56 songs qualify to vie for Oscar in
Best Original Song Category
Dec 8, 2006
Fifty-six songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures
have qualified to vie in the best original song category at
the 79th Annual Academy Awards.
Alphabetically, they range from "Believe It" from the Heart of
the Game" to "You Know My Name" from "Casino Royale."
Both the musical "Dreamgirls" and the animated film "Over
the Hedge" placed three songs each. The original tunes
from "Dreamgirls" that qualified are "Listen," "Love You I
Do" and "Patience," while "Hedge" will be represented by
"Family of Me," "Heist" and "Still."
And "Borat" earned a spot on the qualifiers' list with its mock
national anthem "O Kazakhstan." Also included is the little
Indie film "Hollywood Familia" with two songs including
"Suenos" and "Hollywood Familia".
On Jan. 16, the Academy will screen clips featuring each
song, in random order, for voting members of the music
branch in both Beverly Hills and New York City. Following
the screenings, members will vote to determine which three,
four or five songs become nominees in the category.
To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both
of which are original and written specifically for the film. A
clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both
lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as
the first music cue in the end credits.
Best Original Song Category
Dec 8, 2006
Fifty-six songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures
have qualified to vie in the best original song category at
the 79th Annual Academy Awards.
Alphabetically, they range from "Believe It" from the Heart of
the Game" to "You Know My Name" from "Casino Royale."
Both the musical "Dreamgirls" and the animated film "Over
the Hedge" placed three songs each. The original tunes
from "Dreamgirls" that qualified are "Listen," "Love You I
Do" and "Patience," while "Hedge" will be represented by
"Family of Me," "Heist" and "Still."
And "Borat" earned a spot on the qualifiers' list with its mock
national anthem "O Kazakhstan." Also included is the little
Indie film "Hollywood Familia" with two songs including
"Suenos" and "Hollywood Familia".
On Jan. 16, the Academy will screen clips featuring each
song, in random order, for voting members of the music
branch in both Beverly Hills and New York City. Following
the screenings, members will vote to determine which three,
four or five songs become nominees in the category.
To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both
of which are original and written specifically for the film. A
clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both
lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as
the first music cue in the end credits.
 |
"Speaking of 2010 contenders, with Sundance behind us and
South By Southwest announcing its lineup today we're
wondering where the next "Precious" is coming from.
Distributors should look no further than a 2009 Toronto Fest
entry, "Down for Life" which was profiled in the Times back in
September and could be called a cross between "Precious" and
"Boyz 'N The Hood," two films that gained strong traction with
Oscar. This actually should be called "Girlz 'N The Hood" as it is
the true story of a young Latina gang member who uses her gift
for poetry to find a way out of a dead-end life. Although the cast
includes Danny Glover and Snoop Dogg, it is mostly comprised
of L.A. based non-actors led by Jessica Romero who could
become next award season's Gabourey Sidibe..."
--PETE HAMMOND, LOS ANGELES TIMES
February 2010
South By Southwest announcing its lineup today we're
wondering where the next "Precious" is coming from.
Distributors should look no further than a 2009 Toronto Fest
entry, "Down for Life" which was profiled in the Times back in
September and could be called a cross between "Precious" and
"Boyz 'N The Hood," two films that gained strong traction with
Oscar. This actually should be called "Girlz 'N The Hood" as it is
the true story of a young Latina gang member who uses her gift
for poetry to find a way out of a dead-end life. Although the cast
includes Danny Glover and Snoop Dogg, it is mostly comprised
of L.A. based non-actors led by Jessica Romero who could
become next award season's Gabourey Sidibe..."
--PETE HAMMOND, LOS ANGELES TIMES
February 2010
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On Top of Los Angeles: an Interview
with Producer Frank Aragon
Frank Aragon's Push for Oscar Part I
Written by Ann Marie Ramirez
Published on LatinoLA: June 17, 2010
with Producer Frank Aragon
Frank Aragon's Push for Oscar Part I
Written by Ann Marie Ramirez
Published on LatinoLA: June 17, 2010
Welcome,
1211 Entertainment is a full service award winning production company
producing film and television product. In addition we also believe targeting a
core audience is key to any successful company and knowing that there is a
huge need and demand for more American-Latinos stories in film. 1211
Entertainment intends on helping fulfill that need with quality content that
has universal appeal.
Thank you for visiting our site.
1211 Entertainment is a full service award winning production company
producing film and television product. In addition we also believe targeting a
core audience is key to any successful company and knowing that there is a
huge need and demand for more American-Latinos stories in film. 1211
Entertainment intends on helping fulfill that need with quality content that
has universal appeal.
