The 97th annual Academy Awards are set to air this Sunday, and it may be a special night for ‘SC alums. With four alumni in the running for Oscars — including Best Picture — USC could add more accolades to its collection.
Alex Coco is nominated for Best Picture for “Anora,” Walter Salles is nominated for International Feature Film for “I’m Still Here,” Doug Hemphill is nominated for Sound for “Dune: Part Two,” and Jon M. Chu’s film “Wicked” is up for ten Academy Awards.
Alex Coco, producer of the critically acclaimed “Anora,” is nominated for Best Picture this year. Coco graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) in 2016. “Anora,” tells the story of a young woman from Brooklyn who meets a man at the strip club she works at and comes to find out that he is the son of a Russian oligarch. The film covers their adventures as well as the course of their relationship.
While this is Coco’s first Best Picture nomination, he produced a number of other award-winning films including “Red Rocket” and “The Sweet East.”
“Anora” is up for a total of six Oscars. After taking home Best Picture at this year’s Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Sunday night will reveal if Coco and his colleagues can do it again.
Another SCA alum in the running for an Oscar is Walter Salles, nominated for International Feature Film for his work in “I’m Still Here.” Salles gained experience in filmmaking with documentary-style pieces, however, after ten years in the industry he switched to fictional films. Salles directed “Behind the Sun,” “The Motorcycle Diaries” and “Dark Water,” but what put him on the international stage was “Central Station.” This film received two Academy Award nominations and won a Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Foreign Language Film.
“I’m Still Here” follows mother and activist Eunice Paiva, who attempts to keep her family together whilst investigating the disappearance of her husband, and politician, Rubens Paiva. Based on a true story, the film navigates life during the military dictatorship in Brazil.
In addition to Salles’ nomination for International Feature Film as the director of the movie, his producers are nominated for Best Picture. This is the first time a Brazilian film has ever been nominated for the category.
SCA alum and Oscars nominee Doug Hemphill is not new to the award-circuit scene. Hemphill is nominated once again in the Sound category for his work in “Dune: Part Two.” Hemphill was the re-recording mixer for the film, responsible for balancing music, sound effects and dialogue to create the final soundtrack.
“Dune: Part Two” reunites audiences with Paul Atreides as he seeks to get revenge against those who destroyed his family. Hemphill’s audio dramatizes conflict while creating an ominous scene in the desert environment.
This is Hemphill’s eleventh nomination in the Sound category, having taken home Oscars for “The Last of the Mohicans” and “Dune: Part One.” Sunday night will reveal if he can add a third Academy Award to his bookshelf.
While this USC alum was not directly nominated for any Oscars this year, Jon M. Chu directed “Wicked,” which is up for a total of ten awards. Chu graduated from SCA in 2003, gaining a Bachelor’s in film and television production. Since then he has directed “Crazy Rich Asians,” “In The Heights,” and now, “Wicked.”
Modeled after the iconic Broadway musical and novel, “Wicked” follows the unlikely but heartfelt friendship between Elphaba and Glinda. The film explains how Elphaba came to be known as the Wicked Witch while Glinda became known as the Good Witch.
“Wicked” is up for Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music, Production Design, Sound, Visual Effects and Best Picture. Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, is nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
The Oscars are only days away from revealing if these ‘SC alums will take home the gold. Stream the ceremony on ABC to see who wins.