Spring Break
MSC Film Society hosts gala for students
By: Sonia Moghe
Issue date: 3/1/04 Section: News
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Charlize Theron, Sean Penn and "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" were the big winners at last night's Academy Awards.
The 76th annual Academy Awards were presented by Billy Crystal, who has hosted the program for eight years.
"(Crystal) did an OK job," said Vincent Prendergast, a senior marketing major and a member of the Memorial Student Center Film Society. "I preferred Steve Martin (as a host)."
Prendergast said this was the first time he had seen the Oscars all the way through.
He was in attendance at the Oscar Gala, sponsored by the MSC Film Society, which provided members with the opportunity to watch the awards on a big screen with snacks and beverages. During commercial breaks(,) the students had opportunities to answer trivia questions and win prizes, as well as present impersonations of memorable acceptance speeches.
One flaw Jodi Whitaker, director of administration for the MSC Film society, sees with the Oscars is that many honorees' acceptance speeches are cut short, while Hallie Gardiner, a senior political science major, doesn't like the fact that award winners voice their political opinions during acceptance speeches.
"I get extremely annoyed when people make political statements at award shows," Gardiner said. "If I want that I can just go to class - I'm watching for the entertainment."
Students such as Pendergast disagree, saying celebrities have the right to say what they want to say.
Jessica Sahm, a senior at A&M Consolidated High School, said seeing what stars are wearing on the red carpet beforehand is an integral part of the Oscars.
"(The red carpet) is always entertaining to watch," Sahm said. "I think a little part of everyone loves watching it."
Many students present at the Oscars Gala were in support of "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" for best picture, which was up against "Lost in Translation," "Seabiscuit," "Mystic River" and "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World."
"If you want to pick a best picture based on one film alone, then I'd go for 'Lost in Translation,'" Pendergast said. "But I think 'The Lord of the Rings' should win to represent the whole trilogy."
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