OSCAR® WINNERS BLANCHETT, LETO, MCCONAUGHEY AND NYONG’O TO RETURN AS PRESENTERS AT 87TH OSCARS®

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February 4, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OSCAR® WINNERS BLANCHETT, LETO, MCCONAUGHEY AND NYONG’O
TO RETURN AS PRESENTERS AT 87TH OSCARS®

LOS ANGELES, CA — Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey and Lupita Nyong’o, last year’s Oscar winners in the leading actress, supporting actor and supporting actress categories, will return to present at this year’s Oscars, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will air on Sunday, February 22, live on ABC.

“The great tradition of having the previous year’s Oscar-winning best actors and actresses in all 4 categories happily continues this year with the amazing quartet of Cate, Jared, Matthew and Lupita.  We’re thrilled to have them back,” says Zadan and Meron.

Blanchett has been nominated for six Oscars and has won two, including last year’s award for “Blue Jasmine.” Her previous win was for Actress in a Supporting Role for the 2004 film “The Aviator.” Blanchett also received leading actress nominations for “Elizabeth” (1998) and “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2007), and supporting actress nominations for “Notes on a Scandal” (2006) and “I’m Not There” (2007).

Last year, Leto won the Oscar for Actor in a Supporting Role and McConaughey for Actor in a Leading Role, both for “Dallas Buyer’s Club.” Nyong’o took home the Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role for “12 Years a Slave.”

The 87th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars, produced by Zadan and Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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87th Oscars® Nominations Announcement

unnamedAs you may have noticed, Black Chick Media has been selected as a press outlet for the 87th Academy Awards. We are pleased to say that we have the distinct honor of covering the nominations announcement this year! Check back soon to see if your favorite film has made the list!

Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

87th Oscars® Nominations Announcement
Thursday, January 15, 2015, 5:30 a.m. PST
Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Beverly Hills, CA
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

The 87th Oscars® Nominations Announcement will be streamed live at http://www.oscars.org/Live.

If you have any questions about the live stream, please e-mail socialmedia@oscars.org.

A pool feed of the event will also be available off-site via the AT&T Hub and The Switch.  Please contact publicity@oscars.org for more information.

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Universal Pictures Now Accepting Emerging Writers Applications

The Universal Pictures Emerging Writers Fellowship Program aims to identify and cultivate new and unique voices with a passion for storytelling.  Emerging writers who are chosen to participate in the program will work exclusively with the studio over the course of a year to hone their skills. During this program, fellows will be given the opportunity to work on current Universal projects as well as pitch original story ideas. Fellows will also attend workshops, receive mentoring, interact with top literary agents and sit in on Universal’s executive meetings. Fellows admitted into the program will be hired under a writing service agreement and must be committed to working full-time for one year.

The application posted Tuesday, September 3rd at 12 noon.  The submission window will only be open for 30 days or until they receive 500 eligible applications (whichever comes first).  Click here for application requirements.

Via the Hollywood Black Film Festival: Celebrity Casting Director Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd Gives Actors Their Big Break with Twinkie Byrd’s Monologue Slam

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Celebrity Casting Director Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd
Gives Actors Their Big Break with Twinkie Byrd’s Monologue Slam

WHO: Hollywood Black Film Festival and Celebrity Casting Director Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd
WHAT: Twinkie Byrd’s Monologue Slam
WHEN: October 5th, 2013 at 7PM
WHERE: W Hotel, 6250 Hollywood Boulevard; Hollywood, CA

The 2013 Hollywood Black Film Festival and Twinkie Byrd’s Monologue Slam is looking to give actors the chance to get in front of the entertainment industry’s top casting directors, agents, producers, and celebrity judges to showcase their talents.

Those interested in taking part in the competition, which has a submission deadline of July 31, 2013, should visit the Hollywood Black Film Festivals website submission page and learn more about the requirements and rules for participation. 10 finalists will be selected, from all of the entries received, to perform their monologues live at the 2013 Hollywood Black Film Festival.

Entrants pay a $30 entry fee, and submit a two minute or less video submission of a monologue.

More information can be found and submissions can be made at www.HBFF.org.

The 2013 Hollywood Black Film Festival runs October 2-6 at the Montalban Theatre and the W Hollywood Hotel.