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Speaking Point: 1) The Academy increases the Best Picture category from five (5) nominees to ten (10) nominees to appeal to the populist. The move reflects the pressure of change the industry is encountering by the digital age, an aging television audience, decreasing advertising revenues, and its own decrease of importance to pop culture.

Speaking Point: 2) Traditionally, the Oscar awards were a three (3) hour television event followed by a few post-Oscar parties on your local news. Now, coupled with a declining viewership and our struggling economy, additional advertising revenue will be generated through pre-Oscar “Swag” parties, red carpets and digital media platforms such as websites, blogs, social networking sites (i.e.– Facebook and Twitter) and viral videos.

Speaking Point: 3) Avatar v. The Hurt Locker. Also known as: James Cameron v. Kathryn Bigelow (amicable); Big Budgeted 3D Blockbuster v. Gritty Small Budgeted Indie Film; Sci-FI v. Contemporary Social Issues. Special Effects v. Gritty Filmmaking. I predict Cameron will win Best Picture and Bigelow will win Best Director. That’s almost a fair 50/50 split in a community property state!

Speaking Point: 4) Precious: A hard hitting story of a high school student dealing with obesity, pregnancy and abuse. Director Lee Daniels has come a long way from his tiny talent management office above the old Beverly Connection. A great indie film and I hope Lee Daniels wins for Best Director.

Speaking Point: 5) With Best Actor awards going to Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) and Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), the big question is if Mo’Nique will win the deserved Best Supporting Actress category. An even bigger question is will Mo’Nique shave her legs for the glamorous red carpet?

Speaking Point: 6) As the Academy members age, the Academy should open up other categories such as the Short Film category which appeals to a younger generation. The short film category is more interactive and accessible in digital media such as the internet, websites, Itunes, etc. Look for a tight race in the Animated Short category between “French Roast” and “Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” (Darragh O’Connell’s second short film nomination) And, also in the Live Action Short film category between “The Door” (1986 Chernobyl nuclear distaster) and “Kavi” (a short “Slumdog Millionaire”).

Speaking Point: 7) Forget those traditional Oscar Pools, the real betting involves whether or not Mo’Nique will shave her legs!