Do you know? Oscar magic brews in gritty Chicago factory - Reports and views

Oscar statuettes at various stages of plating - copper, nickel, silver and 24-carat gold - sit on a table at the Chicago factory. Photo: AFP Oscar magic is brewing in a gritty Chicago factory where the statues soon to be hoisted in victory by the stars of the silver screen are born in a bubbling vat of britannia

The pewter-like alloy is poured slowly into a mould and cools quickly. But it takes 40 hours of precise and delicate work before Oscar is ready for the bright lights of Hollywood.

The heart of the trophy - with its iconic square jaw, broad chest and sword - is swiftly hammered out in preparation for careful polishing.

Once every blemish is erased and Oscar shines like a mirror, the statue is hand-dipped in electrically-charged tubs of molten copper, nickel, silver and 24-carat gold.

Then it's on to more polishing and a blinding lacquer before Oscar is finally screwed into his heavy base and carefully boxed using white gloves.

"The top fell off," he told reporters. "They'll have to solder it back on."

R.S. Owens -- which has been making Oscar since 1982 -- is the last trophy manufacturer left in the United States.

Most of the cheap trophies handed out at kids' sports tournaments are now made in China.

R.S. Owens has fought to hang on by focusing on "prestige" awards -- like the Oscars, the Emmys, MTV Music Awards, and the London International Advertising Award -- and the corporate market.

Its display cases are filled with familiar figures like the Jolly Green Giant, the Planter's Peanut, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Tony the Tiger and a crystal, sunglass-wearing Starkist Tuna.

But it had to lay off around a third of its staff after the 2008 economic crisis took a huge bite out of the "employee recognition" market as it was already struggling to stem a slow, but steady loss of its "prestige" client base.

"In the past, many of the prestigious awards (contracts) that we lost didn't care that they were made in China," said Scott Siegel, whose father founded R.S. Owens in 1938.

"They only cared about price, especially when the recession hit, that became even more important. I'm starting to see signs of that turning around. People are more interested in protecting jobs in the United States."

About tops US box office ‘Underworld Awakening’ Views and reviews

In the exploits of a female vampire warrior grabbed top honors at the North American box office its first weekend, said the industry tracker Exhibitor Relations Monday. 


The 3D film starring Kate Beckinsale collected $ 25.3 million at the box office to prevent the onset of "Red Tails," which chronicles the exploits of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, a group of black pilots, with 18 8 million dollars. 

The two new films grown main attraction last week, Mark Wahlberg crime drama "contraband" in the third place with 12 million dollars over the weekend. 


"So strong, so close," the story of Sandra Bullock Tom Hanks a family affected by the attacks of 9 / 11, brought $ 10 million in its first weekend of wide release. 

Stephen Soderbergh's Haywire secured fifth spot with takings of $9 million, ahead of Disney's remake of Beauty and the Beast, Joyful Noise, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which rounded out the top ten

Rounding out the top 10 action movies were "Haywire" ($ 8.4 million), "Beauty and the Beast" in 3D ($ 8,800,000), "Joyful Noise" ($ 5,900,000) "Mission Impossible: The Ghost Protocol "($ 5.6 million)," Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows "($ 4.5 million) and" Iron Lady "(3.7 million).
Stephen Soderbergh's Haywire secured fifth spot with takings of $9 million, ahead of Disney's remake of Beauty and the Beast, Joyful Noise, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which rounded out the top ten

Top English Movie 'Artist' eyes gold as Oscar nominees announced

Top English Movie 'Artist' eyes gold as Oscar nominees announced

Price-heavy of the silent film "The Artist" in the hope of good news Tuesday when the nominations for the Oscars, the culmination of the season, Hollywood's annual awards will be made know. 

 The black and white film that has won numerous awards over the past two months, is vying to become the first silent film in eight decades, the Academy Award for best film wins the next month. 


 However, depending on the possibilities of the French film directed, which named 6000 odd members of the Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences, is still unknown Tuesday morning at its headquarters in Beverly Hills. 
The best actor race sets up an intriguing match between friends George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Clooney was nominated for his role as a father trying to keep his family together in a time of crisis in “The Descendants,” and Pitt in his turn as a numbers-crunching baseball executive in “Moneyball.”

 The relatively unknown director Michel Hazanavicius is competing for the prize against the heavyweights? Hollywood, including Martin Scorsese for his lavish 3D adventure "Hugo" and Steven Spielberg with the horses "War Horse" epic.
“The Artist” has been a Hollywood darling this season winning best film honors from critics groups and taking the Golden Globe award for best film musical or comedy. In the best picture race, it may face its stiffest competition from “The Descendants,” which was named the Golden Globe best film drama winner.

