“It’s weird, a big surprise. You learn not to have expectations. My son-in-law called and then the phone started ringing. I love this profession. I love film. Not to sound Pollyanna, but it’s an honor to be part of this whole thing.”
Richard Jenkins, actor, “The Visitor”

It’s delightfully surprising. I had no expectations. A very close friend called me, as I had no idea it was televised. It’s remarkable how many people are calling me. What does all of this mean Four letters: W-O-R-K.”
Melissa Leo, actress, “Frozen River”

“I didn’t want to get ahead of myself and wanted to guard against being disappointed. I tried to be very cool and sleep through it. I got in from Washington, D.C., and decided to spend the night at my parents’ apartment and had anxiety dreams all night, getting up every hour. At 8:30 we were all sitting on the couch. I think my parents cheered louder than anyone.”
Anne Hathaway, actress, “Rachel Getting Married”

Tim Burton, one of the most gifted and visionary directors working in Hollywood, has never been nominated for the Best Director Oscar.  In contrast, Stephen Daldry, a proficient, neophyte filmmaker, has been nominated multiple times, making Oscar and film history records, by going three for three. With this year’s “The Reader,” he has scored a directing bid for the each of the three films he has helmed: “Billy Elliott” in 2000 and “The Hours” in 2002.

I’m at the Indian premiere and we just got the word of the Oscar nominations. You have no idea what an explosive combination that is. It’s going crazy out here. The red carpet was everybody singing and dancing their way down it. The Indians are so proud to have made a film that’s recognized in America this way. At the time, I thought the film was going straight to DVD. From that to this is kind of unimaginable, really. It was a film with subtitles and no stars and a cast that no one has heard of. You come to Mumbai and you learn the people here have this extraordinary generosity of spirit. We tried to get that in the film. For once in my life, I think we achieved what we set out to do.”
–Simon Beaufoy, adapted screenplay, “Slumdog Millionaire”