled for an on-air interview before heading the hotel.  Who knew I would be included?  Meeting Sandy and DeAndre Arnold, the mother-son duo, who caught the attention of actress, Gabrielle Union, because his school was denying him the reward of walking in his high school graduation ceremony unless he cut his dreadlocks, was the highlight of the Oscar weekend.  Gabrielle sent them to the Oscars as guests of writer and director Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver co-producer of Hair Love, an animated short film about ethnic hair.  How fitting that it won the Oscar for that category. Talking with the Arnolds made me feel for them, especially as a mother.  Matthew Cherry says, “You know, I see myself in the kid so much. You know, we both have locks. I remember being, you know, a teen who was coming into his own and, you know, just like how, you know, self-conscious that can be. And it just seemed like the least we could do to try to give them a little bit of joy in this kind of trying time.” (npr)

​

Banning ethnic hairstyles

'upholds this notion of white supremacy.'

​

Banning ethnic hairstyles 'upholds this notion of white supremacy.' States pass laws to stop natural hair discrimination.  Black people young, old and in between have been rejected from jobs, schools and other public places because of the texture and style of their hair. (usatoday) Several states and cities this year have passed or proposed laws banning policies that penalize people of color for wearing natural curls, dreadlocks, twists, braids and other hairstyles that embrace their cultural identity. “This is not just about hair, it’s about acknowledgement of personal rights, it’s about checking bias," says California State Sen. Holly Mitchell, a Democrat who wears locks and proposed the state's law named Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, or CROWN. “Our hair has always been a source of either pride or embarrassment, a sense of power or a sense of unequalness.”  Cincinnati outlaws discrimination based on natural hairstyles associated with race.  California and New York were the first states to enact laws this summer forbidding race-based hair discrimination. New Jersey, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Kentucky as well as Cincinnati, Ohio, and Montgomery County, Maryland, have followed with proposed legislation. (usatoday)

​

We arrived at the iconic Roosevelt Hotel, where several dresses had been selected by the styling team. Instagram fans voted for their favorite online, as I modeled each one. Once the decision was made a small meal with several glasses of champagne and dancing occupied our wait time.

​

The time had come to head to the theater.  It was still raining a bit, so the car whisked us away and dropped us at the door of the Dolby Theater.  We were met by a group of host and hostesses.  Walking the red carpet is as thrilling as one might think.  The elegance, the star-like feeling felt is real.  Cameras flashing, names are being yelled out to look this way, or turn around.  Smiles, “smolders” and poses are struck.  Celebrities like actor, Brad Pitt are a mere 5 feet away, yes, he is that handsome.  Chatting and laughing with “Hamilton” creator, Lin Manuel-Miranda.  Brushing shoulders with Quentin Tarentino, no he didn’t give me a second glance.  Hugging it out with Cynthia Erivo, yes, she really does have a killer body and so approachable. 

​

“Amy Henderson, historian emeritus at the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, explains that the Greek playwright Aeschylus claims the first written mention of a red carpet in "Agamemnon," dated 458 BC. Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife, speaks of a "floor of crimson broideries to spread / For the King's path." She explains "Agamemnon goes away to fight (in the Trojan Wars) and leaves his wife Clytemnestra at home. He's away for a long time, and they both find significant others. When he comes back, he's in love with Cassandra and brings his concubine home with him. Despite her own infidelity, Clytemnestra is not amused. In her defense, there were mitigating factors: Agamemnon had made a deal with the gods, sacrificing their 15-year-old daughter so he could put the wind in his sails.  She rolls out the crimson carpet to convince him to walk into his death,". Accounts differ, but Clytemnestra either murders Agamemnon in the bath, or he's slain by her lover. She also kills Cassandra. "It's not a pretty story," Henderson adds. " (cnn) It continues to evolve throughout history making a change at the train depot in 1902 directing people boarding trains, largely used to direct first class ticket holders, the red carpet became a signifier of social status.  “The first use of the red carpet by Hollywood was by theater magnate Sid Grauman. On Oct. 18, 1922, Grauman orchestrated the first Hollywood premiere. The film in question was "Robin Hood," and Grauman, owner of the newly minted Egyptian Theatre, was out to impress. After all, the movie had cost close to $1 million -- a staggering figure at the time.”  The red carpet became routine for Hollywood premieres. (cnn)

​

                           "It's not a pretty story,"

​

Comedian, Kevin Hart’s dream is to host The Academy Awards.  A dream that is deferred.  I didn’t really get it, until I walked into the Dolby theater and saw that stage, lights and the the stars-the actors and actresses who make the films we love to watch.  I began to understand the grandeur of standing on that stage ushering us all into the fantasy and regalia that is Hollywood, that is the movies.  The opening act with Janelle Monet set the tone for an awesome show.  To be nominated for an Oscar lends a certain boost to one’s ego, however according to many who have won the coveted trophy, the win far outweighs the nomination. 

​

Dancing the night away with Quest Love spinning the tunes at the Governor’s Ball, meeting the President of the Academy, being close to some A-List celebrities, all ingredients for an enchanting and magnificent night.  Memories made and time well spent with my favorite male human on this planet.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deandre Arnold Marvels Over Attending Oscars With “Hair Love”: It’s “Mind-Blowing.” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw6cYnsL01k. Accessed 4 Mar. 2020.

​

CNN, Thomas Page. “Greek Tragedy and Railways: An Unexpected History of the Red Carpet.” CNN, https://www.cnn.com/style/article/an-unexpected-history-of-the-red-carpet/index.html. Accessed 4 Mar. 2020.

​

Oldham, Stuart, and Stuart Oldham. “David Rubin Elected President of the Motion Picture Academy.” Variety, 7 Aug. 2019, https://variety.com/2019/film/news/david-rubin-elected-president-of-the-film-academy-1203294914/.

​

“Oscars.Org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.” Oscars.Org  Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, https://www.oscars.org/. Accessed 21 February. 2020.

​

Ellis, Charisse Jones and Nicquel Terry. “Banning Ethnic Hairstyles ‘upholds This Notion of White Supremacy.’ States Pass Laws to Stop Natural Hair Discrimination.” USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/10/14/black-hair-laws-passed-stop-natural-hair-discrimination-across-us/3850402002/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2020.

​

Sperling, Nicole. “Film Academy Elects a Casting Director as Its New President.” The New York Times, 7 Aug. 2019. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/business/academy-david-rubin-president.html.