lifestyle MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014

Allison Liddi-Brown (center) poses with 2014 Diversity Award Recipients Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Producer-director Vince Gilligan (right), winner of the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Beers (right) in the press room. Dramatic Series for the “Breaking Bad” episode “Felina,” poses with actor Steve Coogan. Cuaron wins DGA for ‘Gravity,’ gains Oscar edge

lfonso Cuaron was awarded the top film honor However, it is unlikely “12 Years a Slave” will go home cannot see from up there is this bizarre experiment of from the Directors Guild of America for empty-handed on Oscar night, as actress Lupita nature that is the human experience,” said Cuaron, a A“Gravity” on Saturday night. In the recent bus- Nyong’o, who is nominated for the best supporting first-time DGA winner. “That experiment is what direc- tle of Hollywood shows, “Gravity,” David O. Russell’s Oscar, is the likely favorite. tors try to sort out with our films. Thankfully, that con caper “American Hustle,” and Steve McQueen’s Earning the DGA award makes Cuaron a near experience is as diverse as the films as these filmmak- historical epic “12 Years a Slave” were competing in shoo-in to win the best director Oscar on March 2. ers make.” Cuaron also thanked his son and “Gravity” the tightest three way Oscar race in years. But the win The Directors Guild recipient nearly always goes on to co-writer Jonas Cuaron. Sandra Bullock, the star of gives Cuaron’s lost-space-saga an edge on the jour- claim the same prize on Hollywood’s biggest night. In “Gravity,” was on-hand to applaud Cuaron for his hon- ney to the Academy Awards. the 65-year history of the DGA awards, the winner has or. While introducing the director for his nomination With 10 Oscar nominations, Cuaron’s film is likely failed to also take home the best director Oscar just speech, Bullock joked that she could barely under- to gain the most Academy Awards this year. seven times. Ben Affleck, who presented Cuaron with stand her Cuaron while shooting “Gravity.” “American Hustle” also has 10 nominations, while “12 his guild award, won the same accolade last year for “I had no idea whether ice meant ice or ice,” she Years a Slave” has nine. The early momentum of “12 “Argo” but was denied a best director nomination at said, pointing to her eye. Later, Cuaron shot back at Years a Slave” has begun to deflate following this the Oscars. However, like many DGA winners, “Argo” the actress, saying that actors feel that the universe evening’s upset and the results of the Golden Globes. went on to win the best-picture prize at the Oscars. revolves around. When he looked over at Bullock, she McQueen’s film was nominated for seven Globes, but While accepting his trophy, Cuaron recalled look- pointed to her ear and mouthed, “I can’t understand only took home one - best motion picture, drama. ing at satellite images of earth from space. “What you you.” Jehane Noujaim won the documentary prize for “The Square,” which was acquired by subscription service Netflix last year and depicts the tumult of the Egyptian Revolution beginning in 2011. Cuaron wins DGA for ‘Gravity,’ gains Oscar edgeReceiving the loudest applause of the evening were diversity award recipients Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers. “We are being given an award for some- thing all of us should be doing anyway,” said Rhimes. “There is such a lack of lack of people hiring women and minorities that when someone does so on a reg- ular basis they are given an award. There shouldn’t need to be an award. The lack of diversity in Hollywood is not because of the lack of talent. It’s because of the lack of access. People hire their friends. If it’s been a white boy’s club for 70 years, that’s a lot of white boys hiring one another. Rock some boats. Something original is what the public is starving for.” Jehane Noujaim won the doc- umentary prize for “The Square,” which was acquired by subscription service Netflix last year and depicts the tumult of the Egyptian Revolution beginning in 2011. “I’m very humbled and very grateful,” said Noujaim, whose previous documentaries include “Startup.com” and “Control Room.” “This film is the most deeply personal film I’ve made, watching my country change before me when I never thought Mexican film director Alfonso Cuaron, flanked by actor-director Ben Affleck, holds his trophy For outstand- change was possible. It redefined my understanding ing Directorial Achievement in Feature Film “Gravity”. — AP/AFP photos of what was possible.” —AP Thicke, Lorde perform at Universal Music brunch

niversal Music Group celebrated its domina- tion on the charts with an event featuring its Utop acts, including Robin Thicke and Lorde. The music corporation, the parent company to labels like Interscope, Def Jam and Republic Records, held an ultra-exclusive brunch honoring Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge at Lure in Los Angeles. Thicke closed the event with a rich per- formance of “Dreamworld” and he put the crowd Australian actress Maia Mitchell and Ross Lynch are pictured. into a party mood when he sang “Blurred Lines,” which is nominated for record of the year at the Grammy Awards. The 36-year-old crooner told the near- ly 300 people in the audience that he has Tessanne Chin been “signed to Universal since I was 16 years.” “Thanks to everyone for all the Robin Thicke hard work and the amazing success,” added Thicke, who has won Grammys for writing songs for Usher and Jennifer Hudson. Lorde, whose “Royals” will Lorde seen at Universal compete with Music Brunch. “Blurred Lines” for top record, sang her No. 1 hit and new Top 10 hit, “Team,” in her signature black. “Royals” is also nominated for song of the year. At one point last year, UMG held all 10 spots on the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Artists on its labels include Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry and Imagine Dragons - nominees for major awards at the Grammys. Eminem, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Drake and Lady Gaga are also signed to UMG. R&B-pop singer Ariana Grande was a vocal pow- erhouse when she performed two songs, including the multi-platinum success “The Way” and the bal- lad “Tattooed Heart.” Country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves, a best new artist nominee, Neon Trees seen at Universal Music Brunch to celebrate the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, on impressed, as did Aloe Blacc, the voice behind the Saturday, Jan 25, 2014, in Hollywood, Calif. — AP photos Avicii hit “Wake Me Up.” “If it wasn’t for music, I didn’t know what I’d do. I don’t know what you would do pop-rock band Neon Trees, gospel singer Tye featured some of the label’s rising stars, including either,” Blacc said to laughs from the crowd of music Tribbett and electronic DJ-producer Zedd, who English rocker Jake Bugg, progressive R&B singer industry workers. debuted a new song called “Find You,” featuring Jhene Aiko, alternative singer BANKS and recent Other performers included Latin dynamo Juanes, Matthew Koma and Miriam Bryant. The event also “The Voice” winner Tessanne Chin. — AP Actress Lisa Rinna (left) and actor Harry Hamlin are seen on the red carpet.