Dallas Buyers Club may very well turn out to be the dark horse in the Oscar race. Capturing 6 richly deserved Oscar nominations, it has already won significant Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards for Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto.

Here are some astonishing facts and some little known details that substantiate why this film will be the Oscar’s dark horse. To avoid confusion, Dallas Buyers Club (DBC) is a drama and not a documentary or docudrama however, key details of the story are factual.

1. All First Time Oscar Nominees:

Dallas Buyers Club is truly the ‘indie’ film of the Best Picture Oscar lineup (read our review). It was made on a slim budget, written by a team of unknown screenwriters and is directed by Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée (The Young Victoria, C.R.A.Z.Y., Café de Flore), who has never been on the Oscar podium before and who also co-edited the film with Martin Pensa. This is also Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto’s first Oscar nomination.

The highly successful screenwriting duo Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack have taken dramatic license with the story creating a screenplay that took a rather obscure story to an international audience. It is Melisa Wallack’s first foray into screenwriting. It has taken Craig Borten 20 years to bring this screenplay to the silver screen.

2. An Obscure Story about a Taboo Subject

The subject matter of the film is based on a rather obscure story about characters living on the fringe of mainstream society, battling AIDS in the ‘80’s when it was a taboo and very misunderstood disease. The film delves into uncomfortable topics such as the FDA’s role in suppressing access to much needed AIDS drugs, attitudes towards transsexuals, gays, bisexuality and denial of proper hospital treatment for AIDS patients at the time. These details are true.

Much has been made of whether Ron Woodroof was bisexual or not and who cares, but the truth seems to be that he was a committed homophobe before his AIDS experience changed his attitudes. Rayon, Woodroof’s transgender business partner in the film is a totally fictitious character but crucial to the story. Rayon allows the audience to follow Woodroof as he develops understanding, empathy and respect for the LGBTQ community.

3. An Unlikely Hero

Craig Borten interviewed electrician Ron Woodroof, the real life character upon whom the protagonist of Dallas Buyers Club is based, the month before he died. He recorded many hours of interviews and was given access to Woodroof’s personal journals. Ron Woodroof died Sept. 1992. The only article about Ron Woodroof at the time was a major article before his death in 1992 by journalist Bill Minutaglio for The Dallas Morning News. He returned to obscurity after that until this movie. It was in 1985 that Dallas electrician Ron Woodroof, diagnosed with AIDS and prevented from getting the medication he needed decided to work outside the system to help get AIDS patients the medication the all needed.

4. More Unlikely Heroes And a Crazy Financing Story

Joe Newcomb, one of the executive producers of Dallas Buyers Club dreamed of making headlines as a Toronto Blue Jays pitcher in 1987. His dreams were brought to an abrupt end when he blew out his elbow and found he would never pitch again. He turned to business, getting a degree in Memphis and starting his own company Truth Chemical, in 2002. Connections mean everything and by a strange twist of fate Newcomb and Charlie Sheen became connected through a mutual friend, Chicago White Sox slugger Adam Dunn. Sheen was looking for money for a baseball movie that would not materialize. Newcomb discovered the Dallas Buyers Club script at this time and jumped on board when the film was almost out of financing options. This was 2012. The convoluted story of financing Dallas Buyers Club is covered here and includes support from Brad Pitt.

Adam Dunn, Matthew McConaughey Joe Newcomb, Jared Leto

He put the money up to finance Dallas Buyers Club after reading the script and being completely gripped by it. Joe Newcomb’s money basically saved the movie at the most critical point. Matthew McConaughey had lost 50 lbs and was at a critically low weight, pulling out of the project due to lack of finances 2 weeks before shooting would be crazy but inevitable without the financing. The window of opportunity was closing as other film commitments were also filling in for McConaughey.

More stunning was the next news that it was a darling at TIFF 2013, the Toronto International Film Festival that has proven to be the most reliable Oscar predictor. Now he just might win an Academy as one of the film’s executive producer.

