Academy Invites Public to Vote Online for 'Oscars Designer Challenge'

For the first time in its history, the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is inviting the public to vote on an
element of its annual Oscar(R) Show telecast. In "Oscars Designer
Challenge," seven up-and-coming fashion designers are vying to have
their original evening gown worn by one of the Awards escorts during
the 81st Academy Awards on Sunday, February 22.

Members of the fashion
and entertainment press were introduced today (2/10) to the seven
designers and their creations at a runway fashion show at the
Academy's Beverly Hills headquarters.

Oscar telecast producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon, along with
Oscar fashion coordinator Patty Fox, selected the designers and paired
them with Los Angeles-based models, one of whom will wear the public's
favorite gown while she brings Oscar statuettes onto the stage of the
Kodak Theatre on Oscar Night(R).

The designers participating in "Oscars Designer Challenge" are Moire
Conroy, New York; Alan Del Rosario, Los Angeles; Sam Kori George,
Chicago; Marianne Kooimans, Los Angeles; Maria Pinto, Chicago; Nicolas
Putvinski, New York; and Robert Rodriguez, Los Angeles.

Public voting for "Oscars Designer Challenge" begins today at 3 p.m.
PT at Oscar.com, the official Web site of the Academy Awards, where
movie fans and fashion lovers will be able to see footage of the gowns
and cast their vote.

Anyone over the age of 18 can register to
participate and will be eligible to vote once a day through 5 p.m. PT
on February 17, 2009, when the voting period ends.

Beginning February, "Oscars Designer Challenge: Behind the Dress," a
web series documenting the competition will be on oscar.com.

The winning design will be announced first during "Oscar's Red Carpet
2009," the live arrivals show that will air on ABC beginning at 5 p.m.
PT on February 22.

In addition to having his or her winning design worn on the live
telecast, the winning designer will receive two tickets to attend the
Oscars ceremony.

A team of expert hairstylists and makeup artists from Roy Teeluck
Salon prepared the models for their high-fashion stroll down the
runway today.

Diamonds courtesy of Diamond in the Rough, William Goldberg, Martin
Katz, Neil Lane, Fred Leighton, Stephen Russell and Ivanka Trump
provided the glitter for the runway show. Stuart Weitzman's shoes
completed the ensembles.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be
presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at
Hollywood & Highland Center(R), and televised live by the ABC
Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live
in more than 200 countries worldwide.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's
preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than
6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In
addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to
select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse
year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides
financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations
and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion
picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and
Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides
access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and
other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the
entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

 

 

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