145-401: Frank Árpád Darabont (born Ferenc Árpád Darabont , January 28, 1959) is an American screenwriter, director and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award . In his early career, he was primarily a screenwriter for such horror films as A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), The Blob (1988) and The Fly II (1989). As a director, he
290-539: A 35 mm or 70 mm film print, or in 24 frame/s or 48 frame/s progressive scan digital cinema format, with a minimum projector resolution of 2,048 by 1,080 pixels. Since the 90th Academy Awards , presented in 2018, multi-part and limited series have been ineligible for the Best Documentary Feature award. This followed the win of O.J.: Made in America , an eight-hour presentation that
435-514: A Pollyanna ending." When a two-disc edition of the DVD was released, it included an exclusive black-and-white presentation of the film, the way Darabont had always intended it to be. Darabont developed and executive-produced the first season of The Walking Dead , the AMC series based on Robert Kirkman 's comic book of the same name . Darabont recalled that he had first come across the series in 2005, in
580-631: A script doctor for the Steven Spielberg films Saving Private Ryan and Minority Report . In 2002, he wrote an early draft of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull . While Spielberg reportedly loved it, George Lucas rejected it. He also produced the 2002 film The Salton Sea , starring Val Kilmer and Vincent D'Onofrio . Over the years Darabont has reunited with his old writing partner Chuck Russell . He did
725-542: A 2004 court decision contending that Welles did not sign any agreement to return the statue to the Academy. On December 20, 2011, it sold in an online auction for US$ 861,542 ($ 1,166,900 today). Some buyers have subsequently returned the statuettes to the Academy, which keeps them in its treasury. In addition to the Academy Award of Merit (Oscar award), there are nine honorary (non-competitive) awards presented by
870-403: A Reminder List of Eligible Releases. Awards in short film categories (Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Animated Short Film, and Best Live Action Short Film) have noticeably different eligibility rules from most other competitive awards. First, the qualifying period for release does not coincide with a calendar year, instead covering one year starting on October 1, and ending on September 30 of
1015-453: A book by author John Buntin. Darabont discovered the book at LAX Airport and, after two days straight of reading it, decided to adapt it for television. Darabont was very passionate about the project as he had always wanted to produce a film noir . Darabont cast Jon Bernthal , whom he had worked with on The Walking Dead , in the lead role for the series. Other Darabont regulars cast included Jeffrey DeMunn and Alexa Davalos . The series
1160-589: A cast largely associated with character actors . However, that same year, the trio approached William Dear to direct/co-write The Rocketeer , and they eventually dropped the low-budget idea. Bilson, De Meo, and Dear kept the comic book's basic plot intact, but fleshed it out to include a Hollywood setting and a climactic battle against a Nazi Zeppelin. They also tweaked Cliff's girlfriend to avoid comparisons to Bettie Page (Stevens' original inspiration), changing her name from Betty to Jenny and her profession from nude model to Hollywood extra (a change also made to make
1305-400: A close association with King, who granted him the "handshake deal" rights to another of his shorter works, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption from the collection Different Seasons . Darabont sold his first screenplay titled Black Cat Run in 1986, but it was not produced for more than a decade, as a television film under the same name. Darabont was approached by Chuck Russell (who
1450-464: A comic book store in Burbank, California . When Darabont became interested, creator Kirkman called it "extremely flattering". He said that Darabont "definitely cares about the original source material, and you can tell that in the way he's adapting it." Darabont first initiated a deal with NBC for The Walking Dead , but was later declined. He eventually brought it to AMC , who picked it up based on
1595-474: A comic book to the screen". Janet Maslin from The New York Times gave a mixed review. She called it "a benign adventure saga that has attractive stars, elaborate gimmicks and nice production values—everything it needs except a personality of its own". Maslin believed that by setting the story in 1938, the filmmakers were more interested in the Art Deco production design and visual effects instead of imbuing
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#17327798915621740-476: A critic from The New York Times , Time Out New York , the Los Angeles Times , or LA Weekly . Producers must submit an Official Screen Credits online form before the deadline. In case it is not submitted by the defined deadline, the film will be ineligible for Academy Awards in any year. The form includes the production credits for all related categories. Then, each form is checked and put in
1885-460: A different approach to the script, which meant bringing in someone else. But those scripts were thrown out and we were always brought back on". They found the studio's constant tinkering with the screenplay to be a frustrating process as "executives would like previously excised dialogue three months later. Scenes that had been thrown out two years ago were put back in. What was the point"? DeMeo said. One of Bilson and De Meo's significant revisions to
2030-408: A digital scan of an original 1929 Oscar, the statuettes retain their modern-era dimensions and black pedestal. Cast in liquid bronze from 3D-printed ceramic molds and polished, they are then electroplated in 24-karat gold by Brooklyn , New York–based Epner Technology. The time required to produce 50 such statuettes is roughly three months. R.S. Owens is expected to continue producing other awards for
2175-489: A good helmet design. He proceeded to work with a sculptor he knew, made a cast of the main stunt man's head, and brainstormed ideas with the help of his sketches. They produced a helmet that the filmmakers agreed looked appropriate from all angles; in most respects it was identical to the helmet design Stevens had used for his comics series. Rick Baker designed the Rondo Hatton -inspired prosthetic makeup designs for
2320-673: A hidden rocket pack that he thereafter uses to fly without the need of an aircraft. His heroic deeds soon attract the attention of Howard Hughes and the FBI , who are hunting for the missing rocket pack, as well as the Nazi operatives who stole it from Hughes. Development for The Rocketeer started as far back as 1983, when Stevens sold the film rights to the character. Steve Miner and William Dear considered directing The Rocketeer before Johnston signed on. Screenwriters Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo had creative differences with Disney, causing
2465-525: A live-televised Hollywood ceremony in February or March. It is the oldest worldwide entertainment awards ceremony. The 1st Academy Awards were held in 1929. The second ceremony , in 1930, was the first one broadcast by radio. The 1953 ceremony was the first one televised. It is the oldest of the four major annual American entertainment awards . Its equivalents – the Emmy Awards for television,
2610-536: A metal shortage during World War II, Oscars were made of painted plaster for three years. Following the war, the Academy invited recipients to redeem the plaster figures for gold-plated metal ones. The only addition to the Oscar since it was created is a minor streamlining of the base. The original Oscar mold was cast in 1928 at the C.W. Shumway & Sons Foundry in Batavia , Illinois, which also contributed to casting
2755-422: A private collector on August 6, 1992, for $ 60,500 ($ 131,400 today). Russell defended his action, saying, "I don't know why anybody would be critical. My wife's health is much more important than sentimental reasons. The movie will be here, even if Oscar isn't". In December 2011, Orson Welles ' 1941 Oscar for Citizen Kane ( Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay ) was put up for auction, after his heirs won