5. Jared Leto Joins The Cast

Jared Leto was on tour with his rock band for “30 Seconds To Mars”. An actor and musician, Jared Leto wanted this role badly and felt deeply connected with the character of Rayon, but director Jean-Marc Vallée did not see him in the role. Not to be put off, Jared dressed up in full character as Rayon and did a live video audition for Vallée. The role was his. Jared became Rayon and the first day on set even pinched Vallée’s ass.

6. Bad Press

In a very surprising rant, Steve Friess, Time’s online Time Ideas (Feb 28, 2014) tries to capture headlines by throwing Jared Leto to the dogs for his superb role as Rayon, the transgender prostitute in the drama Dallas Buyers Club. He basis his article entitled; “Don’t Applaud Jared Leto’s Transgender “Mammy”, on the idea that “Leto’s award-winning performance as the sassy, tragic-yet-silly Rayon will belong in the dishonorable pantheon along with McDaniel’s Mammy.” He says the script is flawed for not sticking to the ‘facts’, and accuses the screenwriters of creating a totally fictitious character! He completely misses the purpose of the character altogether putting it down to ‘comic relief’. Friess is confused as to whether Jared Leto is a “he” or “she”? who is the recipient of the Oscar nomination. Hollywood can be accused of many things but here they will be applauded now and for years to come for spotting great performances and a great film in this one.

7. Distribution Woes

You would think that a film with 6 Oscar nominations and 2 major Golden Globe wins would be on every screen across North America. Well surprisingly this is not the case and it may have something to do with the turmoil at Focus Features, the North American distribution company signed on to promote DBC. Right before the North American Premiere of DBC the head of Focus Features was fired and an announcement was made that a whole new approach to distribution was going to happen at Focus. Did Dallas Buyers Club get caught in the shuffle?

Moira Romano

Dallas Buyers Club, directed and co-edited by Jean-Marc Vallée, stars Jennifer Garner, Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Denis O’Hare, Dallas Roberts, Steve Zahn and co-written by Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack. Martin Pensa co-edited the film, hair and makeup are by Adrultha Lee and Robin Matthers and Robbie Brenner and Rachael Winter with Voltage Picture and Joe Newcomb with Truth Entertainment are producers.

Robbie Brenner, Joe Newcomb, Rachel Winter

Dallas Buyers Club is nominated for 6 Oscars including:

Best Motion Picture of the Year
Robbie Brenner
Rachel Winter

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Matthew McConaughey

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Jared Leto

Best Achievement in Film Editing
Jean-Marc Vallée
Martin Pensa

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling
Adruitha Lee
Robin Mathews

Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Craig Borten
Melisa Wallack

Special thanks to Stacia Pratt, Executive VP PR Truth Entertainment for behind the scenes details and photos for DBC.

Yesterday was the first annual ‘Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season in Los Angeles’ and it had a fantastic turnout. Considering the winter that’s going on up there its really no surprise that stars were eager to make the trip down to hollywood and its 40º(Celsius) temperature upgrade. We talked to over 30 Canadian actors, directors, and film industry elite to see if we could come up with “Canada’s choice” for the Best Picture Oscar. Along the way we learned a few things: 1) Canadians love to bet on the Oscars 2) Norman Jewison is great (but I guess we knew that) 3) Just because you are part of the film industry and you are in L.A. for Oscar weekend DOES NOT make you immune to absolutely butchering the name of a best picture nominee….

We will find out Sunday but this seems to me like a fairly accurate shakedown of how Academy votes may be skewed. You can check out our predictions for best picture here. For the record the final count was “12 Years a Slave” with 8, “The Wolf At The Door of Wall Street” with 4, “Dallas Buyers Club” and “American ShuffleHustle” with 3, and “Gravity” and “Her” with 1 each. Nobody voted for “Captain Phillips”, “Nebraska”, or “Philomena” but the latter two got a shout out from Norman Jewison.

Storm Watch 2014

The second wave of the #aquaticvortex has hit and alarmingly the hashtag seems to have been upgraded to #rainpocalypse…..

