How many songs from Disney are eligible for The Oscars?

From Stitch Kingdom:
http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-disney-shortlist-original-song-oscar-18943/

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 39 songs from eligible motion pictures will be considered for nominees as Original Song fr the 84th Annual Academy Awards. Nine of the selected songs, come directly from Disney films. The number becomes even more impressive if you consider that two of the other shortlisted songs are affiliated with The Walt Disney Company: Star Spangled Man’ from Captain America: The First Avenger, which of course is a property of Disney’s own Marvel, and ‘The Living Proof’ from The Help, a DreamWorks film which was marketed and distributed by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures.

Disney’s potential nominees are: ‘The World I Knew’ (Disneynature’s African Cats); ‘Collision of Worlds’ (Disney/Pixar’s Cars); ‘Hello Hello’ and ‘Love Builds a Garden’ (Touchstone Pictures’ Gnomeo & Juliet); ‘Life’s a Happy Song,’ ‘Man or Muppet’ and ‘Pictures in My Head’ (Disney’s The Muppets); ‘The Backson Song’ and ‘So Long’ (Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Winnie the Pooh).

The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 5:30 am PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.

Review of The Help on blu-ray

Hello Sasaki Time Movie fans! It's time for another blu-ray review! This time it is for The Help!

The Help, based off the novel by Kathryn Stockett, is about domestic servitude in early 1960s Mississippi.
Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Emma Stone) is an aspiring writer yet raised with a traditional Southern upbringing. She is more independent than her socialite peers who flaunt their status. Skeeter cannot stand they way her so-called friends treat the African-American women that work for them. So she decides to expose the bigotry in her community and provide a place where the African-American housekeepers can discuss their experiences.

Clearly, convincing these women to openly discuss their lives is no easy task, but in time Skeeter bonds with Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer). These two women realize that they are putting themselves at risk for telling their stories but also realize that this is the only way to bring about any kind of change. Skeeter is worried about what may happen to her but knows that these stories must be told.

What happens next, well, I don't want to give away too much else of this brilliant film. I highly recommend it and you need to watch it! Amazing performances by a strong cast fuel this powerfully uplifting film that provides us a look at a troubled and turbulent time while change is in the air. The performances, in the case of both the phenomenal Viola Davis and the overlooked Octavia Spencer, are clearly outstanding. Davis and Spencer steal scene after scene. I hope their names are remembered come Oscar time.

Video Quality:
Once again, Disney has another top-notch effort here with its beauitful1080p video transfer. Colors are beautifully saturated, skintones are lifelike, and the black levels are rich and enveloping. Close-ups are breathtaking, from every skin crease of Viola Davis' eyes to the tiniest freckles on Emma Stone's nose. All in all, The Help looks every bit as good as a recent theatrical release should, and then some.

Audio Quality:
The solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track provides clear, crisp, seamlessly mixed sound. The sounds of crackling radios, rustling trees, soft winds, dirt roads, and chirping insects all come to life. Dialogue is well prioritized in the center channel, and all conversations are easy to understand. Thomas Newman's music score fills the room with ease.

Special Features and Extras:

• From Friendship to Film (HD, 23 minutes): A surprisingly engaging production documentary with producer Brunson Green, writer/director Tate Taylor, author Kathryn Stockett and several members of the cast and crew. It touches on the development of the story, the culture of Mississippi, many of The Help's real life locations, and the characters, casting and performances.
“Creating Minny” from “The Help - From Friendship to Film” Bonus Feature
• In Their Own Words: A Tribute to the Maids of Mississippi (HD, 12 minutes): Taylor and actress Octavia Spencer speak with some of the women who inspired Stockett when she was writing her book.
“One Family” from “The Help in Their Own Words” Bonus Feature
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 10 minutes): Taylor introduces five deleted and extended scenes, the last four of which should have been included in the final film: "A Senator's Son," "Humiliated," "Johnny's Home," "A Book About Jackson" and "Keep on Walkin."
• Music Video (HD, 5 minutes): Mary J. Blige sings "The Living Proof."
• BD-Live Functionality 
 

Final Thoughts:
The Help is definitely best viewed with a bag of popcorn and a box of Kleenexes. Some strong performances here, which I hope will garner Oscar attention for Davis and Spencer. Disney's Blu-ray features excellent video and audio, several worthwhile special features, all of which earn this blu-ray disc a solid recommendation from Sasaki Time!

