SAN ANTONIO – For many of us, the closest we’ll get to the Academy Awards and the nominees is our living rooms, but a San Antonio author is helping us all get closer than ever to the magic of the movies.
Catherine R. Lester is an Academy Awards Fan Experience Expert who teaches movie fans how to Do Oscar Night Right. Her aim is to elevate the viewing experience for Oscar fans with party tips, nomination education and winner predictions.
She studied the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science for more than two decades, and has taken advantage of all they have to offer Oscar fans. She’s written three books just for Academy Awards fans, giving details about events, the nomination process, and how to get the most out of Oscar Night.
Catherine’s books for Oscar fans are the only ones in existence that tell-all about events everyday people can attend, putting fans in the same room as Academy Award nominees and winners.
Some of the big questions we had for her are below.
Is it possible to get a ticket to the Academy Awards?
The Academy awards are invitation only, but you can submit your name to be selected to sit in the bleacher seats, along the red carpet, for free!
Are there any Oscar events open to the public?
The Academy hosts events for the public just days before the Oscars, putting you in the same room with Academy Award nominees. It’s called Oscar Week (she wrote a book about it).
Do you have any tips for catching those hard-to-find Oscar nominated movies?
You can view five Oscar-nominated films for the price of one. Movies nominated in the “short film” category are bundled together in one screening (per category). Short films are often showed at Santikos theaters, Alamo Drafthouse theaters and online.
Catherine answered a lot more questions for us, including what don’t we know about the red carpet event? And what happens if you lose an Oscar? Who she thinks will win big this year and her favorite movie of all time. For those, you have to watch the SA Live interview.
The 93rd Academy Awards are Sunday, April 25, at 7 p.m. on KSAT 12.