Power cuts, thunder, flash floods and pouring rain… #RAINPOCALYPSE is finally here!— Chloë C Crampton (@chloecharlotte) March 1, 2014

These are the times that try men's souls. #rainpocalypse— Jeff Brunelle (@heyjeffyb) February 28, 2014

Best of all, Jimmy Kimmell was back to his old tricks whipping up the very best clips of LA reporters making fools of themselves.

Keep checking back to myetvmedia for more oscar updates right up to the big show.

Marshall Jeske

It’s only three days until the Academy Awards but here in Hollywood another event is stealing all the buzz. The “largest rain event” in three years is expected to hit Los Angeles throughout Oscar weekend. Amidst the worst drought ever recorded, L.A. is almost as desperate for rain as Leonardo DiCaprio is for an Oscar… and both droughts could end this weekend!

Los Angeles has a little bit of a reputation for overreacting to inclement weather (as Jimmy Kimmel hilariously illustrates) but this storm actually seems pretty serious. The expected 3 inches of precipitation would come just short of matching the 3.6 inches of rain Los Angeles received for ALL of last year.

Oscars Rained Out?

SO what does all of this mean for the Oscars on Sunday? Probably nothing. The advanced warning of the storm has given Oscar organizers plenty of time to rainproof the red carpet area well in advance of showtime. While this is great news for redcarpetophiles, I’m personally disappointed that we won’t be seeing a mad 50m dash with shrieking actresses desperately trying to keep their dresses unscathed and not end up flat on their faces. For people who like betting on the oscars this would make for a fantastic prop bet: Which best actress nominated will have the fastest “limo to inside” time? My money is on the uber-fit Sandra Bullock but don’t count out the wily veteran Meryl Streep who will be on the carpet as an Oscar nominee for a record 18th time. It could have also been a rare showcase for designer umbrellas which unfairly never get their time in the sun (sorry).

#AquaticVortex

Since rain has been so uncommon these past few years in L.A. the upcoming storm is causing quite the buzz on social media. One radio host hilariously coined it an #aquaticvortex and the hashtag took off.

@LosAngelesRain is coming. It’s got its own Twitter account and I’ve just read the hashtag #AquaticVortex jeeeeez— Jeff Maysh (@jeffmaysh) February 27, 2014

The fact that a bit of rain in California is called an #AquaticVortex is hilarious. In Eugene, we call that Wednesday. #converted

— Abby Johnson (@abbyjohnson118) February 27, 2014

Los Angeles is seriously more excited about the rain than the Oscars. #mydayinla— John W. Ennis (@johnennis) February 26, 2014

The LA storm watch is such a riot! Couple inches of rain and we’re losing it! Real story is “how can it dare rain on celebrities!” #oscars— The Mrs. (@Onefabulousmom) February 26, 2014

It’s a little hard to focus on the Oscars when the storm of the century is coming. We’re going to do our best though and keep coming back to myetvmedia for the latest Oscar buzz leading up to the big show. As for now, we are bracing for the worst…

Marshall Jeske

We often underestimate the power of fiction. We deride television as garbage that’s rotting our brains and keeping us from something meaningful. But for Kevin Cordasco, who lived with childhood cancer until his untimely death at 16, television, specifically Breaking Bad, was a reprieve from a terrible and consuming illness.

Cordasco was an avid fan of the show and watched it religiously with friends. His father, Kevin Cordasco Senior said his son identified with Walter White and the way he embodied the fighting spirit of a person battling cancer. Fans watched the mysterious dedication at the end of the August 11th premiere puzzled, only learning the touching story behind the message now.

Kevin was given the opportunity to visit the Breaking Bad set and meet the cast and crew. The pictures speak towards a joy that goes along with meeting your heroes and it’s hard to imagine that this kid could be suffering as much as he was underneath that charming smile. Sadly Kevin passed away before seeing the recent premiere but his family has said that for them it will be an institution “it’s what he would have wanted”.