2900-471: A production assistant on such films as Hell Night , The Seduction , and Trancers . The first film he wrote and directed was a short work adapted from Stephen King 's story " The Woman in the Room ". This film was one of the first " Dollar Babies " and made the semi-finalist list for Academy Award consideration in 1983. Although Darabont was not happy with how the short turned out, this effort resulted in
3045-429: A realistic flying rocketman led ILM to devise a lifelike Cliff Secord model that was filmed in stop motion , coupled with an 18" figurine that was manipulated by hand and in go motion , to create motion blur . The air circus sequence used sped-up Moviola effects, a combination of live action and stop-motion animation, and a real aerial display held at Santa Monica intercut with film footage. The Rocketeer's attack on
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#17327798915623190-611: A recreation of the climax of the film, and Kit mentions the Rocketeer's battle with Lothar. From the beginning of the process of making The Rocketeer , creator Dave Stevens and screenwriters Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo envisioned it as the first entry of a trilogy. Disney, in particular, hoped the film would carry a vein similar to the Indiana Jones franchise. Both Campbell and Connelly were contracted for sequels, Campbell for two more and Connelly for only one. However, with
3335-421: A rewrite for Russell's film Eraser , they attempted to adapt a film of the 1930s pulp character, Doc Savage , and the two wrote an early treatment and were executive producers on the film Collateral . He has also tried to produce film adaptations of the novels Mine by Robert R. McCammon and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury . Darabont still hopes to make both films someday. The same year Shawshank
3480-428: A sequel. By January 2020, it was announced that Azia Squire had written a new draft. J. D. Dillard was set to direct. In August 2021, the title The Return of the Rocketeer was announced. Ed Ricourt was hired to write a new draft of the screenplay, with David Oyelowo and his wife Jessica serving as producers, while David may also star as the title role. The plot centers on a former Tuskegee Airman who inherits
3625-452: A story of her and her husband joking with each other using the phrase, "How's your uncle Oscar". Bette Davis , in her 1962 autobiography, claimed she named it in 1936 after her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson, of whom the statue's rear end reminded her. But the term had been in use at least two years before. In a 1974 biography written by Whitney Stine with commentary from Davis, Davis wrote "I relinquish once and for all any claim that I
3770-613: A television movie with a $ 2,000,000 budget that aired on the USA Network in 1990. He followed this with an extended run as a writer for George Lucas 's television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles . He also wrote two episodes of the television series Tales from the Crypt . Darabont made good on the deal with Stephen King by writing and directing the film adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption . Rob Reiner , who had previously adapted another King novella, The Body , into
3915-525: Is aspiring actress Jenny Blake, who has a small part in Sinclair's latest film; recent events are driving a wedge in their relationship. Sinclair overhears Cliff attempting to tell Jenny about the rocket, so he invites her to dinner. Afterward, at a local air show , Cliff uses the rocket to rescue his elderly friend Malcolm, who is piloting a Curtiss JN Jenny biplane to save Cliff's job. This makes Cliff an immediate flying sensation, but also sets Sinclair and
4060-569: Is known for his film adaptations of Stephen King novellas and novels, such as The Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Green Mile (1999), and The Mist (2007). Darabont also developed and executive-produced the first season and first half of the second season of the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2010–2011). Darabont was born in a refugee camp in 1959 in Montbéliard , France. His parents had fled Hungary for France after
4205-544: Is quickly recaptured and forced to tell Cliff to bring the rocket to the Griffith Observatory in exchange for her life. Shortly thereafter, Cliff is arrested by the FBI and taken to Howard Hughes, who explains that his rocket is a prototype similar to one Nazi scientists have been unsuccessful in developing; Hughes also shows him a Nazi propaganda film depicting an army of flying commandos using rocket packs to invade
4350-445: Is seen throughout the series via flashback where it is established that he acted as the Rocketeer in the past. However the series retcons the setting of Los Angeles to the fictional Hughesville, in reference to Howard Hughes, and to give the series a more childlike innocence. In the episode "Scarlett's Search", Cliff's plane is found which features a photo of Jenny Blake, his love interest from the film. The episode "Rocketeer Day" features
4495-408: Is selected as a gold, silver, or bronze medal winner in an appropriate category of the immediately previous Student Academy Awards is also eligible (Documentary category for that award, and Animation, Narrative, Alternative, or International for the other awards). The requirements for the qualifying theatrical run are also different from those for other awards. Only one screening per day is required. For
Frank Darabont - Misplaced Pages Continue
4640-668: The 1956 Hungarian Revolution , bringing his five brothers and four sisters, and three cousins. When Darabont was still an infant, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Chicago before moving to Los Angeles when Darabont was five. Darabont was inspired in his youth to pursue a career in film after seeing the George Lucas film THX 1138 . Darabont graduated from Hollywood High School in 1977 and did not attend college. His first job after finishing school
4785-580: The 2008 awards , as it did not play its Oscar-qualifying run in Los Angeles until mid-2009, thus qualifying for the 2009 awards . Foreign films must include English subtitles. Each country can submit only one film for consideration in the International Feature Film category per year. Rule 2 states that a film must be feature -length, defined as a minimum of 40 minutes, except for short-subject awards. It must exist either on
4930-548: The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California for the 19th consecutive year, along with satellite location taking place at the Union Station also in Los Angeles. Because of the virus impact on films and TV industries, Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson announced that for the 2021 Oscar Ceremony , streaming movies with a previously planned theatrical release were eligible. The theatrical requirement
5075-411: The FBI on his trail. Sinclair sends Lothar to Cliff and Peevy's home to find the rocket. The FBI arrives soon after, but Cliff and Peevy escape while Lothar steals the latter's schematic . Later, at the airfield diner, Cliff and Peevy are trapped by several Valentine mobsters; they learn about Jenny's date with Sinclair and the actor's involvement in the hunt for the rocket. The diner patrons overpower
5220-610: The Oscars , are awards for artistic and technical merit for the film industry . They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy's voting membership. The Oscars are widely considered to be the most prestigious awards in the film industry. The major award categories are presented during
5365-516: The Rocketeer in 1982 and immediately viewed the character as an ideal protagonist for a film adaptation. Steve Miner purchased the film rights from Stevens in 1983, but he strayed too far from the original concept and the rights reverted to Stevens. In 1985 Stevens gave writers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo a free option on The Rocketeer rights. Stevens liked that "their ideas for The Rocketeer were heartfelt and affectionate tributes to