THE HELP AND FEEDING AMERICA CAMPAIGN TOGETHER TO FEED AMERICANS IN NEED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Read more about how to help this great cause this holiday season!

THE HELP AND FEEDING AMERICA CAMPAIGN TOGETHER TO
FEED AMERICANS IN NEED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Chicago, IL – December 1, 2011 – FEEDING AMERICA, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, and the DreamWorks Pictures movie THE HELP, are joining forces this holiday season to help feed Americans facing hunger.  Coinciding with the DVD/Blu-ray release of THE HELP on December 6, a national donation campaign will run from December 1 to December 11 to generate food and funds to help feed the 1 in 6 people in the United States who do not have enough to eat.

“The economic downturn really hurt American families,” said Feeding America Director of Media Relations Ross Fraser. “As a nation, we need to come together to help our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet. The collaboration between FEEDING AMERICA and the producers of THE HELP is a great example of how we can come together to make a difference.”


“The film’s hopeful message of creating change along with its home entertainment release during the holidays inspired the team here to reach out and help make a difference in people’s lives,” noted Jeff Small, President and Chief Operating Officer of DreamWorks Studios. “FEEDING AMERICA seemed the perfect fit in that it operates nationally but is focused locally and housed within the communities it serves and will directly benefit those in need.  We’re happy THE HELP can help.”


To help put food in the hands of as many people/families in need this holiday season, FEEDING America and THE HELP are asking consumers to please help contribute in one of the following ways.

It’s this simple:

DONATE ONLINE - Every $1.00 donated can help FEEDING AMERICA provide meals eight meals for people in need. People who make online donations at www.feedingamerica.org/thehelp <http://feedingamerica.org/thehelp> between December 1 and 11 will receive a limited-time $5.00 off coupon toward the purchase of the film THE HELP on Blu-ray or DVD.  Touchstone Pictures, the affiliate of The Walt Disney Company that distributed THE HELP, will provide a matching donation of up to $10,000, with a goal of providing  more than 200,000 meals to families at risk of hunger.

GET SOCIAL – Throughout the month of December, Facebook and Twitter fans of THE HELP will be encouraged to take action in their local communities. THE HELP Facebook and Twitter accounts will post details about how people can get involved and ask fans to provide feedback and talk about their local community efforts/contributions.

DROP OFF FOOD - FEEDING America and THE HELP themed food donation boxes will be positioned at local community events in Manhattan, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas and Atlanta throughout December.  The food collected will be distributed the local Feeding America food bank.  Please consider donating foods that are most frequently requested, such as cereal, pasta, rice, beans, canned fruits and vegetables, soups, 100% juices, peanut butter, canned tuna, chicken or turkey.

Those who would like to stay connected with the FEEDING America and THE HELP program are encouraged to:

• “Like” the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/thehelpmovie
• Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/helpmovie
  

Unprecedented Demand For Food Assistance
The state of the economy is affecting more Americans than any other time in recent history. The US Department of Agriculture reports that 49 million Americans are food insecure. FEEDING AMERICA reports a 46 percent increase in the number of people seeking emergency food assistance through their nationwide network of food banks compared to four years ago.

For those not living in the five cities where the food drive takes place, DreamWorks will be doing grassroots and media awareness campaigns to encourage local community efforts.   As well, you can find other ways to help on TakePart.com/TheHelp, the social action website sponsored by THE HELP’s producing partners Participant Media.

About THE HELP:
The #1 New York Times best-seller by Kathryn Stockett comes to vivid life through the powerful performances of a phenomenal ensemble cast. The Help is an inspirational, courageous and empowering story about very different, extraordinary women in the 1960s South who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project — one that breaks society’s rules and puts them all at risk. Filled with poignancy, humor and hope — and complete with compelling, never-before-seen bonus features — The Help is a timeless, universal and triumphant story about the ability to create change. To learn more about the movie please visit, http://thehelpmovie.com/us/.

About Feeding America:
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

About DreamWorks Studios:
DreamWorks Studios is a motion picture company formed in 2009 and led by Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. Recent releases include The Help, Real Steel and War Horse. DreamWorks Studios can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamWorksStudios and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dw_studios.

About Participant Media:
Participant Media is an entertainment company that focuses on documentary and narrative feature films, television, publishing and digital content about the real issues that shape our lives. For each of its projects, Participant creates social action and advocacy programs to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action. Participant’s online Social Action Network is TakePart (takepart.com). Founded by Chairman Jeff Skoll in 2004, Jim Berk serves as CEO and Ricky Strauss as President. Participant's films include The Kite Runner, Charlie Wilson's War, An Inconvenient Truth, Good Night, and Good Luck, The Visitor, Food, Inc., The Cove, The Crazies, Countdown to Zero, Waiting for "Superman,” Fair Game, The Help and Contagion.

