Q.1260

Based on a guest question by Vaibhav Bajpai | contribute questions

Rebecca Skloot is a freelance science writer and New York Times bestselling author. However, she is also a proof-reader. In March 2014, she had tweeted about a mistake in a New York Times article, published on 20th January 1853, and related to a violinist's kidnapping from Washington county. The paper promptly issued a correction giving due credit to Rebecca.

How was the mistake pointed out by Rebecca connected to a decade-plus confinement?

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The article was about the kidnapping of Solomon Northup, who was wrongly enslaved for 12 years.The NY Times article incorrectly referred to him as "Northrop," and the headline also identified him as "Northrup." Rebecca tweeted this mistake and NY Times promptly issued a correction. He is also the subject of the movie "12 Years a Slave", which won the Best Picture at the 86th Academy Awards.

This day last year: Q.895

Q.514

Oscar 5

Our last question in this Oscar series:

Several things made this multi-Oscar nominated film's production different from its peers. One such aspect was that instead of shooting at the now traditional rate of 24 frames per second, the film was shot at a slightly slower rate, at 22 frames second. This deliberate choice was made to evoke the period the film is set in.

Which film?

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"The Artist", an almost-fully silent film set in the late twenties during the transition from silent movies to the talkies.

This day last year: Q.149

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A cameo

If you are a movie fan, here's something for you. Harsh Nene, a good friend of IZ (and guest contributor) along with Kedar Vaidya, has created a beautiful visualization of recent Hollywood films. While you're waiting for the Oscars, give it a spin and if you have feedback, let him know!

Q.513

Oscar 4

This alread much-feted film is widely tipped to win at least one Academy Award; it has been nominated in two major categories. The film's full title is "Jodái-e Náder az Simin".

What is the English title given to this film? (which should be easily translatable by those of us who can speak Hindustani.)

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"A Separation". The full translation is "The separation of Nader from Simin". The film is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay.

This day last year: Q.148

Q.512

Oscar 3

With respect to this year's Oscars, what is common to these three people?

Images: Wikipedia

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Actors playing these real-life people have been nominated this year.

This day last year: Q.147

Q.511

Oscar 2

This composer is nominated twice this year for Best Original Score, raising his career Oscar nominations to an astonishing forty-seven, the second highest in history. His long and productive association with Steven Spielberg is reflected in this year's tally as well, with both these 2012 nominated films being the Spielberg films "War Horse" and "The Adventures of Tintin".

Who?

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John Williams.

This day last year: Q.146

Q.510

Oscar 1

Like last year, the first in a set of 5 questions about this year's Academy Awards in the run up to the ceremony:

The "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences" is the body that awards the Academy Awards (a.k.a. the Oscars). It also has a "Motion Picture and Television Fund" involved in helping needy people involved in the entertainment industry.

Jean Hersholt was its President once, and for him is named the "Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award", an honorary Oscar. This year's prize has gone to a former Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actress, someone with her own rags-to-riches story, for her charitable work.

Who?

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Oprah Winfrey; she was nominated for her work in "The Color Purple" in 1985.

This day last year: Q.145

Q.150

Oscar 5

Easy one to round things off. If Colin Firth wins the Best Actor Oscar, this will probably be the only time (not a 100% sure) that two characters based on a real-life father-child pair win acting Oscars. So who will be associated with Firth in this way?

(Aside: In the Godfather films, actors playing Vito (father) and Sonny & Michael (sons) were nominated, but only the Vitos won.)

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Helen Mirren, who played Queen Elizabeth II in the movie "The Queen".

Q.149

Oscar 4

Four nominations in this year's Foreign Language Film category are from Mexico, Greece, Denmark and Algeria. Just like the Algerian film, the languages in the fifth country's film are Arabic and French. Which non-Arabic country is this film "Incendies" representing?

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Canada. This film happens to be Roger Ebert's pick for the award.

Q.148

Oscar 3

Filmmakers Kevin Brownlow and Jean-Luc Godard are among the three recipients of the Academy "Honorary Award". The third is the actor Eli Wallach, probably best known for playing the role Tuco in an iconic film. What was the unofficial nickname of Tuco?

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"The Ugly" (in The Good, the Bad, the Ugly).

Q.147

Oscar 2

"Exit Through the Gift Shop" is nominated for Best Documentary, and tells the story of a French street artist. The director of the movie is unlikely to attend the Oscars, though it does seem like he is in Los Angeles already (evidence: sketches on the walls of buildings, like the one above). What is the pseudonym of this artist-director?

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Banksy whose real identity is still unknown to the public at large.

Q.146

With the 83rd Academy Awards just days away, we start a special 5-part series of questions about this very fecund land of trivia, concluding on the day of the event. All the questions are about the nominees from this year.

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Oscar 1

Posing with A.R.Rahman is someone whose middle and last names are 'Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley'. Also co-nominated this year is her brother Rollo. She is named after a Queen of Carthage from Roman myth. She won't be performing at this year's Award ceremony since she is expecting.

Who is this?

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Dido. The three (Dido, Rollo, and Rahman) are nominated for the song "If I Rise" from "127 Hours". An accompanying music video for the song is also out.

Pic: A.R.Rahman's Facebook page