5510-676: The Tony Awards for theater, and the Grammy Awards for music – are modeled after the Academy Awards. The Oscar statuette depicts a knight, rendered in the Art Deco style. Everything Everywhere All at Once Oppenheimer The first Academy Awards presentation was held on May 16, 1929, at a private dinner function at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel , with an audience of about 270 people. The post-awards party
5655-599: The five boroughs of New York City during the previous calendar year, or a qualifying award at a competitive film festival from the Documentary Feature Qualifying Festival list, regardless of any public exhibition or distribution, or submission in the International Feature Film category as its country's official selection. The qualifying theatrical runs must meet the same requirements as those for non-documentary films regarding numbers and times of screenings. A film must have been reviewed by
5800-646: The "film captures the look of the '30s, as well as the gee-whiz innocence of Saturday matinée serials, but it's talky and takes too much time to get where it's going. Dalton has fun as a villain patterned after Errol Flynn". Peter Travers of Rolling Stone magazine also gave a positive review. " The Rocketeer is more than one of the best films of the summer; it's the kind of movie magic that we don't see much anymore—the kind that charms us, rather than bullying us, into suspending disbelief". Internet reviewer James Berardinelli commented that " The Rocketeer may not be perfect, but it's an excellent example of how to adapt
5945-444: The 1930s serial films with all the right dialogue and atmosphere. Most people would approach my characters contemporarily, but Danny and Paul saw them as pre-war mugs". Stevens, Bilson, and De Meo began to consider making The Rocketeer as a low-budget film , shot in black-and-white and funded by independent investors . Their plan was to make the film a complete homage to Republic's Commando Cody rocket man serials, and use
Frank Darabont - Misplaced Pages Continue
6090-615: The 2012 Austin Film Festival , Darabont was awarded the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award for his contribution to cinema. In 2013, he lent his voice to a lengthier version of the World War Z audio book. In November of the same year Bob Weinstein revealed that he and Darabont were developing a ten part television series based on Darabont's 2007 film The Mist . Darabont was hired to rewrite
6235-699: The Academy from time to time (except for the Academy Honorary Award, the Technical Achievement Award, and the Student Academy Awards, which are presented annually): The Academy also awards Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting . From 2004 to 2020, the Academy Award nomination results were announced to the public in mid-January. Prior to that, the results were announced in early February. In 2021,
6380-486: The Academy launched an initiative to expand its membership and increase diversity. In 2022, voting membership stood at 9,487. According to Rules 2 and 3 of the official Academy Awards Rules, a film must open in the previous calendar year, from midnight at the start of January 1 to midnight at the end of December 31, in Los Angeles County, California , and play for seven consecutive days, to qualify, except for
6525-492: The Academy, and service existing Oscars that need replating. The origin of the nickname of the trophy has been disputed, as multiple people have taken credit for naming the trophy "Oscar". Margaret Herrick , librarian and president of the Academy, may have said she named it after her supposed uncle Oscar in 1921. The only corroboration was a 1938 clipping from the Los Angeles Examiner , in which Herrick told
6670-492: The Best International Feature Film, Best Documentary Feature, and awards in short film categories. The film must be shown at least three times on each day of its qualifying run, with at least one of the daily showings starting between 6 pm and 10 pm local time. For example, the 2009 Best Picture winner, The Hurt Locker , was originally first released in 2008, but did not qualify for
6815-474: The Board of Governors, on behalf of Academy Branch Executive Committees. Membership eligibility may be achieved by a competitive nomination, or an existing member may submit a name, based on other significant contributions to the field of motion pictures. New membership proposals are considered annually. The Academy does not publicly disclose its membership, although as recently as 2007 press releases have announced
6960-549: The Documentary award, the screening must start between noon and 10 pm local time. For other awards, no specific start time is required, but the film must appear in regular theater listings with dates and screening times. In late December, ballots, and copies of the Reminder List of Eligible Releases are mailed to around 6,000 active members. For most categories, members from each of the branches vote to determine
7105-582: The Italian language, it is used generically to refer to any award or award ceremony, regardless of which field. The first Best Actor awarded was Emil Jannings , for his performances in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh . As he had to return to Europe before the ceremony, the Academy agreed to give him the prize early, making him the first Academy Award recipient. For the first Awards , winners were recognized for multiple films during
7250-723: The Lothar character, portrayed by Tiny Ron Taylor . The visual effects were designed and created by George Lucas 's Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) with Ken Ralston ( Who Framed Roger Rabbit , Sony Pictures Imageworks founder) serving as the VFX supervisor . Rocketeer director Joe Johnston previously worked at ILM, including on the Star Wars trilogy and Raiders of the Lost Ark and as an art director and model maker , before his film directing career took off. His insistence on
7395-874: The Mechanic, and Robert Miranda as Spanish Johnny. Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens has a cameo as the German test pilot who is killed when the Nazis' version of a rocket backpack explodes during the takeoff sequence. Principal photography lasted from September 19, 1990, to January 22, 1991. Filming at the Griffith Observatory was done in November 1990. It went 50 days over schedule due to weather and mechanical problems. Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens allied himself with director Joe Johnston and production manager Ian Bryce in an effort to be as heavily involved in
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#17327798915627540-740: The Nazi Zeppelin was filmed in four months near Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia, California , through pick-ups . Remaining visual effects footage was shot at ILM's headquarters in San Rafael and Hamilton Air Force Base . There, they constructed a 12-foot (3.7 m) scale model of the Zeppelin, which was photographed against matte paintings that resemble 1938 Los Angeles for intercutting purposes. The Zeppelin explosion special effect alone cost $ 400,000. The music
7685-413: The Nazis. Sinclair and Lothar escape, dragging Jenny aboard the airship. Cliff flies to and boards Luxembourg , but during the ensuing showdown, Jenny accidentally starts a fire with a flare gun on the airship's bridge. Sinclair holds Jenny hostage, forcing Cliff to give him the rocket, but not before Cliff covertly removes the chewing gum patching the fuel leak. Sinclair dons the rocket and flies off, but
7830-463: The United States. He also mentions that the FBI are trying to locate a Nazi spy in Hollywood employing Valentine's gang, whom Cliff realizes is Sinclair. When Hughes and the FBI demand the return of the rocket, Cliff escapes, but inadvertently leaves behind a clue to where he is headed. Cliff flies to the rendezvous, where Sinclair demands that Cliff hand over the rocket. Cliff divulges to Eddie that