Television is a lot of things but before we bring it down with case studies on laziness and reports of illiteracy we should consider the power of all storytelling. The way that a plot might inform our lives. The way a scene might make us feel, or the relief that goes along with watching a loved character battle the stress and misfortune that so many of us live with everyday.

Check out our Breaking Bad Top Ten Scenes from Seasons 1-4 below.

“Monsieur Lazhar” a film from Canada, directed by Philippe Falardeau.

Monsieur Lazhar premiered at TIFF and won Best Canadian Feature Film this year. It is comes to us from the same production team that garnered their film “Incendies” a foreign language Oscarnomination here last year. It is a beautiful, sensitive story. An elementary school in Montreal has had a terrible incident. The grade 6 teacher has hung herself and the body has been discovered by one of the boys (Emilien Neron). The class is very distressed. The school Principal (Danielle Proulx) does everything she can to find a replacement teacher, which proves very difficult.

Coincidently an Algerian immigrant (Fellag) is desperate not to be deported from the country. He sees the ad for the teaching position and presents himself as a candidate with 20 years teaching experience. He gets the job although in reality he has no such experience. His teaching methods are very unusual. Monsieur Lazhar is forced to try and find a way to reach out to the young people. The viewer is emotionally drawn into this little world and becomes very invested in the deep attachment that develops between the students and Monsieur Lazhar.

Phillipe Falardeau based some of his work in this film on his own unique experience travelling around the middle-east for a year making movie segments for a reality show 20 years ago. The experience made him very sympathetic to the reality of being an immigrant. He also missed the opportunity to visit Algeria because of political unrest there at the time. He felt a great connection with the character and the actor Fellag who plays Monsieur Lazhar. The screenplay written by Falardeau is based on a one man play by Evelyne de la Chenelière.

Moira Romano

“In Darkness” is a Polish film directed by Agnieszka Holland.

Screenwriter David Shamoon was inspired to write this story after reading a single sentence in a Toronto newspaper in an article entitled The Righteous. This article describes a book that cataloged those incredibly courageous individuals who risked not only their own lives, but also the lives of their families, by helping Jews escape the clutches of the Nazis during the Holocaust. David Shamoonthen began an 8-year journey that would take him from the sewers of Lviv, Ukraine (Lvov, Poland during World War II), to a bitterly cold set at the legendary Babelsberg Studio just outside Berlin. He travelled into some of the darkest recesses of human history.

David felt very strongly that this story should never be ‘Hollywoodized’. Acclaimed director Agnieszka Holland turned out to be the ideal director. She admits to turning down dozens of scripts with similar World War II themes over the years, but this particular script caught her attention because it explores much more than the brutality of nations or the horrors of persecution; it captures the intimacies of its characters and how they react to one another once thrust into unforeseen circumstances.

In Darkness is a true story. Agnieszka Holland insisted in authenticity and that the film be made in its languages of origin Polish, Yiddish, Ukranian, German. It is set in 1943 in the Nazi occupied city of Lvov where Jews are trapped in Ghettos awaiting eradication in concentration camps. Leopold Socha, a sewer worker and petty thief, encounters a group of Jews trying to escape by hiding beneath the city in the foul, rat ridden sewer system. What starts out as a straightforward and cynical business arrangement for Leopold Socha turns into a very unexpected and unlikely alliance between Sochaand the Jews. ‘In Darkness’, literally and metaphorically is true to its title. Holland effectively uses the dim light and strict confines of the sewer locations to make the angst and discomfort of her characters very real to the viewer.

The film is an extraordinary story of survival as these men, women and children all try to outwit certain death during 14 months of ever increasing and intense danger. At a time when the worst of human nature and desperation is prevalent, extraordinary tales of love, courage and sacrifice are found.

Agnieszka Holland who already has a remarkable career as a filmmaker and 3 previous Oscar nominations, says this movie was one of the most difficult she has ever made.

Moira Romano

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics