SSN Spotlights: Bruce Dern, Matthew McConaughey, Idris Elba, Oscar Analysis: Disney, SSN’s Holiday Gift Guide, On The Set

AWARDS ORIGINALS

BEST ACTOR

 

Spotlight: Nebraska’s Bruce Dern “There’s No Bigger Win Than Getting the Role.”

Bruce Dern’s career has spanned across five decades and more than 100 movies. Now, 35 years after his first and only Oscar nomination, for his work in Coming Home, the 77-year-old is receiving the best reviews of his life for his role in Nebraska. We bring you our Q&A with Dern, who attended last week’s SSN screening of the film. (SSN)

Spotlight: Dallas Buyers Club’s Matthew McConaughey on Being an “Egotistical Utilitarian”

At a recent luncheon for the film, the 44-year-old McConaughey talked to SSN about playing Ron Woodruff and why he’s become more selfish in his older years. (SSN)

Spotlight: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’s Idris Elba Unafraid to Shift Gears

British actor Idris Elba has built up plenty of street cred in Hollywood: he starred in the HBO series The Wire, won a Golden Globe for the title role in the BBC1 series Luther and is part of the Marvel film universe as Heimdall in Thor and Thor: The Dark World. Elba spoke with SSN about playing Nelson Mandela and how it has impacted him in other professional areas of his life, including music. (SSN)

Oscars 2014: Possible Lead Actor Contenders & the Banners They Built

Many of today’s top thespians look to capitalize on their success and take more control of their careers by launching banners to develop features, series and other projects. Here are a few of this year’s lead actor contenders and the banners that help them control their own destiny, from Tom Hanks to Forest Whitaker. (SSN)

Oscar Analysis Part One: Disney’s Partnerships Equal Oscar Gold

In the coming weeks SSN will examine each of the six majors and the various fare they offer in search of Oscar gold. We start with Disney and find their 2013 release slate fascinating: they’ve released only five films throughout the first nine-and-a-half months of the year, and will be releasing another five over seven weeks of the year’s final quarter. (SSN)  

OTHER ORIGINALS

 

SSN’s Holiday Gift Guide for the Industry Set

SSN is bringing you unique, innovative ideas to help pull you out of the holiday gift buying rut. From Brazilian chocolates to custom design books to candy bento boxes, we’ve culled through the new and noteworthy to bring you ten gift ideas for your family, co-workers, boss, or your sweetheart. (SSN)

On The Set for 11/25/13: Director Jean-Marc Vallée's 'Wild' Wraps

SSN’s weekly report on the latest films to start and wrap production. (SSN)