Bill Condon's Dreamgirls, a shoo-in for one of the five Best Picture slots in 2006 (a shoo-in that failed to make the cut), will be screened as the next feature in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' "Great To Be Nominated" series on Monday, August 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Following the screening, actress Jennifer Hudson, writer-director Bill Condon, producer Laurence Mark, executive producer Patricia Whitcher, co-producer Jonathan King, film editor Virginia Katz, costume designer Sharen Davis, rerecording mixer Michael Minkler, makeup department head Tym Shutchai Buacharern, actress Mariah Wilson, and casting director Debra Zane will take part in a discussion about the film.
Adapted from the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit, which in its turn was inspired by the travails of the pop group The Supremes, Dreamgirls is the only film in Academy Awards history to have the most nominations in a given year — eight in all; three of those in the original song category — while being bypassed for a Best Picture nomination. (Additionally, the film was nowhere to be found on the shortlist for best direction and best adapted screenplay.)
In addition to Hudson and Wilson, the Dreamgirls cast includes Beyoncé Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, and Anika Noni Rose.
Dreamgirls won Oscars for Actress in a Supporting Role (Hudson) and Sound Mixing (Minkler, Bob Beemer, Willie Burton). The film also received nominations for Actor in a Supporting Role (Murphy), Art Direction (John Myhre; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh), Costume Design (Davis), Music — Original Song ("Listen," Music by Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler; Lyric by Anne Preven), Music — Original Song ("Love You I Do," Music by Krieger; Lyric by Siedah Garrett), Music — Original Song ("Patience," Music by Krieger; Lyric by Willie Reale).
Gary Rydstrom's Oscar-nominated animated short, the Pixar production Lifted, will be screened prior to the feature. Lifted follows a teen alien who attempts to abduct a sleeping human.
Including Dreamgirls, there are two films remaining in the "Great To Be Nominated" series. Tickets are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, by mail, in person at the Academy during regular business hours or, depending on availability, on the night of the screening when the doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Curtain time for all features is 7:30 p.m., and pre-show elements will begin at 7 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 247-3600.
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