THE HELP on Blu-ray & DVD (12/6/11) brings you Southern-Style Holiday Recipes

Food, family and friendship are some of the themes explored in the critically-acclaimed film THE HELP arriving on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/6/11.

Give thanks with these delicious Southern-style holiday recipes from THE HELP’s food stylist Lee Ann Fleming in celebration of the upcoming release!

SPINACH-STUFFED SQUASH


Squash:
4 yellow crookneck squash
Melted butter
Salt and pepper
Grated Parmesan cheese

Spinach stuffing:
½  cup chopped onion
½  cup butter
2 (10 oz.) packages frozen chopped spinach, cooked and drained
1 tsp. salt
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp. red wine vinegar
Bread crumbs (garnish)

Directions:

Cook whole squash in boiling, salted water for about 10 minutes until tender.
Very carefully cut into halves and scoop out the seeds.
Sprinkle each shell with butter, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese.

Spinach Stuffing:
Sauté onions in butter until tender.
Add spinach, salt, sour cream, and vinegar and blend well.
Stuff each squash shell with spinach mixture. Sprinkle each with Additional Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs.
Dot with butter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated to serve.


SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
Ingredients: Casserole
3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
 cup melted butter
2 eggs beaten
1 Tbsp. vanilla
½ cup raisins (optional)

Directions:
Mix well and pour into a butter casserole

Ingredients: Topping
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup melted butter

Directions:
Mix topping with fork and sprinkle crumbs on top of casserole
Bake 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

CHEESECAKE PECAN PIE


Ingredients:
1 (15 oz.) pkg. refrigerated pie crusts
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
4 large eggs, divided
¾  cup sugar, divided
2 tsp. vanilla, divided
¼  tsp. salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup light corn syrup

Directions:
Unfold and stack 2 piecrust together. Gently roll  or press together and fit into a 9 inch pie plate according to directions; fold edges under and crimp. Note: For a more homemade flavor, try Lee Ann’s Homemade Pie Crust recipe (below)
Beat cream cheese, 1 egg, ½ cup sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla and salt at medium speed with a mixer until smooth.
Pour into piecrust and sprinkle with pecans.
Stir together corn syrup, 3 eggs, remaining 1/4 cup sugar and remaining 1 tsp. vanilla and pour mixture over pecans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes until set.

Homemade Pie Crust

Ingredients:
1 ¼ cups plain flour
¼ tsp. salt
1/3 cup shortening (butter flavor shortening is great, too)
4-5 tbsp. cold ice water

Directions:
In a medium bowl, stir flour and salt together.
Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are pea-size.
Sprinkle 1 tbsp. of water over part of the flour mixture; gently toss with a fork.
Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Repeat using 1 tbsp. of water at a time, until all the flour mixture is moistened.
Form dough into a ball; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten dough. Roll dough from center to edges into a circle about 12 inches in diameter.
To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin.
Unroll pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate without stretching it.
Trim pastry to ½ inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edges as desired. 


MAMAW’S HOMEMADE ROLLS

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup boiling water
2 eggs
2 pkg. dry yeast
1 cup dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
6 cups sifted flour


Directions:
Soak yeast in the lukewarm water.
Pour boiling water over the shortening, sugar, and slat. Allow this mixture to cool to lukewarm.
Add yeast to this mixture.
Add eggs and flour. Stir and mix well.
Cover and store in the refrigerator overnight (or at least 3-4 hours).  Note: The mixture will keep for a week in the refrigerator.
Remove the portion you wish to use and knead on a floured board.
Roll thin and cut with a biscuit cutter.
Dip half in melted butter and fold over for pocket rolls. Place in a greased pan and allow to rise 2-3 hours.
Bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
This recipe can easily be cut in half.


MRS. WALTERS’ FRUIT SALAD

Ingredients:
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 can pineapple chunks, drained
1 can flaked coconut
1 small jar red Maraschino cherries, drained
1 (8 oz.) carton sour cream

Directions:
Mix and refrigerate. Note: Save the drained juice from oranges and pineapples.
Add to orange juice to enhance your morning beverage.

And here is a clip from the film, The Help: