For the past five years I have had a party on OSCARS® night. Here are a few tips for throwing your own party.

For decorations, I look for movie and Hollywood themed items.

I have two old Kodak movie projectors and several movie cameras that are perfect for display. Movie set clapboards, popcorn containers, film reel cans, and rolls of tickets also work well.

Each year, I like to theme the food to the movies that have been nominated. In the past I have had Memoirs of a Geisha sushi, Charlie and the Chocolate cupcakes, Brokeback Mountain Dew and Million Dollar Baby "punch". *Guffaw-gaffaw*

Popcorn and boxes of candy are a must also.

The highlight of my parties, seeing as how my friends are rather competetive, is the winners contest. Everyone fills out a voting ballot for who they think will win each category. Movie tickets, posters or books about films make great prizes. You can download your printable ballot for this year here.

To help you on your way to a great party, here are some downloadable designs you can use...

Hollywood Clapboard Party Invitations PDF

These are great for a dinner party or for labeling your food (like Lord of the Onion Rings!)

Place Cards PDF

In case your guests don't show up in black tie, you can make them wear these star glasses to at least get everyone in the tinseltown mood.

Star Glasses PDF

Lastly, if you have trouble getting your guests to leave after the show is over.... start playing loud instrumental music to escort them out the door.

- Jenny

OSCAR®, OSCARS® and ACADEMY AWARDS® are registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The last time I was in Hollywood, I was walking along the Walk of Fame, (around 1709 Vine Street) and I happened to look down and there was George Eastman's star! How cool is that?

I wonder what George would think of the big bash that goes on at his house every year around the time of the OSCARS®?

Every year the George Eastman House has an ACADEMY AWARDS® Party with food, dancing and the OSCARS® telecast on the big screen in the Dryden Theatre.

I am especially excited for the party because my Oscar (a mere coincidence!) was part of the advertising campaign for the party! He appeared in ads and he even has his own MySpace page... www.myspace.com/apugcalledoscar!

Here are the photos used for the campaign... "Heel Oscar, Heel"

Photo by Denise Batiste

 

"Sit Oscar, Sit"

Photo by Denise Batiste

 

"Walk Oscar, Walk"

Photo by Denise Batiste

 

Photo by Denise Batiste

If you are going to be in Rochester this weekend, you can come to the ACADEMY AWARDS® Party and meet Oscar! He will be in attendance and walking the red carpet! I know he would like to see you.

Wonder what George would have thought of a pug partying it up in his house?

OSCAR®, OSCARS® and ACADEMY AWARDS® are registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

So Kodak won an OSCAR® for the development of VISION2 film. What is it about VISION2 film that is award worthy?

As Mike Ryan, Film Technology Development Manager explains it...

"Specific to VISION2 Films, we took the best qualities of the original VISION Film system and combined it with features such as longer linear latitude, improved image structure, increased shadow detail, and more natural rendering of colors and flesh-tones. Then we worked to optimize the camera negative for both traditional optical printing and digital postproduction."

Broken down, this means smoother, cleaner images across a wide range of lighting conditions.

If you would like to learn more you can view Mike and Pat Jeffries, a Senior Development Scientist, in an Interview with the Scientists Behind KODAK VISION2 Films.

Both Mike and Pat were in Hollywood when the OSCAR® was received and I asked them what it was like...

"The ceremony was a wonderful celebration and made me feel very proud to be representing Kodak with along with the other members of the technical team who were there.

To have worked over 20 years in the film business I can say this was a highlight of my career.

It is very thrilling to know the products you have worked on have made such an impact in the industry and are recognized by such a prestigious org as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences." - Mike Ryan

"It was wonderful to be honored by the Academy Award of Merit for the Vision2 films. Enthusiasm for the Vision2 films has exceeded our expectations on many occasions. Receiving the highest level from the Academy is yet another example. The evening was filled with all the glitz one would expect at such a Hollywood event.

I found myself thinking about the many Kodak people who helped develop the films and continue to manufacture these products. I greatly appreciate their contributions. The statue is really beautiful and much heavier than it appears."- Pat Jeffries

OSCAR® is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

When people think of Kodak and the OSCARS® they probably think about how the ACADEMY AWARDS® are held at the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center®. That night the red carpet will be rolled out and crowds of people will gather to catch a glimpse of the stars heading inside.

Well, this year you will hear more about Kodak than just the theater! Kodak received an OSCAR®!

Kodak was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with an OSCAR® statuette for the development of photographic emulsion technologies incorporated into the Kodak VISION2 family of color negative films.

Our CEO, Antonio Perez accepted the award on behalf of Kodak scientists at the Scientific and Technical Academy Awards on February 9 in Los Angeles. Part of that ceremony will be broadcast during the Annual Academy Awards® telecast on February 24.

Photo taken by Stephen Kelly

This isn't Kodak's first OSCAR®. It our ninth! Here is Mary Jane Hellyar, president of Kodak's Film, Photofinishing and Entertainment Group posing with our collection.

"We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the artists in our industry," said Mary Jane. "This tremendous recognition from the Academy is a testament to our people, their capability, drive and vision, and is also a great example of Kodak's continuing commitment to the film business and our customers."

After some considerable digging around on my computer, I managed to find a picture of myself 10 years ago, (when I first started at Kodak), clutching one of our OSCARS®. It was exciting to get to hold one, and it is exciting that we won another.

OSCAR®, OSCARS® and ACADEMY AWARDS® are registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

When you polish off the last piece of chocolate from your Valentine's box of candy today... (What? You don't eat all yours right away?)... don't throw away the box! You can use it to make a Valentine's picture frame.

All you need is the empty box, a favorite picture, scissors, a craft knife and some glue or tape. You can find more detailed directions here on the Tips & Projects Center.

You can also watch a podcast of me making a frame if you would like to see how it was done. Everytime I make one, I improve the process a little more. In the podcast you will see I added an additional step.

In order to make the frame a little more stable, I show how to cut an extra little arm to hold the easel in place.

After recording the podcast a coworker gave me another tip. Save the heart shaped paper that comes on top of the chocolates to trace the shape onto the picture. It's the exact size you need the picture to be. Just make sure you lick all the chocolate off of it first.