Will Veena Malik Sexy Wallpapers, Pictures, FHM cover shoot hurt or help her career?

MUMBAI: Pakistan star Veena Malik, who caused a sensation in the Indian industry of show business in the last year of his stay in the reality show "Bigg Boss 4", deplores the recent controversy raised the nation.

  
The actress admitted she had made ??a mistake by opting for the magazine FHM did but categorically rejected'm naked.
   Wrong in his opinion, the magazine is that by altering its image.
   In an interview with a newspaper, Veena said: ".. Yes, of course, transforms the images were my first two were covered in tattoos, I think if I could go back I want to delete this time, I feel cheated .."
   "But we all make mistakes, I made ??a mistake, learn from it and wants," he said.
   Veena had with his father after the news that threw him completely humiliated and called for serious action against them.

   "It is tragic and traumatic, very sad. It was very difficult," said the actress in disrepair.
 “The photo-shoot you are mentioning is the part of anti-Veena campaign by my opponents in the film industry. I never went for a nude-shoot. Those are fake pictures. I am not bothered about them since those are not my photographs. Veena Malik is also very good compare.

"A Separation" is breathing life into Iran's hopes for a rare Oscar success - Reviews

LOS ANGELES: Hollywood film has criticized Tehran crash, but the acclaimed film "A Separation" Iran hopes will play a rare success for Oscar.
Published in the United States on Friday after a year she won the prize, the Iranian director might find morally complex Asghar Farhadi, two contemporary Tehran, Iran, families first foreign language Oscar nomination since 1998 to win.

"A Separation" was launched in 2011 as the first Iranian film ever Golden Bear at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival in February to win. It was the best foreign language film award from the U.S. Board Critical National and New York Film Critics Circle and a Golden Globe nomination to win.
Farhadi, told Reuters news agency that the recognition was gratifying in the West, and hoped that Oscar buzz will inspire filmmakers around the world.
"Under difficult conditions, you can make movies," he said. "If filmmakers can my country to get to the Oscars, this may be an important message for other filmmakers."
If "A Separation", states the list of the five foreign language Oscar, January 26, which is the first Iranian film since "Children of Heaven" in 1998 can be nominated.
The film has a rare 100 percent positive result on a U.S. site Aggregator Rotten Tomatoes this week and therefore is one of the best films - in any language - 2011.
Just three months ago gave Hollywood organizations, writers, directors, actors and the group that awards the Oscars, a strong statement in support of jailed Iranian filmmaker.
These included the arrest of the director Jafar Panahi and the arrest of actress Marzieh Vafamehr.
Farhadi has managed to avoid any clash with the conservative censors in Iran, with its character-driven specialty dramas - the kind of movies, family policy in the politics of land use.
"On the one hand, if you were born and grew up there, you know yourself, without consciously thinking, you can go after this problem, can not go after another," Farhadi told Reuters.

VIEW ESCAPING CENSORSHIP
He said the Iranian filmmakers address taboo subjects, as always - in the form of subtext.
Despite their protests, however, say some critics, that is exactly what Farhadi, "A Separation," a family drama about a couple Nader (Peyman Maadi) and Simin (Leila Hatami), going through a divorce.
Living with his father, an Alzheimer's patient, Nader hires Razieh (Sareh Bayat) for the look of old. In a discussion Nader launches Razieh physical neglect and selling at home. Later suffered a miscarriage and before a competent court holding Nader.
Many critics see the film as a commentary on class differences. Some see it as a critique of the Byzantine justice system in Iran. And others see it as a conflict between modernity and tradition.
Farhadi is proud to present the audience with more questions than answers. He said: "A Separation" has some goals to deal with the censors.
"I do not think this form of development of the characters actually have an effect on the face of censorship," Farhadi said.
However, obtaining international recognition could change the circumstances. Last year, accepting an award for his previous film "About Elly" said Farhadi Panahi compassion for other filmmakers. This led to a high of two weeks in the production of "A Separation."
The fee does not punish Farhadi. A few months later in Berlin, was banished open Golshifteh Farahani actress ("About Elly") could return to their homeland.
"I feel it my duty to speak," he said. "We are all part of a community."
Farhadi could more forcefully on behalf of his colleagues, but that would demand self-exile. There is an option that has little interest in pursuing.
"For Iranian filmmaker, the conditions that exist regardless, it is best to make films in Iran," he said. "Because we know the culture, which is better, as long as possible, to work there."
While Farhadi considers that the usual limits, it has to inspire more creativity, which ultimately have the opposite effect.
However, others criticized emphasize Iranian state censorship in order to promote their films abroad, said that morally guilty as the government officials to censor.


sources Geo tv