By KEN JOHNSON
Another day in Tinseltown is in the books.
Saturday started off with a bang. I was up early to call in to CableSuite 541's first version of our new movie talk show "Guys Who Argue About Movies", Oscar edition.
The show started at 7 am L.A. time, which marked the latest I have been able to sleep in since we arrived here. Shortly after that show, it was back to the red carpet for the MTV award announcement. Each year, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences teams up with MTVu to hold a contest for college journalist students to try to win a trip to represent the college community on the red carpet at the Oscars.
Three finalists were chosen and traveled to Hollywood for the announcement of the winner. Three different teams of one on-air personality and a camera person were on the dias ready for the announcement. The dark skies and steady rain were not about to dampen the spirit of these impressive college students. Team by team they were introduced to the media and !heir video submission that explained why they should represent the college community at the Oscars played on flat screen video monitors.
Each of the teams grinned broadly as their videos played on the red carpet at the entrance to the Kodak Theater. After what seemed to be a long tease, Academy President Tom Sherak announced that the team from Emerson College would take the prize this year.
We hustled back to the hotel to shower and shave then head back to the Academy headquarters for the Makeup and Hair Symposium at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Three films were represented: Star Trek, The Young Victoria, and Il Divo. We learned a lot about the art form of makeup for movies as folks from Star Trek talked about shaving the eye brows from their vulcan cast then reapplying eyebrows one hair at a time. Following the workshop, we were able to chase down two of the gentlemen from the Star Trek team for interviews. During our press time, there was also a reception for those in attendance.
The place was packed and it was nearly impossible to move about. After downing some high-class meatloaf and sour-dough bread, it was time to say our good-byes. Sunday we will rest up and catch up on video segments. Then, it will be over to highland avenue to watch the limos deliver the stars to the show. We'll recap on Monday, but from here, our curtain is drawing closed.
A big thank you to our sponsors who helped make our trip a reality: The Star Beacon, ACMC, Conneaut Savings Bank, EB & Co., Star 97, 98.3 The Bull, Magic Oldies 102.5, New Knoxville Telephone and Cable Company, and of course, my employer Conneaut Telephone Company and CableSuite 541.
