March of the Oscars

Maybe this journalist is dating himself but the following information brings 'Candyland’ to mind. I don’t think I mean ‘Candyland’ the Universal Pictures 1937 release helmed by Walter Lantz (‘Woody Woodpecker Show’) – that was way before my time. photo courtesy AMW International Co. Ltd.

photo courtesy AMW International Co. Ltd.And I don’t mean Davis Doi’s (‘Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders’) 2005 animated video ‘Candyland The Great Lollypop Adventure’ distributed by Hasbro, the company that also puts out the board game I used to play in my childhood – Candyland. Ah, Candyland the board game, maybe that is where my memories lie.But I digress, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.), the folk that sponsor the Academy Awards ® every year (and remind us that Oscar ® is a trademarked name) have announced that “Oscars® to Parade Down the Red Carpet”on Saturday, March 4th 2006 10 a.m. (GMT-8).This is where Candyland comes in: you know the Candy Cane Man. I picture his 50 clones walking down the red carpet in front of the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center®. But instead, after the close of the “Meet the Oscars: The 50 Golden Statuettes,” exhibition where the statuettes have been residing since February 10 for public viewing, they will be transported to the Red Carpet where they will be placed in the hands of ICF students – the industry’s future animators, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, editors, sound editors, screenwriters and visual effects specialists – who will then carry each one down the red carpet.The Oscars will 'overnight' (isn't that something you do on a long airplane flight?) backstage at the Theatre until the next day when they will find new coveted homes.Now not making fun of ICF here: it is a very worthy program. Established by filmmakers Fred Heinrich and Stephania Lipner in 1992, ICF targets socially and economically underprivileged youth by creating awareness about and providing access to the professional world of filmmaking. The program provides free year-round professional and business training, mentors and paid work opportunities for young adults (ages 17-22) who aspire to build careers in the entertainment industry. ICF has successfully matched graduates with more than 500 behind-the-scenes industry job opportunities.But wouldn’t it be better to see Candy Cane men carrying the little Oscar statuettes?Or then again, maybe it should be the Munchkins from MGM’s 1939 release of ‘The Wizard of Oz’. Any way you look at it – that’s Hollywood!(those interested in the ICF program can contact www.innercityfilmmakers.com )