7975-466: The World in 80 Days to a movie prop collector. The Academy earned enforcement of its statuette contract by gaining a permanent injunction against the sale. In 1992, Harold Russell consigned his 1946 Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for The Best Years of Our Lives to auction to raise money for his wife's medical expenses. Though his decision caused controversy, the first Oscar ever to be sold passed to
8120-422: The actor is a Nazi spy, and the infuriated Valentine gang, while being gangsters are still patriots, turns their weapons on Sinclair. However, Sinclair summons a hidden troop of heavily armed Nazi S.A. , as the German airship Luxembourg appears overhead to evacuate Sinclair and the troops. The FBI, who have secretly followed Cliff, suddenly announce their presence, and they and the mobsters join forces and battle
8265-434: The air circus scene, 700 Santa Maria extras and 25 vintage aircraft were employed. Aerial coordinator Craig Hosking remarked in an interview, "What makes The Rocketeer so unique was having several one-of-a-kind planes that hadn't flown in years", including a 1916 Standard biplane and a Gee Bee Model Z racer. The sequence where Cliff rescues Malcolm was adapted shot-for-shot from Stevens' comic book. Stevens gave
8410-637: The audition and just nailed it shut. He was made for it. The part was his". The Rocketeer was nominated for both the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film , but lost both categories to Terminator 2: Judgment Day . Costume designer Marilyn Vance won the Saturn Award for Best Costumes , while Jennifer Connelly ( Best Supporting Actress ) and VFX supervisor Ken Ralston ( Best Special Effects ) also received nominations. A TV series based on
8555-416: The awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, while the previous year's winners for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress present the awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. In recent years, this has been replaced by each acting award being introduced by five previous winners, each of whom introduces one of the nominated performances. On February 9, 2020, Parasite became
8700-462: The awards. Davis credits Lilleberg because he found in an autobiography of Einar Lilleberg, Eleanore's brother, that Einar had referenced a Norwegian army veteran named Oscar that the two knew in Chicago, whom Einar described as having always "stood straight and tall". He asserts credit "should almost certainly belong to" Lilleberg. In 2021, Brazilian researcher Dr. Waldemar Dalenogare Neto found
8845-431: The bathwater. They really tried to shoehorn it into a kiddie property so they could sell toys. All they really wanted at the end of the day, was the name". Bilson and DeMeo then submitted their seven-page film treatment to Disney, but the studio put their script through an endless series of revisions. Over five years, Disney fired and rehired Bilson and DeMeo three times. DeMeo explained that "Disney felt that they needed
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#17327798915628990-411: The calendar year before the ceremony. Second, there are multiple methods of qualification. The main method is a week-long theatrical release in either New York City or Los Angeles County during the eligibility period. Films also can qualify by winning specified awards at one of several competitive film festivals designated by the Academy, also without regard to prior public distribution. A film that
9135-436: The casting decision of character actors as being too practical. He explained, "The whole thing is good-natured enough but increasingly mechanical". Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens acknowledged he was "satisfied with 70% of the film" and highly praised Joe Johnston's direction. Stevens remembered, "The overall spirit and sweetness of the series is still there, intact. We lost some good character stuff in editing for time, but
9280-468: The cause. Darabont revealed in a 2021 interview with Mick Garris that he had recently written a script for a film centred around the American Civil War , based on an unproduced screenplay by filmmaker Stanley Kubrick and historian Shelby Foote that Ridley Scott was attached to produce. Darabont considers the script to be the best thing he has ever written and was dismayed when the film
9425-478: The disappointing box office performance, plans for a sequel were halted in July 1991. Campbell reflected in 2008, "[Unfortunately] the movie didn't make as much money as Disney had hoped. And that coupled with the acrimonious relationship that the director [Joe Johnston] and the studio had, contributed to them not even considering it". Although the calls for a sequel remain unrequited, as with many films of this genre,
9570-507: The eligibility period ran from 1 August to 31 July. The 6th Academy Awards' eligibility ran from 1 August 1932 to 31 December 1933, and as of the 7th Academy Awards , subsequent eligibility periods have matched the calendar year (with the exception of the 93rd Academy Awards , which, due to the COVID-19 pandemic , extended the eligibility period to 28 February 2021). Best Foreign Language Film, now known as Best International Feature Film ,
9715-574: The executives of AMC. Darabont and his agents from the Creative Artists Agency filed a lawsuit against AMC, seeking more than $ 280 million in unpaid profits. By July 2021, AMC had settled with Darabont and the CAA, agreeing to pay $ 200 million and future royalty payments. Not too long after leaving The Walking Dead , Darabont struck a deal with TNT to develop a pilot for a new series to air on their channel, titled L.A. Noir , based on
9860-469: The film The Majestic , starring Jim Carrey , Martin Landau , and Laurie Holden . He worked with these actors frequently throughout his career. Michael Sloane , whom Darabont had known since high school, wrote the script. This film is one of the few which Darabont directed, but did not write the screenplay. Darabont wanted to direct the film as he saw it as a "love letter" to works of Frank Capra and all
10005-566: The film a score of 61 out of 100, based on reviews from 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Roger Ebert enjoyed the film, noting its homages to the film serials of the 1930s–1950s. Although Ebert cited the visual effects as being state of the art , he described them "as charmingly direct as those rockets in the Flash Gordon serials—the ones with sparklers hidden inside of them, which were pulled on wires in front of papier-mâché mountains". Leonard Maltin wrote that
10150-467: The film had toyetic potential and appeal for merchandising. The Rocketeer was set to be released through the studio's Touchstone Pictures label; Stevens, Bilson, De Meo, and Dear all signed a contract which would permit them to make a trilogy of Rocketeer films. However, Disney studio chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg switched the film to a Walt Disney Pictures release. According to Stevens, "immediately, Betty and anything else 'adult' went right out with
10295-409: The film had worked on the television series The Shield , as Darabont hired them after directing an episode of the series. He thought they could help give the film a "more fluid, ragged documentary kind of direction". Darabont also helped create the designs of the creatures in the film, along with artists Jordu Schell , Bernie Wrightson , and the film's lead makeup artist Greg Nicotero . CafeFX
10440-556: The film has a cult following in both the United States and Japan. In 2008, Medicom, a Japanese toy manufacturer, issued two versions of 12" poseable action figures and replica helmets based on the film. The original Dave Stevens comics and the movie memorabilia retained demand. In addition, Johnston's work on this film led to him being hired 20 years later to direct another period superhero film, Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011. As of 2012 , Disney
