FilAm composer makes history with Oscar win

By Yong Chavez, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

March 3, 2014

HOLLYWOOD – It was a triumphant night for Filipino-American Robert Lopez, the composer of the Best Song winner “Let it Go” from the hit Disney movie “Frozen”.

He and his wife and co-writer Kristen Anderson-Lopez say their children were their inspiration in creating the song.

“Thanks Filipinos, Pinoy pride!” the couple shouted at the Oscars.

“I just want them to know that it doesn’t matter what you look like, doesn’t matter where you’re from, if you work hard and pursue your dream, it can happen,” Robert Lopez said.

Lopez is now the 12th person ever, and the youngest, to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony—four of the most prestigious awards in the entertainment industry.

He says he’s excited to hear the Filipino version of “Let it Go”.

This March, the Lopez couple will also hold a benefit show for survivors of typhoon Yolanda.

Meanwhile, Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino created the gown worn by “Frozen” co-director Jennifer Lee when she went up to receive her best animated film Oscar.

“I’m so honored to be wearing this,” Lee said. “His talent is beyond belief and he’s so lovely to work with.”

As expected “12 Years a Slave”, which is based on the true story of a man sold into slavery won Best Picture.

One of its stars, Lupita Nyong’o bagged the best supporting actress award, her very first Oscar.

“It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else’s, and so I want to salute the spirit of Patsy for her guidance, and for Solomon,” Nyongo said in her acceptance speech. ”Thank you for telling her story and your own. When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid.”

The stars of “Dallas Buyers Club”, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

Mcconaughey lost some 50 pounds for his role as a cowboy who contracts AIDS and becomes an unlikely savior for gay patients, while Leto played an HIV positive transgender woman.

“Whatever those things are, whatever it is we look up to, whatever it is we look forward to, and whoever it is we’re chasing, to that I say, alright, alright, alright, and to that I say just keep living,” McConaughey said in his speech.

“This is for the 36 million people who have lost the battle to AIDS and to those of you out there who have ever felt injustice because of who you were or who you love,” Leto said. “Tonight, I stand here in front of the world with you and for you, thank you so much and goodnight.”

Meanwhile, Best Actress winner Cate Blanchett shared that though her role in “Blue Jasmine” was emotionally taxing, she didn’t have a hard time shedding the role after the shooting finished.

“I went home to my husband and children and felt blessed,” she said.
The space spectacle “Gravity” also won seven Oscars including Best Director for Alfonso Cuaron.

“Like any other human making a film, it can be a transformative experience, and I want to thank ‘Gravity’ because for many of us involved in this film, it was definitely a transformative experience,” Cuaron said.