Thank you for visiting our site.
Twenty three years in the making, a young man
from Boyle Heights is finally ready and eager
to let the public see his work, his collection of films that is.
That young man is Frank Aragon, a filmmaker born and raised in the tough
streets of Boyle Heights, a suburb of Los Angeles just to the east of the Los
Angeles River.
In September of 2009 his film "Down for Life" starring Danny Glover, Snoop
Dogg, Kate Del Castillo, Elizabeth Pena and newcomer Jessica Romero from
Wilmington, world premiered at the prestigious 34th Annual Toronto
International Film festival.
The independent film was produced and 2nd unit directed by the Boyle Heights
native. The Los Angeles Times, Pete Hammond calls the film an early Oscar
contender -- a sign of Frank Aragon's dream in the making.
This is his fifth film in the capacity of producer; Aragon has written and
directed the others. Aragon formed his company, 1211 Entertainment, to
create, market, and distribute American-Latino themed films with a universal
appeal.
This determined filmmaker is ready to make a name for himself. In fact, he has
been working on this life-long dream since he was 13. His story is quite
inspirational. He grew up in a single parent household. His mother worked two
jobs which left him to generally grow up all alone the majority of the time.
A "latch-key" kid is what he calls himself. He spent hours taking buses into
Hollywood when he should have been sitting in his 9th grade classes because
he knew he was destined for the movie industry and couldn't get started soon
enough. He was so passionate about his goals he went out and just started
doing it and it was as simple as that. Whatever movie related project he could
work on to obtain experience, he jumped on enthusiastically. He started off as
an actor and pretty quickly landed off Broadway in New York.
Six months later he landed his first starring role in "Angel Town" opposite
Teresa Saldana. He didn't have a very close relationship with his father until
his early twenties. "I grew up brave able to take on the world but my personal
relationships have suffered because the absence of my mother and father in
my childhood turned into what I made to be my own negative perceptions of
close relationships; inside I felt worthless".
He has wondered if that contributed to his desire for a life in show business-- a
longing for acknowledgment and admiration. Just after returning from
Minnesota where he starred in a PBS American Playhouse film, he faced yet
another challenge. He lost his vision in his right eye from a freak accident
involving a bungee cord. He went through 5 years of surgeries and struggles
adapting to his disability. "I thought my acting career was over so I returned to
school to learn the technicalities of what I loved-- to produce and direct".
He began creating his own movies 12 years ago. His other film titles are "My
Fathers Love", "Boyle Heights", and "Hollywood Familia". There are no
limitations for Aragon. He sees Hollywood as not having completely caught on
to the importance of brown behind and in front of the camera. "We are a part of
the American fabric. I myself am a third generation Mexican-American with my
roots right here in Los Angeles. I love this city and all it has to offer. If you work
hard and you believe in yourself, the sky is the limit".
He's been involved in the movie industry for over 23 years now, a member of
the Screen Actors Guild since 1987 and has been in front of and behind the
camera the last twelve. He wants to work with the best because he believes he
is as worthy as anyone else. Confidently embracing his calling, he says "I WANT
TO AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES BY THE STORIES I'M TELLING, STORIES THAT MAKE
A DIFFERENCE IN OUR SOCIETY".
He is dedicated to tell the stories that need to be told, "…like our involvement
as a people who have contributed greatly to the growth of this country".
Regardless of how or why he got started, he is faithfully committed to this goal.
His oldest brother fought in Vietnam and his uncle fought in Europe during
World War II. He shares, "My father fought at the end of the war in the Pacific
and yet there were no Latinos portrayed in the HBO series of the same name
by Hollywood icons, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks", yet he is still a huge fan
of their work. "I would love the opportunity to work with these men and would
like to remind them not to forget all the people of color who also happen to be
Americans that are a huge part of our history too".
Frank started his own company, 1211 Entertainment, for that very reason; he
feels there is huge lack of American-Latino product. There is a need and he
intends to help fill it. "I am an actor who is also a writer, producer and director
and I am very proud of what I have overcome in my own life to be where I am at
in my career. I am a father with three children, two of which I have a wonderful
relationship with and another I aspire to one day. There is not one of us who is
without fault. I have had my share of downfalls but I believe in getting up a
stronger and a better person. I am blind in my right eye but learned to accept
my disability". A lawsuit four years later allowed him to finance his company's
current slate of films, with exception of "Down for Life", all to be released in
the Fall of 2010.
