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CNN Live Today

Week-Long Countdown to Oscar Night Under Way

Aired March 18, 2002 - 11:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The week-long countdown to Oscar night is under way and some Academy Award watchdogs say races too close to call, which is why our Oscar watcher this morning, my usual co-host, Daryn Kagan, is out right now in Hollywood. She's been snooping around. She's on the phone right now.

Good morning. How are you?

DARYN KAGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

Very exciting out here.

HARRIS: So what's the buzz? What have you been hearing out there? We have been talking on and off this morning about this smear campaign against "A Beautiful Mind."

KAGAN: I will tell you, that really is the buzz out here in Hollywood. First, let me tell you, it's very exciting, because the streets are closing around the Kodak Theater, where the Academy Awards will be held for the first time. It's just one more day. You can vote. Academy members can vote. So it really is coming down to the wire here, and with that smear campaign. You know, every year, there is talk and there's marketing, and there's movie studios trying to get their movie and there actors noticed.

But this year, especially cheap shot going around at "A Beautiful Mind." Word that John Nash, the movie that it was based on, that it's not completely true, that there were key elements of his life that were left out, and it makes accusations that would make people perhaps think, you know what, maybe I don't want to vote for that for best picture.

And if you wonder why, it's not just the thrill of taking home Oscars, we are talking lots and lots of money. I saw one stat in the "L.A. Times," an article, check this, the week that the nomination came out in February, DVD sales of "Moulin Rouge," just DVD sales, went up 160 percent just based on the nomination.

HARRIS: OK, you can the big incentive for there creating all this buzz. But you know something else, what have you been hearing about this as well. We hear that there is another element at worked that hasn't really been that big a factor in year's past, the Internet. KAGAN: The Internet is making it a lot more difficult for the studios to control the smear campaigns, because anybody can go on the Internet and say thinking, and then there's also so-called Internet journalist that can go on, and they write something, and suddenly, it's accepted as truth and as gospel, and then the more conventional media follows suit.

So really studios who feel like they are losing the battle here, very, very frustrated, and saying it's gotten dirty than it ever has before.

HARRIS: We are going to be talking with one of these Internet journalists as well, so, folks, stick around for that. Now, what are you going to be doing today, Daryn?

KAGAN: I came out early to start working on some stories, and I'll be going live here, starting on Thursday. But today, you know, part of the Oscars is who wins, but of course, Leon, it comes down to what are you going to wear?

HARRIS: For some of you it does.

KAGAN: You are going to be looking great too. But even the stars that are so beautiful, and I'm thinking of Halle Berry. There is no one more beautiful than she is, and of course she is nominated for best actress for "Monsters Ball." This is a huge year for her. But even Halle Berry gets some help, and I have the chance to follow around her stylist, Phillip Block (ph), and see how he puts together one of the most beautiful women in the world, and we'll show that to our viewers later on in the week.

HARRIS: Listen, Halle Berry could wear an onion sack and she would be just fine.

KAGAN: You could put a bag on her head, but I'm hoping to pick up some tips myself.

HARRIS: All right, we'll let you get to it. All right, partner I'll check back with you later on.

KAGAN: OK. Hi, to Carol, too.

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