FERNANDA WHO?
Name: Fernanda Montenegro
Age: 69
Claim to fame: In a sea of Meryls, Cates, and Gwyneths, Brazil's answer to Judi Dench came out of nowhere to sweep the critics' ballots and win an Academy nom for her tender turn in Central Station.
Being nominated is like... ''A storm. Not a bad storm — a wonderful storm. I am stressed, but I try to live each day with pleasure.''
Who she'd like to meet: ''All the greats of my generation. Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jennifer Jones. And the women in my category — Meryl Streep, and Blanchett. And Sarandon, Al Pacino, De Niro.''
What she'll wear: ''A Valentino. But I'm not wearing so many jewels, because it is always better to wear less than more.''
On Oscar: ''That statue...is like a god of gold.''
— Rebecca Ascher-Walsh
SET IT OFF
Emmy award-winning set designer Roy Christopher has just one Oscar-night plea. ''I'd like to send a memo to the ladies,'' says Christopher, who's responsible for the telecast's elaborate set. ''We can't carry you up the stairs! There is no elevator and no crane. We do our best with nonslip material. But, please, wear shoes and gowns that can handle it!''
Is it any wonder Christopher is a little on edge? After all, he's seen his share of spills and thrills during the last 11 Oscars. Currently, he's having nightmares about divas taking nosedives, and about the $500,000 set itself, which he describes as ''a 15th-century rotunda-like pantheon'' with a 30-foot Oscar smack in the middle. ''I have anxiety, but I tend to have amnesia about anything bad.''
What happens to the set after the show? ''We give stuff to UCLA or USC, but [one] piece we keep in storage,'' he says. ''I mean, what do you do with an Oscar that huge? Of course, if it was last year, James Cameron would have put it on his front lawn.''
— Jessica Shaw
OSCAR CONFIDENTIAL
If I go to the ceremony, can I buy a beer? Put your money away. Black Star and Heineken are served for free as you enter.
What's the time limit on acceptance speeches? In theory, everyone gets 45 seconds. After 30 seconds, a light blinks to remind people to hurry. After 45, the orchestra plays you off the stage. Says John Pavlik, director of communications for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: ''If you're saying something interesting, we might let you go on. Cuba Gooding Jr. was played off, but he ended up giving one of the most unforgettable speeches in recent memory. We live for moments like that. If it's good television, it stays.''
Who holds the record for longest acceptance speech? Greer Garson (for 1942's Mrs. Miniver). ''Some people say she went on for 20 minutes,'' says Pavlik, ''but actually it was 5. But as anyone who's sat through an after-dinner speech can tell you, 5 minutes can be an eternity.''
Do people negotiate for seat assignments? Less often than you might think. A Jack Nicholson wouldn't have to demand a seat in the front rows. He'd be put there anyway so the camera could catch him during the audience pans.
Where are the Oscars kept before the show? In the Academy building on Wilshire. ''We're never sure just how many we're giving out each year [because of multiple producers, screenwriters, etc.],'' says Pavlik, ''but we always have the maximum number. This year, it's 52.''
Why did they switch the phrase ''And the winner is...'' to ''And the Oscar goes to...''? ''We wanted to de-emphasize the idea of winners and losers, and let everyone know that all the nominees are winners,'' says Pavlik.
— Zack Stentz
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