The Screen Actors Guild turned awards season upside down when they awarded best ensemble (their Best Picture Award) to “Hidden Figures”, a stunning upset over heavily favored “LaLa Land”!
Prepare To Be Inspired!
I love to share positive stories like this – there is a quiet “phenomenon” underway in our country for the terrific historical drama “Hidden Figures”, which now includes the SAG Awards upset, and a nomination for Best Picture of 2016!
The Screen Actors Guild Awards have proven to be a good indicator of how Oscar is voting, since the acting block is the largest one in the Motion Picture Academy. This continues the surprising awards run for the film, which is also a box office smash.
Oscar nominations were revealed Tuesday, January 24th, and “Hidden Figures” was nominated for best picture of the year.
The story of “Hidden Figures” is inspiring: it reveals the role that three African-American women had in the launch of America’s space program, at a time of segregation in our country.
Here is the trailer:
When the film opened, expectations were “normal” – meaning that if it received good reviews and world of mouth, it might do well…but there was no sense that a groundswell of support would occur…
Toppling Darth Vader!
Entertainment industry experts were surprised when “Hidden Figures” soared past “Star Wars: Rogue One” to become America’s most popular film, and this revealing look at one aspect of America’s “race to space” just keeps building momentum…
Since opening, “Hidden Figures” has continued to grow in popularity – usually a film will open and then slowly fade – the opposite is happening here. Here is an excerpt from a terrific article on the film in The Atlantic:
“Since it expanded nationwide, it has spent two weeks at the top of the box office, ahead of big-budget films like Monster Trucks, Patriots Day, Live By Night, and Oscar frontrunner La La Land. Made for a comparatively small $25 million, the film is essentially guaranteed to gross at least $100 million in the United States alone, posting a very healthy profit for its studio, 20th Century Fox. The viewing public’s desire for a film like Hidden Figures is indisputable. So why does Hollywood make so few of them?”
The Atlantic article is a great read about how movie studios need to tell more stories like this – see the whole article here:
The article goes on to ask why so few films are made that take on important stories like this…what’s great is that the box office success of “Hidden Figures” will help studios make the decision to tackle more diverse stories.
“Hidden Figures” Plays “Hardball!”
I love “Hardball” on MSNBC, and Host Chris Matthews had the entire cast and creative team on his show to discuss the film – it was a spirited, upbeat and insightful conversations nd I’m so happy that the segment is available online to see.
Here is a terrific interview segment with Chris Matthews on “Hardball”:
The phenomenon that is “Hidden Figures” is exciting: the film tells a story that was neglected for so long…and people are responding to it. Congratulations on the Academy Award nomination for Best Picture as well as Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer….
Spencer previously won this category for her role in “The Help”, another film that looked at race relations during the 60’s in the south.
That is is stark contrast to another film that recently opened:
“Monster Trucks” bombed when it opened in movie theaters – in fact, the parent company behind the film wrote off $115-million dollars before it even opened!
I’ve only heard good things; I agree your premonition that their roles (along with Fences) will be noticed at the Oscar announcements tomorrow. I hope so! I’ve never heard of the story and I teach history, for crying out loud! Can’t wait to see it.
I rarely go to the movies but this is one I definitely want to see. I love true stories and anything from the sixties .. I’m also happy when the unsung heroes of history finally get their due.. on the contrary, when I saw the ads for the Monster Trucks I thought, seriously? who goes to see something like that? maybe a 10 yr old I guess….
I hadn’t heard of this film at all, John. The article is right though. Why don’t studios make more films that people actually want to see, instead of films that they want us to see? The answer is simple enough. Merchandising options. Nobody is likely to buy an action figure of three women from the space programme, or finance an animated TV series about their exploits. Cynical? But that’s part of what is really going on in the aptly-named Film ‘Industry’.
Best wishes, Pete.
Not cynical, Pete – accurate! And this film tells a great story, and got made because Kevin Costner is in it and produces it as well…it’s a worthy story and the cast does a great job! Who knows, maybe there WILL be Action Figures!!!
johnrieber 
Reblogged this on johnrieber and commented:
The Screen Actors Guild shocked the awards season by giving their top prize to “Hidden Figures” instead of “LaLa Land” –
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I’ve only heard good things; I agree your premonition that their roles (along with Fences) will be noticed at the Oscar announcements tomorrow. I hope so! I’ve never heard of the story and I teach history, for crying out loud! Can’t wait to see it.
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IT’s got a “made for TV” feel to it, but the message – and the story – are so important to hear, and it’s doing great business!
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I rarely go to the movies but this is one I definitely want to see. I love true stories and anything from the sixties .. I’m also happy when the unsung heroes of history finally get their due.. on the contrary, when I saw the ads for the Monster Trucks I thought, seriously? who goes to see something like that? maybe a 10 yr old I guess….
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I hadn’t heard of this film at all, John. The article is right though. Why don’t studios make more films that people actually want to see, instead of films that they want us to see? The answer is simple enough. Merchandising options. Nobody is likely to buy an action figure of three women from the space programme, or finance an animated TV series about their exploits. Cynical? But that’s part of what is really going on in the aptly-named Film ‘Industry’.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Not cynical, Pete – accurate! And this film tells a great story, and got made because Kevin Costner is in it and produces it as well…it’s a worthy story and the cast does a great job! Who knows, maybe there WILL be Action Figures!!!
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