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Greg’s Academy Awards memories

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/02/23/movies/23red_entrance.jpg

This is the first time since 2004 that I won’t be at the Kodak Theatre covering the Oscars from the red carpet and the backstage press room.

Instead, I’ll be attending a party in West Hollywood benefiting The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to suicide prevention among LGBT youth.

As much as I enjoy covering the Academy Awards, it is a very long day and it is work.

This year, I wanted to be at a big party with a drink in my hand watching the festivities on television. But I’ll still have a recap of the show posted on Greg In Hollywood after the show ends.

I have so many wonderful Oscar memories from past years and topping that was last year’s victory by Dustin Lance Black who won the original screenplay Academy Award for Milk. I knew him a bit by that time and snapped the above photo of Lance on the red carpet. He attended with Cleve Jones who was Harvey Milk’s close friend and now Lance’s close friend.

Lance gave one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard, taking the time to reach out to gay kids watching to tell them that no matter what their church or their family might say, they are beautiful and they are loved.

Then backstage, I got to ask Lance a question about that remarkable speech when he came back to address the press holding that shiny Oscar. In the YouTube video below, at the 1:06 mark, is where we have our exchange:

It’s always fun checking 0ut the guys in their tuxedos but let’s face it, it’s all about the women.

There are such gorgeous creatures on that carpet and I’m always eager to see fashion plates like Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway and Charlize Theron.

Speaking of Charlize, this dress (pictured, left) from a few years back was much maligned but I thought it was spectacular. I got a good look at it because Charlize was one of the last stars on the red carpet that year and she had just left an interview with Gayle King and was heading toward the steps of the Kodak Theatre with her mother at the same time I was heading to the press r0om. So I walked behind them for a bit and have never before seen such a vision.

I’ll miss being up that close this year (I’m pictured below at last year’s event with my pal Sandra Bererra) but do plan on being back there at the Oscars in the future.

Wherever you are watching the Oscars later today, have fun!

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One Remark

  1. I admire you for doing the work with the Trevor Project, Greg. When I was a teenager, if the Trevor Project had existed, my life might have been much different.

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