10585-570: The film more Disney family-friendly). Dear proceeded to transform the climax from a submarine into a Zeppelin setpiece. Stevens, Bilson, De Meo, and Dear began to pitch The Rocketeer in 1986 to the major film studios but were turned down. "This was 1986, long before Batman or Dick Tracy or anything similar", Stevens explained. "In those days, no studio was interested at all in an expensive comic book movie. We got there about three years too early for our own good!" Walt Disney Studios eventually accepted The Rocketeer because they believed
10730-402: The film premiered on Disney Junior on November 8, 2019. It focuses on Kit Secord, the seven-year-old great-granddaughter of Cliff who receives the rocket and becomes the new Rocketeer. Despite positive reviews, the series was cancelled after one season. The series features numerous references to the film. Billy Campbell, who portrayed Cliff Secord, voices Kit's father Dave in the series. Cliff
10875-548: The film to languish in development hell . The studio also intended to change the trademark helmet design; Disney CEO Michael Eisner wanted a straight NASA -type helmet, but Johnston convinced the studio otherwise. Johnston also had to convince Disney to let him cast actor Billy Campbell in the lead role. Filming for The Rocketeer lasted from September 19, 1990, to January 22, 1991. The visual effects sequences were created and designed by Industrial Light & Magic and supervised by animation director Wes Takahashi . The film
11020-514: The film's production designer Jim Bissell and his two art directors his entire reference library pertaining to the Rocketeer at that time period, including blueprints for hangars and bleachers, schematics for building the autogyro, photos and drawings of the Bulldog Cafe modeled after an actual 1920s cafe, the uniforms for the air circus staff, and contacts for locating the vintage aircraft. Stevens remembered that they "literally just took
11165-608: The film's opening. The studio spent a further $ 19 million on TV advertising alone. A television special documentary, The Rocketeer: Excitement in the Air , was broadcast on the Disney Channel in June 1991. That month, a young adult novelization written by Peter David was published by Bantam Books , and a similar novelization by Ron Fontes, for younger readers, was published by Scholastic Books for Disney Press. The Rocketeer
11310-605: The film. The same year, Darabont wrote the introduction for the Hellboy novel, Hellboy: Odder Jobs by Christopher Golden . In 2005, Cemetery Dance Publications published Darabont's novella Walpuski's Typewriter in a limited edition. The story, originally written in his early twenties, first appeared in Jessie Horsting's magazine Midnight Graffiti . In 2007, Darabont directed an episode of The Shield titled "Chasing Ghosts". He also directed and executive produced
11455-552: The first foreign-language film to win Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Awards . The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony, honoring the best films of 2020 and early 2021 , was held on April 25, 2021, after it was postponed from its original February 28, 2021, schedule due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema . As with the two previous ceremonies, there was no host. The ceremony was broadcast on ABC . It took place at
11600-487: The gangsters, but a stray fired bullet punctures the rocket's fuel tank, which Peevy temporarily patches with chewing gum. Cliff flies to the South Seas Club, where he tells Jenny about his new Rocketeer alter ego. The Valentine gang arrives, and in the ensuing melée, Sinclair kidnaps Jenny. At Sinclair's home, he attempts to seduce Jenny, but she knocks him out and discovers that he is a spy for Nazi Germany . She
11745-446: The largest bloc, numbering 1,359 (14.1% of the voting body). Votes have been certified by the auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers , and its predecessor Price Waterhouse , since the 7th Academy Awards in 1935. In May 2011, the Academy sent a letter advising its 6,000 or so voting members that an online system for Oscar voting would be implemented in 2013, replacing mailed paper ballots. All AMPAS members must be invited to join by
11890-571: The leaking fuel causes the rocket to catch on fire, causing him to fall to his death. Lothar is killed as Luxembourg explodes, but Cliff and Jenny are rescued just in time by Howard Hughes and Peevy flying a Pitcairn PCA-2 autogyro . Hughes later presents Cliff with a brand-new Gee Bee Z air racer and a pack of Beemans gum . As Hughes leaves, Jenny returns Peevy's stolen rocket blueprint to him, which she found in Sinclair's home; Peevy decides that, with some modifications, he can build an even better one. Comic book writer/artist Dave Stevens created
12035-615: The molds for the Vince Lombardi Trophy and Emmy Award statuettes. From 1983 to 2015, approximately 50 Oscars in a tin alloy with gold plating were made each year in Chicago by Illinois manufacturer R.S. Owens & Company . It would take between three and four weeks to manufacture 50 statuettes. In 2016, the Academy returned to bronze as the core metal of the statuettes, handing manufacturing duties to Walden , New York–based Polich Tallix Fine Art Foundry, now owned and operated by UAP Urban Art Projects . While based on
12180-427: The most-watched series premiere episode of any AMC television series. In July 2011, Darabont was fired from the position as showrunner. Initial reports suggested that he was unable to adjust to the schedule of running a television series; however, it was later confirmed that he was fired due to AMC's desire to reduce the show's budget (twice as many episodes for 20% less of a budget) and to his strained relationship with
12325-411: The movie Stand by Me , offered Darabont $ 2.5 million in an attempt to write and direct Shawshank . He planned to cast Tom Cruise in the part of Andy and Harrison Ford as Red. Darabont seriously considered and liked Reiner's vision, but he ultimately decided it was his "chance to do something really great" by directing the film himself. Although the film did not fare well at the box office, it
12470-423: The names of those who have been invited to join. In 2012, the results of a study conducted by the Los Angeles Times were published describing the demographic breakdown of approximately 88% of AMPAS' voting membership. Of the 5,100+ active voters confirmed, 94% were Caucasian , 77% were male, and 54% were found to be over the age of 60. 33% of voting members are former nominees (14%) and winners (19%). In 2016,
12615-622: The nominees only in their respective categories, i.e. only directors vote for directors, writers for writers, actors for actors, etc. In the special case of Best Picture, all voting members are eligible to select the nominees. In all major categories, a variant of the single transferable vote is used, with each member casting a ballot with up to five nominees (ten for Best Picture) ranked preferentially. In certain categories, including International Feature Film, Documentary and Animated Feature, nominees are selected by special screening committees made up of members from all branches. In most categories,
12760-480: The nominees were announced in March. In 2022, the nominees were announced in early February for the first time since 2003. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), a professional honorary organization, maintains a voting membership of 9,487 as of 2022 . Academy membership is divided into different branches, with each representing a different discipline in film production. As of 2022 , actors constitute
12905-471: The option of having engraved nameplates applied to their statuettes at an inscription-processing station at the Governor's Ball, a party held immediately after the Oscar ceremony. The R.S. Owens company has engraved nameplates made before the ceremony, bearing the name of every potential winner. The nameplates for the non-winning nominees are later recycled. Prior to 1950, Oscar statuettes were, and remain,
13050-666: The original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians. Sculptor George Stanley , who also did the Muse Fountain at the Hollywood Bowl , sculpted Cedric Gibbons ' design. The statuettes presented at the initial ceremonies were gold-plated solid bronze. Within a few years, the bronze was abandoned in favor of Britannia metal , a pewter-like alloy which is then plated in copper, nickel silver, and finally, 24-karat gold. Due to
