Blake at the Oscars - Day 1

After a long journey across the entire North American continent, David and I made it to LA safely. Our plane flight was spent reading press kits, studying flash cards, talking about film, and catching up on a few minutes of sleep we failed to get the night before. We were excited to get here. 

After our driver delivered us to the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, we were greeted by our press guide, Michele. We dropped our bags and went immediately to — where else? — the red carpet. The streets have been shut down for several days now, and the whole front of the theater is under constant preparation while things are being prepared for Sunday. The carpet is down, simply covered by plastic to keep it clean. We saw the spot on the carpet where we hope to be interviewing from; we saw the arrivals area and the cheering section; we saw where all the celebrities will walk come Sunday evening. Surreal. 

After a bite to eat and a quick change into my khaki suit, we were off to the Academy headquarters. We met Sarah and Joel, the team from USC, and they rode along with us to the Animated Feature Symposium, the first event we covered for the competition. Luz and Phil missed a connection in Denver today — bless their hearts! — but they joined us in time for the event. Although we’re technically in competition, I love the other teams. Sarah, Luz and I have already clicked, and I am really thankful we’ve been able to work together, laugh, and help each other out rather than treating each other like enemies. I think by the end of this we’ll all be great friends. 

The most incredible thing happened while I was waiting in the lobby at the Academy for the symposium to begin: Robert Osborne walked through the lobby. For those who don’t know, Robert is my icon, and I had the great pleasure of working with him through the classic film festival he use to host in Athens. I haven’t seen him since last March, so I was elated when he walked out of the elevators. In true RO form, he came right over and shook my hand, and we had a nice 20 minute chat. He’s so wonderful. I learned that he won’t be on the red carpet Sunday, so it’s really fortunate that I saw him today. You can’t tell me that God’s hand wasn’t at work in that little encounter. 

When the reception for the symposium began, things got hectic. This was my first real test. I jockeyed my way up to the press line and waited for the directors to come my way. David and I had the opportunity to interview Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, directors of How to Train Your Dragon, Lee Unkrich, director of Toy Story 3, and Tom Sito, an animator that has worked on films such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid. No big deal. It was clear I’m new at broadcast, but I think I held my own. All the preparation certainly helped a great deal. 

After the interviews, we were allowed into the theater to watch clips from the nominated films and hear more from the filmmakers who crafted them. So, so interesting. 

Tomorrow is the Foreign Language Film Photo Op, a press conference with Tom Sherak, president of the Academy, and a preview of the Governor’s Ball. 

Saturday morning at 10 a.m. pacific time they will announce the winners of the competition. 

Until then, your Oscars Correspondent hopeful who’s living his dream,

Blake