Internationals Once Again Sweep Oscars

Once again the internationals sweep the Oscars. Last year, all the acting awards went to non-Americans, and other than Sean Penn this year, the trend was the same. A Brit (Kate Winslet), an Aussie (Heath Ledger) and a Spanard (Penélope Cruz) took gold. When it came to the other awards, it was even ampted up this year with the success of Slumdog Millionaire which walked away with best picture, director, cinematography, editing, original score, song, sound mixing, and adapted screenplay. And leave it to first award winner to put it all in perspective. Thanks, Penélope.

“I grew up in a place called Alcobendas, where this was not a very realistic dream. And I, always on the night of the Academy Awards, I stay up to watch the show and I always felt that this was, this ceremony was a moment of unity for the world because art, in any form, is and has been and will always be our universal language and we should do everything we can, everything we can, to protect its survival.”

The Heath Ledger Theatre?

The arts community of Perth, Australia is up in arms about the announcement by Premier Alan Carpenter that he will name the new performing arts center in Northbridge after Hollywood film actor Heath Ledger.

Many have attacked the decision because of the Perth-born actor’s personal life and lack of theatre work as reasons why the center should get a different name.

West Australian Academy of Performing Arts program director Andrew Lewis criticized the move, saying the WA government had engaged in a cynical marketing exercise. "People in the industry don't feel that they were consulted," he said. But he stressed that this did not detract from the fact that Ledger was a great actor.

"I certainly would love to honour Heath because I think he was an extraordinary man and a great talent, one of the best exports that we have ever had," Mr Lewis said. "And he is well known, which will hopefully bring people to the theatre."