13195-570: The original film, with a black female pilot in the lead role. The lead takes on the mantle of The Rocketeer after Cliff Secord has gone missing while fighting the Nazis. The new Rocketeer goes on a mission to stop a corrupt scientist from stealing rocket pack technology and shifting the power balance of the Cold War . Peter Ramsey expressed interest in directing and suggested several other directors like Gina Prince-Bythewood , Darnell Martin , and Amma Asante . In April 2016, Taylor confirmed it as
13340-418: The other movies he has loved throughout his life. The film received mixed reviews from critics and bombed at the box-office, recouping only half of its $ 72 million budget internationally. Darabont had originally wanted to direct The Mist even before he directed The Shawshank Redemption , but kept pushing it back. It was 2004 before he began to write the screenplay for the film. Most of the crew that worked on
13485-449: The part, but Bridges turned it down and Alan Arkin was cast. The part of Neville Sinclair was offered to Jeremy Irons and Charles Dance before Timothy Dalton accepted. Eddie Valentine was written for Joe Pesci , but he declined, which went to Paul Sorvino . Remaining cast members included Tiny Ron Taylor as Lothar, Terry O'Quinn as Howard Hughes, Jon Polito as Otis Bigelow, Ed Lauter as Agent Fitch, Eddie Jones as Malcolm
13630-421: The past. To promote The Rocketeer , Disney made tie-in endorsements with Pizza Hut and M&M's / Mars candies . An extensive product line followed of video games for MS-DOS, NES, and Super NES. Electronic Gaming Monthly awarded The Rocketeer Video Game as its "Worst Movie-to-Game" of 1992. Toys, posters, trading cards, pins, patches, buttons, T-shirts, and children's clothing, licensed coincided with
13775-499: The pilot episode of Raines that he directed and Amin Joseph first worked with Darabont on an episode of The Shield titled "Chasing Ghosts". The Woman in the Room (1983 film) and Buried Alive (1990) are not listed due to lack of collaborations (although Brian Libby appears in both). Uncredited writing works Technical credits Cameos Cameos Academy Awards The Academy Awards , commonly known as
13920-611: The pilot episode of Raines , starring Jeff Goldblum . Darabont appeared in "First Class Jerk", the October 26, 2008, episode of Entourage in which he propositions Vincent Chase to star in a TV show he is executive producing. He appeared in a September 12, 2009, episode where he is now the director of the film about Enzo Ferrari , who Vince is portraying. According to the Battlestar Galactica : The Official Companion series by Titan Books , Darabont—a huge fan of
14065-516: The probable first public mention of the name "Oscar", in journalist Relman Morin 's "Cinematters" column in the Los Angeles Evening Post-Record on December 5, 1933. Since the awards didn't take place that year, he said: "What's happened to the annual Academy banquet? As a rule, the banquet and the awarding of "Oscar", the bronze statuette given for best performances, is all over long before this". This information changes
14210-415: The production process as possible and to try and secure as much artistic control from Disney as he could. In particular, Disney was not enthusiastic with Stevens's involvement. He reflected, "I was on the set day and night from pre-production till post-production ! And initially, I had to fight to prove that I was there for the benefit of the film, and not for my own ego". The original production budget
14355-499: The property of the recipient. Since then the statuettes have been legally encumbered by the requirement that the statuette be first offered for sale back to the Academy for US$ 1. If a winner refuses to agree to this stipulation, then the Academy keeps the statuette. Academy Awards predating this agreement have been sold in public auctions and private deals for six-figure sums. In 1989, Michael Todd's grandson tried to sell Todd's Best Picture Oscar for his 1956 production of Around
14500-406: The qualifying period; Jannings received the award for two movies in which he starred , and Janet Gaynor won the first Best Actress award for performances in three films. Beginning with the second ceremony, performers received separate nominations for individual films; no performer has received multiple nominations in the same category since the 3rd Academy Awards . For the first six ceremonies,
14645-404: The re-imagined series—was slated to direct " Islanded in a Stream of Stars ", the penultimate episode of the show's final season. Due to scheduling conflicts, he was unable to take the job, which fell to series star (and previous helmer) Edward James Olmos . Darabont was slated to direct the 2009 film Law Abiding Citizen , but left production due to creative differences with the producers. At
14790-404: The reference and built the sets". Disney originally intended to change the Rocketeer's trademark helmet design completely. President Michael Eisner wanted a straight NASA -type helmet but director Johnston threatened to quit production. Disney relented, but only after creating several prototype designs that were ultimately rejected by the filmmakers. Stevens asked Johnston for one week to produce
14935-434: The rocket in a biplane 's cockpit at an airfield. As the chase continues, stunt pilot Cliff Secord's yellow and black Gee Bee Z monoplane is destroyed, ending his air-racing career. Film star Neville Sinclair hires Valentine's gang to steal the rocket, and sends his monstrous henchman Lothar to find its location. Meanwhile, Cliff and his airplane mechanic , Peevy, find the rocket and begin testing it. Cliff's girlfriend
15080-471: The rocket pack scenes. For the female lead of Cliff's girlfriend Jenny, Sherilyn Fenn , Kelly Preston , Diane Lane , and Elizabeth McGovern were considered before Jennifer Connelly was eventually cast. Campbell and Connelly's working relationship eventually became romantic, which Johnston found to be a technique for method acting that helped with their on-screen chemistry. For Secord's sidekick, Peevy, Dave Stevens hoped that Lloyd Bridges would play
15225-500: The screen. It got rephrased and messed with every inch of the way." Guillermo del Toro has shown interest in adapting Darabont's draft of the Frankenstein script when he gets around to filming his own version of the story, calling the draft a "near perfect" adaptation of the original book. In 2004, he was hired by Tom Cruise to write Mission: Impossible III , but the script was later rewritten by J. J. Abrams , who directed
15370-401: The screenplay, The Green Mile , starring Tom Hanks . At first Darabont was reluctant to adapt the novel as a film, as its setting was too similar to Shawshank , but quickly changed his mind after reading the novel. Hanks and Darabont first met at an Academy Award luncheon in 1994, and the two were eager to work on a project together. Stephen King said he had envisioned Hanks in the role and
15515-411: The script for the 2014 Godzilla reboot. Darabont stated that he would like to bring the monster back to his origins as a "terrifying force of nature." The director of the film Gareth Edwards stated in an interview that Darabont wrote the most moving scene of the film and that particular scene helped convince cast members Bryan Cranston and Juliette Binoche to sign onto the film. In June 2014, it
15660-562: The script of A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors , with Russell directing the film. The two were given only two weeks to rewrite the script and accomplished it in ten days. The success of their A Nightmare on Elm Street film allowed them to produce the first script they had originally written, The Blob . By then considered a successful writer for hire, Darabont was commissioned to write The Fly II , an early draft of The Rocketeer , and an unproduced sequel to Commando . Darabont made his directorial debut with Buried Alive ,
