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American Morning

Story Behind Academy Award Winner 'The Accountant'

Aired March 25, 2002 - 09:56   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Even if you stayed up late and watched the Academy Awards last night from beginning to end, you probably made a refrigerator run the generally overlooked category of live action short came up.

And CNN's Frank Buckley has the story behind the winner, a short called "The Accountant," which began with a dream and a lot of hard work.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The woman getting makeup was once the girl from Arkansas who dreamed of making it big in Hollywood. And 20 years ago, in "Officer and a Gentleman," she nearly did.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LISA BLOUNT, ACTRESS: Way to go, Paula.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: Lisa Blount was nominated for a golden globe for this role, and she has worked ever since. But, no one would call her a star. And she was never nominated for an Oscar, until a film came along that she wasn't even in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Tommy O'Dell, and this here is my brother, David.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll know all about him soon enough. But, right now, I just got one question.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ya'll got some cold beer?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: Blount was the executive producer of "The Accountant," nominated in the category of live action short, written, directed and costarring her husband, Ray McKinnon... (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have I got your attention now, David?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: ... with whom she is appreciating every moment.

BLOUNT: We may get back here some time, but we'll never be here for the first time again.

BUCKLEY: McKinnon is another working-class actor in Hollywood, seen briefly in films like "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

On this day, however, he is no bit player. He is an Academy Award nominee.

Also nominated: his costar and longtime friend, Walton Goggins, whom McKinnon met when he played his father in a film some 13 years ago. Goggins, also a well-regarded actor, is here in "Shanghai Noon."

He worked for free on "The Accountant."

WALTON GOGGINS, ACTOR & PRODUCER, "THE ACCOUNTANT": We did it, I think, because our heart was in the right place and we wanted to tell a story, and we wanted to make movies.

BLOUNT: Days before the awards ceremony, Lisa Blount got the star treatment from couture designers, Daniel Cantu and Dolf Castillo.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It re-evokes the '50s, and it has an innocence quality about it.

BLOUNT: Finally, they were on their way on the Oscars, and they allowed us to tag along, the limo snaking through Hollywood, fans lining the street.

BUCKLEY (on camera): I don't want to get you guys crazy, but look at all these people on the side over here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow! Oh my God.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unbelievable. And they have absolutely no interest in us whatsoever!

BUCKLEY: But, as they walked up the red carpet, they were stars for a day. Finally, the moment arrived. And the winner is:

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ray McKinnon and Lisa Blount, "The Accountant."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'd like to thank the Academy for this wonderful honor in a category that still allows for a person who is just burning to make a movie to load a camera in the back of his daddy's old truck, gather up some talented dreamers and do it. And if the stars align and the fates conspire, that person might find themselves standing right here at the good God almighty Academy Awards.

RAY MCKINNON, ACTOR, WRITER & DIRECTOR, "THE ACCOUNTANT: You know, by the time they called the names out, I just wanted it to be over with. But when they called our name...

GOGGINS: I wanted it to last for a lifetime, you know.

BUCKLEY: The night working-class actors joined Hollywood royalty.

Frank Buckley, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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