OSCAR TALK: Ep. 47 — The guilds so far, Steinfeld as lead vs. supporting, Scripter finalists, goings-on on the circuit, looking ahead to 2011

Summary: Welcome to Oscar Talk. In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds. 2010 is finally in the rear view mirror. But the season isn’t over yet — not by a long shot. As we enter the new year, and the busiest frame of the circuit (awards-wise), we have tons to chew on today. Let’s see what’s on the docket… • With one more week of balloting in store, three of the four major guilds have announced their nominees (as have a handful of below-the-line guilds). We talk about what it all means. • Talk of “True Grit” leads to heated discussion on the lead vs. supporting vis a vis Hailee Steinfeld. • One of the precursor announcements this week was the list of USC Scripter Award finalists. Anne is a member of the esteemed selection committee. She talks about the process and we discuss the list five adaptations in play. • Campaigns are heating up in the new year. Earlier this week Sony Classics took advantage of an opportunity to put “Get Low” star Robert Duvall’s hands and feet in cement at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, while a DVD release party for “The Social Network” Thursday night kept the fire stoked for Sony and company. We talk about the goings on around town. • The first podcast of the year seems to be a good opportunity to look ahead to the films in 2011 that have our interest. We give it our best shot. • And finally, as always, reader questions! Have a listen to the new podcast below, with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross leading the way again this week (total accident), this time with their rendition of Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from “The Social Network.” If the file cuts off for you at any time, try the back-up download link at the bottom of this post. And as always, remember to subscribe to Oscar Talk via iTunes here. Back-up download: Oscar Talk Episode 47