Coverage of the Lead-Up to the Oscars

[metal2000]

This a question for a very specific thing, but I figured this would be the right category to post it under. I'm looking for some opinions or ideas on something, and while we have a few of our own, I'd love any input one might wish to give.

Anyway, I'm going down to L.A. next week to cover the Oscars for my website. My website isn't exactly "big time", so the Academy doesn't exactly give me a spot on the Red Carpet the day of the show, but they do give me Exterior Access (Red Carpet, other stuff around the Kodak Theatre area) during the days leading up, as other more reputable organizations with Exterior Access use it as an opportunity to set up cameras and work on angles for the broadcast itself.

This is my third year with this access. The first year, I mistakenly let my friends (with no experience in front of the camera or behind the camera) join me for my Red Carpet experience. Let's just say that I ended up writing a pretty decent article for the website with some accompanying photos, but the video footage we took was essentially useless.

Last year, I brought along my iO-trained comedian friend, who has edited and produced video (and owns a top-of-the-line camcorder), and though we had limited time to come up with a plan, we ended up putting together a serviceable comedy bit based on some of the weird stuff we noticed going on for the preparations. We even convinced former NSync member Joey Fatone to be involved in a bit. I figured that along with my regular coverage of the Oscars, it would be good to highlight that our site is oh so very comedy-loving. It worked out well.

This year, I want to really make a well-produced, high-funny-quotient piece that doesn't make fun of the Oscars (even though they're a great target, the site I run heavily features movies, and I don't want to have to cut ties with the Academy Awards, afterall!) but definitely allows the Oscars to the the backdrop for some funny stuff. My buddy and I have both approached people we know in the L.A. comedy scene (people he's studied/worked with, people I've interviewed) to help out, but so far there's been no interest, so it looks like we'll be on our own. Which is fine (my friend is well-trained in comedy, and I've made a few bad comedy videos myself). But a 2-man brainstorm -- especially when he's in Vancouver and I'm in Winnipeg -- is not the best way to come up with ideas.

So... any thoughts? Suggestions? Annoyances with my post? :P

[CaryAnderson]

Your post is really good, I nothing to say about it. Thanks for being a concerned fan of the Oscars. At least you posted reliable and useful source.

[Colemancoxstandup]

I've got a good Oscar joke for you. What's gold, named Oscar and has been held by Kevin Spacey? If you answered "Ashton Kutcher's penis" you're wrong. Ashton Kutcher's penis is named Jameson.

[Keith Whitener]

Your post is really good, I nothing to say about it. Thanks for being a concerned fan of the Oscars. At least you posted reliable and useful source.

What a fascinating robot this is! I'd love to do improv with a spam bot like this. It just takes one word out of what you say and uses it as a segue for its post.