Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt is a Hollywood heartthrob and an Oscar-winning producer. However, his path to stardom involved humble beginnings and strange jobs. For instance, he dressed as a giant chicken to attract customers to a restaurant before he found fame. Furthermore, he studied journalism in college but dropped out two weeks before graduation. Consequently, his risk-taking nature defined his career. Therefore, get ready to meet the man behind the sunglasses. You will view him differently.
Brad Pitt
  1. Brad Pitt wore a chicken suit for a living. Before he became an actor, he dressed as a giant yellow chicken to wave at cars for El Pollo Loco in Los Angeles.
  2. China banned him for nearly twenty years. Because the government disliked his movie Seven Years in Tibet, officials forbade him from entering the country until 2016.
  3. He voluntarily chipped his tooth for Fight Club. Specifically, he visited a dentist to remove a piece of his front tooth so his character, Tyler Durden, looked tougher.
  4. He dropped out of college two weeks before graduation. Although he studied journalism at the University of Missouri, he left just days before the ceremony to pursue acting.
  5. He injured his Achilles tendon while playing Achilles. Ironically, he tore the tendon in his heel during the filming of Troy, which delayed the production for months.
  6. Brad Pitt is a passionate architect. In fact, he took informal lessons from the legendary architect Frank Gehry and even designed eco-friendly houses in New Orleans.
  7. He speaks with a mumble in Snatch for a reason. Because he struggled to master the specific London accent, he convinced the director to let him use an unintelligible dialect instead.
  8. He owns a successful winery. Along with his former partner, he purchased Château Miraval in France, and the estate produces award-winning rosé wine.
  1. George Clooney lost a major role to him. apparently, Clooney auditioned five times for the role of J.D. in Thelma & Louise, but the director chose Pitt.
  2. He is a licensed pilot. Consequently, he owns a vintage Supermarine Spitfire from World War II and enjoys flying it personally.
  3. He checked himself into a psychiatric ward for research. To prepare for his role in 12 Monkeys, he spent time in a Philadelphia hospital to understand the patients’ experiences.
  4. He debuted as a sculptor in Finland. Recently, he displayed his own plaster and bronze sculptures at a museum in Tampere, surprising the art world.
  5. Plan B Entertainment is his creation. remarkably, his production company produced Best Picture winners like Moonlight, 12 Years a Slave, and The Departed.
  6. He saved a fan from a crushing crowd. During filming in majestic Gran Canaria, he noticed a young girl struggling against a barrier and pulled her to safety.
  7. Finally, he won his first acting Oscar recently. Although he won as a producer before, he finally took home the Best Supporting Actor trophy for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

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Picture of Martin Roháček

Martin Roháček

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Most people know Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Hollywood icon or a former Governor. However, his life story contains many wild surprises. For instance, he started a bricklaying business before he found fame. Furthermore, he went to military prison just to compete in bodybuilding. Consequently, his journey is truly unique. Therefore, get ready to pump up your knowledge about this legend.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
  1. Arnold Schwarzenegger went AWOL from the Austrian army to compete. Consequently, he spent a week in military prison.
  2. He actually owns the M47 Patton tank he drove during service. Specifically, he uses it to crush things for charity.
  3. Producers dubbed his voice in his first movie, Hercules in New York. Because of his accent, he sounded too foreign.
  4. Arnold Schwarzenegger became a millionaire before acting. Surprisingly, he made his fortune through a bricklaying business with a friend.
  5. Originally, the studio wanted him to play the hero, Kyle Reese. However, he convinced the director to let him play the villain.
  6. He is responsible for the civilian Hummer. After seeing a convoy in Kuwait, he lobbied the manufacturer to sell them.
  7. He took zero salary for the movie Twins. Instead, he accepted a percentage of profits and earned millions more.
  8. Arnold Schwarzenegger won a Golden Globe award in 1977. Specifically, he won “New Star of the Year” for Stay Hungry.
  1. He once saved a drowning man in Hawaii. While swimming, he saw the man struggling and pulled him to safety.
  2. Surprisingly, he holds a degree in Business Administration. Arnold Schwarzenegger graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1979.
  3. As Governor, he sent a veto message with a hidden insult. The first letters of each line spelled a curse word.
  4. He was quite mischievous as a young boy. For example, he once threw eggs at houses in his village.
  5. He argued with James Cameron about the line “I’ll be back.” Actually, he thought “I will be back” sounded more machine-like.
  6. Arnold Schwarzenegger visits his own statue in Ohio annually. Uniquely, he goes there to host a massive sports festival.
  7. Finally, his father was the local police chief. Therefore, he grew up in a very strict and disciplined household.

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Oscar Statuette

Every year, millions of Americans tune in to watch Hollywood's brightest stars weep, cheer, and clutch a little golden man on stage. But behind the glitz and glamour of the Academy Awards lies a fascinating history baked right into that iconic trophy. From top-secret wartime makeovers to surprisingly strict ownership rules, the Oscar statuette holds more secrets than a classic film noir. Let us pull back the velvet curtain and explore what really makes this little guy so legendary.
Oscar detailed

  1. He is heavier than he looks. If you ever get the chance to hold an Oscar, prepare for a workout, because this solid bronze trophy weighs in at a hefty eight and a half pounds.

  2. His real name is quite a mouthful. While the whole world calls him Oscar, his official government name is actually the Academy Award of Merit.

  3. The nickname remains a total mystery. Legend says an Academy librarian thought the statue looked exactly like her Uncle Oscar, but Bette Davis also claimed she named the award after her first husband.

  4. He is a knight in shining armor. If you look closely at the design, Oscar actually depicts a crusader knight gripping a broadsword, standing proudly on a reel of film.

  5. The film reel hides a specific meaning. The reel he stands on features exactly five spokes, which represent the five original branches of the Academy: actors, directors, producers, technicians, and writers.

  6. He went on a diet during World War II. Because the military desperately needed metal for the war effort, the Academy handed out painted plaster Oscars for three whole years. Winners later traded these temporary trophies for metal ones. 

  7. You literally cannot sell him. Before a winner can take their trophy home, they must sign a strict agreement. If they ever want to sell the award, they must offer it back to the Academy first for the grand price of one single dollar.

  8. Artisans craft him in New York. While the awards happen in Los Angeles, a fine art foundry in the Hudson Valley hand-casts and polishes the statuettes.

  1. Making just one takes serious time. A dedicated team of artisans spends about three solid months producing fifty statuettes for the big night.

  2. They always bring extras. Because the Academy never knows exactly how many people will win in categories with multiple nominees, producers always keep a few extra golden guys waiting in the wings.

  3. The winners remain totally secret until the envelope opens. To keep things incredibly secure, organizers do not attach the nameplates to the statues during the ceremony. Instead, they screw the plates on at the Governor’s Ball afterward.

  4. He had a brief identity crisis. In the very early days of the ceremony, the Academy experimented with a few different finishes before settling on the stunning 24-karat gold plating we know today.

  1. Thieves once hijacked a massive shipment. Back in 2000, someone stole a delivery truck carrying 55 brand new Oscars, though police eventually recovered most of the trophies near a trash can in Los Angeles.

  2. Only one person named Oscar has ever won an Oscar Statuette. The famous composer Oscar Hammerstein II took home two trophies, making him the only guy to share a name with his award.

  3. