Effective Speaking: How Much Emotion?

First of all, Ellen DeGeneres is an amazing performer.  She is relaxed (or appears to be), self-effacing, and playful–not mean, like some of the previous hosts of the Academy Awards.  And instead of joking about things going on “in the industry”, she joked about what was going on in the minds of her listeners–their anxiety and hope.  She actually dug into what was happening then and there–she named it and claimed it–and got people to laugh at themselves.  Give me some of what she’s having.  That goofy smile masks a clever mind.

It was great that the camera kept cutting to Will Smith howling with delight at the front of the auditorium.

Pilobolus, the dance company behind the scrim, was incredible, and so was the sound-effects choir.  Off-Broadway, alternative theater at the corporate show-biz bonanza!

Ari Sandel, who won for best short film, was masterful.  Well-prepared, to the point, and relevant.  He asked the question on the mind of the audience:  “What is a short film?”  And he answered that question very clearly: It’s a form for up-and-coming directors without access to the studios.  Then, at the end, he got to his thanks.  He didn’t start with the predictable.

God, the sound guys were boring.

Alan Arkin was surprisingly genuine and simple, and even though he was reading, I got the feeling that he wasn’t trying to impress anyone, he just wanted to make sure that he said the right things.  (Please notice that I don’t really remember what he said.  I only remember him–the person, and how he made me feel.  Big lesson there.  I had a large religious organization as a client, and one of their leaders dropped in on a workshop to encourage the young preachers, and told them, “Nobody really remembers what you say.  They remember how you make them feel.”)

Al Gore was fat and funny.  Too bad he didn’t announce he’s running for President.  That would really make things interesting.

Sherry Lansing, in a striking gown, stood like a statue of grace and stillness, spoke with impeccable diction, and … and then I had to go to bed.

I was hoping that Peter O’Toole would win.  Glad to see Helen Mirren did.  The Queen was my favorite of the year.