Overheard At The 2021 Academy Awards

By Darlene Donloe

The hostless 93rd Annual Academy Awards seemingly went off without a hitch.

The show was held at the historic Union Station in Los Angeles two months later than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Dolby Theater in Hollywood was the second venue.

Hollywood’s biggest night was full of wonderful and interesting quotes spoken by some of the nominees and winners.  Below is a sample.

Tyler Perry

TYLER PERRY gave an impassioned speech upon receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

“My mother taught me to refuse hate. She taught me to refuse blanket judgment, and in this time, and with all of the Internet and social media and algorithms and everything that wants us to think a certain way, the 24-hour news cycle, it is my hope that all of us, we teach our kids and I want to remember, just refuse hate. Don’t hate anybody. I refuse to hate someone because they are Mexican or because they are black or white or LGBTQ. I refuse to hate someone because they are a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they are Asian. I would hope that we would refuse hate and I want to take this Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and dedicate it to anyone who wants to stand in the middle, no matter what’s around the wall. Stand in the middle ’cause that’s where healing happens. That’s where conversation happens. That’s where change happens. It happens in the middle. So anyone who wants to meet me in the middle, to refuse hate, to refuse blanket judgment, and to help lift someone’s feet off the ground, this one is for you too.”

H.E.R., upon winning Best Original Song – “Fight For You.”

“Oh my god. I did not expect to win this award. I am so, so, so, so grateful. Not only to win but to be a part of such an important, important story. So thank you so much. Thank you to the Academy. I’ve always wanted to say that. And of course, my collaborators, D’Mile and Tiara Thomas, the song wouldn’t be what it was without them. Of course, I have to thank God for giving us these gifts and my parents, my beautiful mother who’s here with me today, and my father at home. All those days of listening to Sly and the Family Stone, and Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, they really paid off. So thank you, Dad. Music is power. And as long as I’m standing, I’m always going to fight for us. I’m always going to fight for my people and fight for what’s right, and I think that’s what music does. And that’s what storytelling does.”

STEPHEN YEUN, who was nominated for Best Actor in “Minari” was asked how he felt about doing the film.

“Isaac, you know, reading his script, it was deeply truthful, so honest. That feeling of something you know is really amazing, is just kind of there when you read it. I really loved how it was uncompromisingly honest and confident in itself. I really enjoyed that.”

LEE ISAAC CHUNG – Nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for “Minari,” asked about his movie said,  “We’re a small production. We were out in Tulsa filming together. All the actors, we got together. A lot of us already knew each other from friends of friends. There was a feeling of camaraderie when we got together. I felt like that was what we were trying to have at all times – a feeling of family.” 

When MIA NEAL, who is Black, took the stage at Union Station to accept the Best Makeup and Hairstyling award for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” she spoke to other Black, Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, queer, trans, and everyone in the margins, saying of her monumental win: “One day it won’t be unusual or groundbreaking, it’ll just be normal.” Neal and Jamika Wilson and Sergio Lopez-Rivera became the first Black women to win the honor.

Andra Day

ANDRA DAY was asked about how it felt to attend the Oscars.

“I’m excited. I’m nervous too. You see how I just dropped down into my low NPR voice. I’m blessed. God is great."

On playing Billie Holiday in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” Day said.

“It was huge. I think what drove me to start auditioning was the fact that it would be vindicating her legacy. This woman sang a protest song. And in a world of protest songs, it doesn’t seem like a lot, but at the time, it was a first, you know. Ultimately, she was killed for it. The government created an entire war on drugs to go after her to get her to stop talking about lynching and integrating audiences. So, we really can’t have conversations about civil rights leaders without talking about her. For too long we’ve done that. It’s an honor to be a part of vindicating that legacy.”

DIANE WARREN – Nominated for Best Original Song lo si (Seen) from the movie, “The Life Ahead,” starring Sophia Loren answering her inspiration for the song?

