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CNN Live Saturday

Party has Already Begun in Hollywood

Aired March 23, 2002 - 22:48   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Oscar night still a day away, but the party's already begun in Hollywood. CNN's Leon Harris is there and joins us with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEON HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): Well, we are just hours away now from the moment of truth here at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Right behind me, you can probably see this red carpet, which is going to be perhaps 500 feet of walking that may be the most important stroll that some of these stars will take tomorrow night.

Now, all the preparations here at the theater are still under way. There's also something else going on here in Hollywood, the handicapping. Lots of conversations about who they think is going to be the winner in all of the leading categories and simmering just below that, on the surface, is the issue of race. Many people are talking about how race is going to matter in the - in the voting this year here in Hollywood.

Now, we area seeing this time around for the first time in 30 years, three African-Americans have been nominating in leading categories. And you are familiar with their names - Halle Berry, Will Smith and Denzel Washington. Now, this is not the first time it's ever happened. It happened once before 30 years ago. But this time around, many people are saying this may actually prove whether or not Hollywood is as opened minded as it likes to think it is.

Now, it's also significant that that is issue this year because Sydney Poiter who is the only person of color to have won a leading category Oscar is also going to be getting one tomorrow night. He will have one for an honorary Oscar, one that is not just reflective of what his body of work is, but also what his work and his life has actually meant to those who are in the business right now.

MARTIN LAWRENCE, ACTOR: They call me Mr. Tibbs.

WILL SMITH, ACTOR: The work is undeniable.

SISSY SPACEK, ACTRESS: From the word go, he was loyal to it.

SYDNEY POITER, ACTOR: I was right. I know I was right. I've got to prove it.

ROBERT HOOKS, POITER FRIEND: I knew he was going to be star when I first say him. He's really one of those people that broke the mold.

DENZEL WASHINGTON, BEST ACTOR NOMINEE: Yeah, yeah, yeah, they don't make them like that anymore. You're right about that. A class act.

HOOKS: You sure they ever made them like that?

(LAUGHTER)

WASHINGTON: Maybe he is the mold.

HOOKS: "Defiant Ones" was probably the movie that he showed America that he was a top rate, number one, forget color, forget any of that stuff. He was a star in the movies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: John and I hope are hoping to persuade all four of you to fly over for the wedding. Would anybody like to talk about that?

GREGORY HINES, ACTOR: He was great in "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?"

TONY DANZA, ACTOR: From "Lilies in The Field" to "Defiant Ones," it just goes on and on. You know, there's just - he's just one of the great American treasures.

HINES: I remember that I saw Sydney win on the Academy Awards and I felt like going out of my house and beating on the pots and the pans. I was so happy.

POITER: I am naturally indebted to countless members of people. For all of them, I can say a very special thank you.

HALLE BERRY, ACTRESS: He has been a symbol of hope, I think, for most black actors, you know. You know, we all sort of stand on his shoulders and aspire what he was able to do and find a way to work with him in the industry like he did.

WASHINGTON: Sydney was someone that I talked to early in my career, getting some of the most important advice in my career about what roles to take or when to wait and things like that and has been an inspiration to me.

BERRY: I got a chance to personally thank him for opening doors and being a source of aspiration for actors like myself.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The recipient of an honorary award this year is Sydney Poiter.

(APPLAUSE)

HINES: Sydney Poiter is the - he's the Jackie Robinson of motion pictures. And it was - it is so right for Sydney to be receiving this award this year.

HARRIS: So as you can see there's no shortage of goodwill for Sydney Poiter at least going in tomorrow night.

Now, as far as that issue of minorities and whether or not one wins or loses, well, the fact is, either way, it's not going to settle the issue. Some will say, "Whatever happens happens strictly because an minority's been nominated." And it's just a shame that this is the kind of issue in which there is no real, nice, neat storyline to wrap the whole thing up.

That's all for now here. Back to you in the studio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Thank you, Leon. CNN's special coverage of Oscar night will continue tomorrow. And Daryn Kagan will join Leon Harris to host our one-hour special, "Hollywood's Gold Rush." That's Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 4:00 p.m. Pacific right here on CNN. Be sure and watch it. It should be a lot of fun.

Well, they won't have their moments of glory on worldwide television come Oscar night, but without the brilliant inventors of new movie making technology, the films receiving the big awards tomorrow evening would be a lot less exciting. The Tech Awards have already had their own Oscar ceremony and CNN's Anne Kellan profiles two of the winners.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNE KELLAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The next hair raising chase scene you watch, think Mic Rogers and Matt Sweeny. They invented the Mic Rig, a car body hauled around on what looks like a two truck. They won an Academy Award for it.

MIC ROGERS, INVENTOR, MIC RIG: It's pretty maneuverable and it's pretty fast. And it's a real simple idea.

KELLAN: Used in the movie, "Fast and The Furious," the Mic Rig puts actors in the middle of chase scenes. The actors don't drive. The stunt drivers do. They're behind the wheel of this converted truck. Before the Mic Rig, most actors sat in front of a fake background and pretended they were screeching around turns.

Winning the award means a lot.

ROGERS: It's a thrill. I mean I really didn't think about it too much until I got there, until I walked up and you get your, you know, award, and you turn around and see everyone staring at you in tuxedos. That's when I kind of froze and went, "ah, ah."

KELLAN: Theirs was one of a number of technologies honored by the Academy. Don't forget, it's motion pictures arts and sciences.

Another winner in the crowd this year, Pete Romano. His award- winning invention was used in the movie, "Message In A Bottle." Romano who started his career as a Navy photographer developed a remote underwater camera. PETE ROMANO, INVENTOR: So in dangerous situations, you can put the equipment there and not have to worry about it. It mounts onto our remote head right here. Inside is the camera lens, lens controls, film magazine and the controller.

KELLAN: Romano's remote aqua cam also added drama in the movie, "Pearl Harbor." You don't see him in the final cut, but this is how he spent many workdays during this filming.

ROMANO: I'm in full sailor garb. My camera is shrouded in tarps.

KELLAN: Getting recognized for his contribution means a lot.

ROMANO: Well, that was sort of a high water mark in my career, as I jokingly say. It is a very proud moment.

KELLAN: It allows innovators who have made movies what they are today come out from behind the curtain and take a bow.

Anne Kellan, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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