15805-568: The script over the years was to make Cliff and Jenny's romance more believable and avoid cliché aspects that would stereotype Jenny as a damsel in distress . The numerous project delays forced Dear to drop out as director. Joe Johnston , a fan of the comic book, immediately offered his services as director when he found out Disney owned the film rights. Johnston was quickly hired and pre-production started in early 1990. After Bilson and De Meo's third major rewrite, Disney finally greenlit The Rocketeer . The characterization of Neville Sinclair
15950-461: The second ceremony in 1930, and the rest of the first decade, the results were given to newspapers for publication at 11:00 pm on the night of the awards. In 1940, the Los Angeles Times announced the winners before the ceremony began. As a result, in 1941 the Academy started using a sealed envelope to reveal the names of the winners. The term "Oscar" is a registered trademark of the AMPAS. In
16095-427: The source material and Darabont's involvement. Darabont wrote and directed the pilot and was executive producer of the first season, along with Gale Anne Hurd . The series features a number of actors who have regularly worked with Darabont in the past, including Jeffrey DeMunn , Laurie Holden and Melissa McBride . The series earned positive reviews upon release and the pilot attracted 5.3 million viewers, making it
16240-530: The storyline with "inspiration, which may be why it finally feels flat". Hal Hinson wrote in The Washington Post that the film was too concerned with family-friendliness . Jonathan Rosenbaum of Chicago Reader believed both the editing and the storyline were not well balanced and said The Rocketeer ripped off elements of Indiana Jones and Back to the Future . Rosenbaum also cited
16385-616: The teenage audience it did not reach in North America. The original Art Deco poster, artistically similar to the famous Monument to Yuri Gagarin , was changed because it failed to draw attention to the cast, including James Bond actor Timothy Dalton. A new poster was designed to feature Dalton, Billy Campbell, and Jennifer Connelly prominently. The film also failed in Britain, grossing just over £1 million in its first two weeks at just under 250 screens. The new advertising campaign
16530-403: The tone of it is still what I was trying to project in the comic pages. I also thought Joe's casting choices were excellent. To his credit, Joe did not fill out the cast with a bunch of Beverly Hills, 90210 Barbie and Ken -type kids". Stevens found Billy Campbell to be "a good-looking guy, but he also happens to be Cliff! I would never have cast him based on good looks alone, but he came into
16675-408: The version of Sidney Skolsky as the first to publicly mention the name. To prevent information identifying the Oscar winners from leaking ahead of the ceremony, Oscar statuettes presented at the ceremony have blank baseplates. Until 2010, winners returned their statuettes to the Academy and had to wait several weeks to have their names inscribed on their respective Oscars. Since 2010, winners have had
16820-528: The way it’s performed, especially since it’s not a sequel and has no big-time stars". The film opened #4 behind Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves , City Slickers and Dying Young and eventually grossed only $ 46.6 million in US box office, making it a commercial disappointment. Outside of the United States and Canada, the film was released through Disney's Touchstone Pictures label, in an attempt to attract
16965-556: The winner is selected from among the nominees by plurality voting of all members. Since 2009, the Best Picture winner has been chosen by instant runoff voting . Since 2013, re-weighted range voting has been used to select the nominees for the Best Visual Effects . The Rocketeer (film) The Rocketeer (released internationally as The Adventures of the Rocketeer ) is a 1991 American superhero film from Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures . It
17110-489: Was premiered at the 1,100 seat El Capitan Theatre on June 19, 1991. This was the first premiere to take place at the El Capitan in more than two years, after a restoration project by Disney. The home video in 1992 on LaserDisc , VHS, and Beta earned an additional $ 23.18 million in rentals. The musical score, compiled and produced by James Horner, was released in both audio cassette and CD variants. The Rocketeer
17255-537: Was $ 25 million, but rose to $ 35 million after Disney became impressed with the dailies . Johnston explained, "they realized this was a bigger movie than they were anticipating and they approved overages. It never got completely out of control". An abandoned World War II runway at the Santa Maria, California airport was the set for the fictional Chaplin Air Field. Additional scenes were shot at Bakersfield . For
17400-482: Was Disney's favorite choice, and Paxton commented he came "really close" to getting the lead. Vincent D'Onofrio declined the role and the filmmakers were forced to continue their search. The decision to cast Billy Campbell as Cliff Secord caused mixed emotions among Disney executives. Director Joe Johnston and creator Dave Stevens believed Campbell was perfect for the role, but Disney wanted an A-list actor. Johnston eventually convinced Disney otherwise. Campbell
17545-465: Was a producer on Hell Night and The Seduction ) with an offer to become his writing partner, as he had become interested in Darabont's writing after reading his spec script written for the television series M*A*S*H . The two began working on a script for a remake of the film The Blob , which they had planned to shop around to studios. That was interrupted when they were both hired to rewrite
17690-500: Was akin to the Kenner Products Batman toy lines. Several prototypes were made, but the toy line was promptly shut down; Disney pulled the license from Toy Biz leaving only Just Toys having the rights. In 1938 Los Angeles , gangsters from Eddie Valentine's gang steal a prototype rocket pack from aviation magnate Howard Hughes . During their escape from the pursuing police, the getaway driver quickly stops and hides
17835-553: Was being designed while the British promotional campaign for the film was already under way and some theaters still had the stylized United States film poster. On Rotten Tomatoes , 67% of 66 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.20/10. The site's consensus states: "An action-packed, if anachronistic, look back at pulp matinee serials, The Rocketeer may ring hollow with viewers expecting more than simple fun and gee-whiz special effects." Metacritic gave
17980-485: Was composed and conducted by James Horner . The soundtrack received positive reviews and was often called one of the film's stronger elements. The soundtrack was released by Hollywood Records and features nearly an hour of music with eight tracks of score and two vocal tracks performed by actress and singer Melora Hardin . An expanded edition was issued in 2016 by Intrada Records . The two songs were arranged by Billy May , who had collaborated with Horner several times in
18125-457: Was given a full season order of six episodes in the fall of 2012 and the title of the series was changed to Mob City . The series premiered in December 2013 and was met with mixed to positive reviews. The series was cancelled after one season. Darabont also held the rights to two other Stephen King stories, The Long Walk and The Monkey , neither of which he ever adapted. Darabont was
18270-416: Was happy when Darabont mentioned his name. The film was nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture , and Darabont was nominated for his second Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. This was originally the highest-grossing film based on a Stephen King novel, as it made a total of $ 286,801,374 worldwide (before being surpassed by 2017's It when it made $ 603 million worldwide.) In 2001 Darabont directed
18415-473: Was held at the Mayfair Hotel. The cost of guest tickets for that night's ceremony was $ 5 - $ 89 at 2023 prices. Fifteen statuettes were awarded, honoring artists, directors, and other participants in the film-making industry of the time, for their works during the 1927–28 period. The ceremony ran for 15 minutes. For this first ceremony, winners were announced to the media three months earlier. For