“I read the script and the word “seen” came to mind because these are characters that aren’t seen. They are invisible to the world and almost invisible to each other. We're living in a time now when everybody feels not seen and invisible. But, the movie is in Italian and it didn’t work in English. And I thought, and I thought if you have Sophia Loren, the greatest Italian actress, you need the greatest voice.”

LAURA PAUSINI – (singer of ‘lo si’) “We want to hug people through the song.”

Questlove

QUESTLOVE – Academy Awards Music Director asked about the vibe for the evening.

“Essentially, the Roots are the house band tonight. Because of the life we’re living now. The life that we’re in, we pre-did all the music beforehand. And I’m doing that music.  Anything musical you hear tonight, that’s me controlling stuff. We’re the world’s band now.”

CAREY MULLIGAN - Nominated for Best Actress for “Promising Young Woman.” What was it like working with Emerald Fennel on her directing debut?

“Asking English people to be nice about each other is incredibly difficult. I mean, Heaven.  I don’t ever want to work in a film that she doesn’t direct.  I’m going to follow her for the rest of her life. Truly, she is just the greatest person. It was incredible.”

EMERALD FENNELL, Nominated for Best Directing and Best original screenplay – What made her Cassidy?

“It’s awkward standing next to each other. We’d much rather say how much we loathe each other. How nightmarish it was to work together. I just think she’s the best. I didn’t know her before this. I always admired her. I was a huge fan of her work. Carey was going to commit to being honest.”

Asked why she describes her film as ‘Poisoned Popcorn.’

“It’s that feeling of the laugh and the gasp.”

CELESTE and DANIEL PEMBERTON, Nominated for the original song “Hear My Voice” from “Trial of the Chicago 7.”

CELESTE PEMBERTON – “It’s so surreal now that we're actually here. Feels so nice.”

DANIEL PEMBERTON – “Especially to get here from London. It’s been crazy to get here.”

Daniel Kaluuya

DANIEL KALUUYA - Winner Best Supporting Actor for "Judas and the Black Messiah." Asked how important it was to tell that story?

“People in Chicago know what’s happening and know about the story of Fred Hampton and him as a man. The public narrative painted him as an attacker. He was of service. It was amazing to be a part of.

How did you prepare for the role? Everything. I did voice work, took up cigarettes because it changes the texture of your voice, recorded myself visually and audibly. I just did everything I could because I just knew, especially after you meet the family, the stakes. You knew what this means. They’ve let us in to help us tell their truth. I just took it seriously. One of my favorite sayings is - Just cause you’re serious, doesn’t mean you have to be miserable. The vibe on set was amazing. Everyone was in service.”

RIZ AHMED – Nominated for Actor in a Leading Role – “Sound of Metal.”  How does it feel to tell that type of story? 

“It’s profound on many levels – just on a basic acting level. It’s so emotional, so moving. As an actor, it forces you to go to a new place. In terms of the different kinds of worlds that that story takes you into is quite important. You don’t see those a lot on-screen – whether it’s addiction, recovery, or whether it's the deaf community in particular.

It was eye-opening for me. It broadened my horizons. I hope it will do the same for audiences.”

ANGELA BASSETT (presenter) Who are you rooting for tonight.? 

“This is Hollywood’s Christmas, so I’m rooting for everyone on this Christmas morning. On this Oscar evening. I guess especially because he’s near and dear and means so much, his spirit, my dear son, Chadwick Boseman. I miss his heart. He cared so much for people. He was an ultimate professional and he had the most amazing laugh.”

Chloe Zhao

CHLOE ZHAO (Oscar winner "Nomadland") What went through your head when Frances McDorman first asked you to direct "Nomadland?"

“Initially, it was like, ‘yes.’ And then immediately I asked if you have any snacks. I’m so hungry. I’m about to faint. We met in her apartment. Dairy-free snacks? She said she didn’t have any dairy-free.”