(Part 1 of 2, Aragon's push for Oscar)
from Boyle Heights is finally ready and eager
to let the public see his work, his collection of films that is.
That young man is Frank Aragon, a filmmaker born and raised in the tough
streets of Boyle Heights, a suburb of Los Angeles just to the east of the Los
Angeles River.
In September of 2009 his film "Down for Life" starring Danny Glover, Snoop
Dogg, Kate Del Castillo, Elizabeth Pena and newcomer Jessica Romero from
Wilmington, world premiered at the prestigious 34th Annual Toronto
International Film festival.
The independent film was produced and 2nd unit directed by the Boyle Heights
native. The Los Angeles Times, Pete Hammond calls the film an early Oscar
contender -- a sign of Frank Aragon's dream in the making.
This is his fifth film in the capacity of producer; Aragon has written and
directed the others. Aragon formed his company, 1211 Entertainment, to
create, market, and distribute American-Latino themed films with a universal
appeal.
This determined filmmaker is ready to make a name for himself. In fact, he has
been working on this life-long dream since he was 13. His story is quite
inspirational. He grew up in a single parent household. His mother worked two
jobs which left him to generally grow up all alone the majority of the time.
A "latch-key" kid is what he calls himself. He spent hours taking buses into
Hollywood when he should have been sitting in his 9th grade classes because
he knew he was destined for the movie industry and couldn't get started soon
enough. He was so passionate about his goals he went out and just started
doing it and it was as simple as that. Whatever movie related project he could
work on to obtain experience, he jumped on enthusiastically. He started off as
an actor and pretty quickly landed off Broadway in New York.
Six months later he landed his first starring role in "Angel Town" opposite
Teresa Saldana. He didn't have a very close relationship with his father until
his early twenties. "I grew up brave able to take on the world but my personal
relationships have suffered because the absence of my mother and father in
my childhood turned into what I made to be my own negative perceptions of
close relationships; inside I felt worthless".
He has wondered if that contributed to his desire for a life in show business-- a
longing for acknowledgment and admiration. Just after returning from
Minnesota where he starred in a PBS American Playhouse film, he faced yet
another challenge. He lost his vision in his right eye from a freak accident
involving a bungee cord. He went through 5 years of surgeries and struggles
adapting to his disability. "I thought my acting career was over so I returned to
school to learn the technicalities of what I loved-- to produce and direct".
He began creating his own movies 12 years ago. His other film titles are "My
Fathers Love", "Boyle Heights", and "Hollywood Familia". There are no
limitations for Aragon. He sees Hollywood as not having completely caught on
to the importance of brown behind and in front of the camera. "We are a part of
the American fabric. I myself am a third generation Mexican-American with my
roots right here in Los Angeles. I love this city and all it has to offer. If you work
hard and you believe in yourself, the sky is the limit".
He's been involved in the movie industry for over 23 years now, a member of
the Screen Actors Guild since 1987 and has been in front of and behind the
camera the last twelve. He wants to work with the best because he believes he
is as worthy as anyone else. Confidently embracing his calling, he says "I WANT
TO AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES BY THE STORIES I'M TELLING, STORIES THAT MAKE
A DIFFERENCE IN OUR SOCIETY".
He is dedicated to tell the stories that need to be told, "…like our involvement
as a people who have contributed greatly to the growth of this country".
Regardless of how or why he got started, he is faithfully committed to this goal.
His oldest brother fought in Vietnam and his uncle fought in Europe during
World War II. He shares, "My father fought at the end of the war in the Pacific
and yet there were no Latinos portrayed in the HBO series of the same name
by Hollywood icons, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks", yet he is still a huge fan
of their work. "I would love the opportunity to work with these men and would
like to remind them not to forget all the people of color who also happen to be
Americans that are a huge part of our history too".
Frank started his own company, 1211 Entertainment, for that very reason; he
feels there is huge lack of American-Latino product. There is a need and he
intends to help fill it. "I am an actor who is also a writer, producer and director
and I am very proud of what I have overcome in my own life to be where I am at
in my career. I am a father with three children, two of which I have a wonderful
relationship with and another I aspire to one day. There is not one of us who is
without fault. I have had my share of downfalls but I believe in getting up a
stronger and a better person. I am blind in my right eye but learned to accept
my disability". A lawsuit four years later allowed him to finance his company's
current slate of films, with exception of "Down for Life", all to be released in
the Fall of 2010.
(Part 1 of 2, Aragon's push for Oscar)
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