18560-429: Was hired to do the film's special effects after Darabont asked fellow director Guillermo del Toro who did the effects on his film Pan's Labyrinth . The film was a modest success at the box office, but earned positive reviews from critics. King also praised Darabont's new ending, saying, "The ending is such a jolt—wham! It's frightening. But people who go to see a horror movie don't necessarily want to be sent out with
18705-438: Was inspired by period film star Errol Flynn . The film's Neville Sinclair is, like biographer Charles Higham 's Flynn, a film star known for his work in swashbuckler roles who is secretly a Nazi spy. Because Higham's biography of Flynn was not refuted until the late 1980s, the image of Flynn as a closet Nazi remained current all through the arduous process of writing and re-writing the script. The other real-life characterization
18850-502: Was introduced at the 20th Academy Awards as a special award, and became a competitive category at the 29th Academy Awards . The 74th Academy Awards, held in 2002, presented the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature . Since 1973, all Academy Awards ceremonies, except for 2021, have ended with the Academy Award for Best Picture . Traditionally, the previous year's winners for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor present
18995-450: Was met with acclaim by audiences and critics. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards , including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Darabont. The film attracted additional viewers after its Academy Award nominations, and became the most rented film of 1995. Today it is considered by many to be one of the greatest films ever made . Darabont's next directorial effort was another Stephen King adaptation for which he wrote
19140-415: Was not familiar with the comic book when he got the part but quickly read it. He read books on aviation and listened to 1940s period music. He overcame his fear of flying with the help of aerial coordinator Craig Hosking. To ensure his safety, Campbell was doubled for almost all of the flying sequences in conventional aircraft. Ultimately, a scale model devised by ILM puppeteer Tom St. Amand was used for all
19285-475: Was of Howard Hughes . Casting the lead role of Cliff Secord was a struggle. Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg even had one of the studio's staff writers, Karey Kirkpatrick , audition for the part. Kevin Costner and Matthew Modine were the first actors considered for the role. When they both became unavailable, Dennis Quaid , Kurt Russell , Bill Paxton , and Emilio Estevez auditioned. Johnny Depp
19430-443: Was produced by Charles Gordon , Lawrence Gordon , and Lloyd Levin , directed by Joe Johnston , and stars Billy Campbell , Jennifer Connelly , Alan Arkin , Timothy Dalton , Paul Sorvino , and Tiny Ron Taylor . It is based on the character of the same name created by comic book artist and writer Dave Stevens . Set in 1938 Los Angeles , California , The Rocketeer tells the story of stunt pilot Cliff Secord, who discovers
19575-427: Was reinstated starting with the 95th Academy Awards . The Oscar statuette, officially the Academy Award of Merit, is given to winners of each year's awards. Made of gold-plated bronze on a black metal base, it is 13.5 in (34.3 cm) tall, weighs 8.5 lb (3.856 kg), and depicts a knight rendered in Art Deco style holding a sword standing on a reel of film with five spokes. The five spokes represent
19720-585: Was released on Region 1 DVD by Buena Vista Home Entertainment in August 1999. No special features were included on the later DVD release, although the 1992 LaserDisc (#1239 as) has the original theatrical trailer. A 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Disc was released on December 13, 2011. The Rocketeer was released in the United States on June 21, 1991, earning $ 9.6 million in its opening weekend in 1,616 theaters. Dick Cook , president of Disney's Buena Vista Distribution unit said "We've got to be pleased with
19865-468: Was released on June 21, 1991, and received positive reviews from critics. Plans for Rocketeer sequels were abandoned after the film underperformed at the box office, grossing only $ 46 million on a $ 35 million budget. However, a television series based on the film, with Campbell reprising his role, premiered on Disney Junior in November 2019. In early 1991, Toy Biz had the rights to a massive Rocketeer toy line, including different versions of Cliff; this
20010-408: Was released, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein , which Darabont wrote, was also released. The film was met with mixed reviews and Darabont called it the worst experience in his career as a writer as he had considered it the best script he had ever written, but that director Kenneth Branagh ruined it "every step of the way". He went on to say that "you can't really judge the script based on what you saw on
20155-521: Was reported that Darabont was on the shortlist to direct The Huntsman: Winter's War , a sequel to the fantasy film Snow White and the Huntsman . A month later it was confirmed that Darabont would direct the film, but it would not be a sequel, but a prequel focusing on Chris Hemsworth 's character Eric, the Huntsman. However, Darabont left the project in January 2015, citing creative differences as
20300-573: Was reported to be developing a remake of The Rocketeer . Saw series creator James Wan has talked about directing the film. In July 2016, Walt Disney Pictures confirmed a reboot titled The Rocketeers , written by Max Winkler and Matt Spicer. It was set to be produced by Brigham Taylor , Blake Griffin of the Brooklyn Nets , and Ryan Kalil of the Carolina Panthers . Reportedly a "reboot sequel" takes place six years after
20445-465: Was screened in a limited release before being broadcast in five parts on ABC and ESPN , in that category in 2017 . The Academy's announcement of the new rule made no direct mention of that film. The Best International Feature Film award does not require a U.S. release. It requires the film to be submitted as its country's official selection. The Best Documentary Feature award requires either week-long releases in both Los Angeles County and any of
20590-410: Was the one — so, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the honor is all yours". Columnist Sidney Skolsky wrote in his 1970 memoir that he came up with the term in 1934 under pressure for a deadline, mocking Vaudeville comedians who asked "Will you have a cigar, Oscar?" The Academy credits Skolsky with "the first confirmed newspaper reference" to Oscar in his column on March 16, 1934, which
20735-485: Was unable to find financing. In addition to collaborating with actors on films and television projects, Darabont has collaborated with writers, producers, composers, and others. These include Chuck Russell , Mark Isham , Stephen King , Gregory Nicotero , Rohn Schmidt , David Tattersall , and others. Jeffrey DeMunn appeared in The Blob and Black Cat Run , both of which Darabont wrote, Alexa Davalos appeared in
20880-406: Was working at the famed Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. He served at the concession stand and as an usher, and was grateful for the perk of getting to watch numerous films for free. He claims he developed his writing skills from "endless hours" of writing at a desk on a typewriter in his free time, and from his childhood friend Cody Hills. Darabont became involved in filmmaking by becoming
21025-420: Was written about that year's 6th Academy Awards . But in the newspaper clipping that Skolsky referred to, he wrote that "these statues are called 'Oscars ' ", meaning that the name was already in use. Bruce Davis, a former executive director of the Academy, credited Eleanore Lilleberg, a secretary at the Academy when the award was first introduced, for the nickname. She had overseen the pre-ceremony handling of
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