A Stress-Free Oscar Campaign

NYTimes, 3.3.10
By MELENA RYZIK

What’s the least stressful way to be part of the Oscar hoopla? Act in a nominated live-action short. At the premiere of “Brooklyn’s Finest” on Tuesday night, the Bagger spoke with one of them, Vincent D’Onofrio. Mr. D’Onofrio appeared in “The New Tenants,” a short directed by Joachim Back and written by and starring the author and surprisingly good actor David Rakoff. His part in the 20-minute film took two days of work.

“It was a circle of friends thing,” he said. “We all knew each other and we just showed up and did it.”

Did he have to do anything whatsoever to promote the movie now that it’s part of the Oscar race? Mr. D’Onofrio looked at the Bagger as if she had just referred to herself in the third person using an assumed nickname. (Which she hadn’t. She saves that for the Web.)

“It’s a short,” he said, shrugging. “The only thing that that film getting nominated will do is get Joachim a feature, which is really important because I think he’s a really unique guy. He’s not like just another director. He’s going to be a fantastic feature director someday.”

Mr. D’Onofrio doesn’t get to go to the Oscars because of the nomination – only Mr. Back and one producer get to – and he’s not a member of the Academy, but said he hoped “The Hurt Locker” would win. He is kind of an awards aficionado though. “Baftas was awesome,” he said. “I really think they make the right choices over there.”

Not that he cared, but “I Do Air” won the Bafta for short film.

Thanks Judy!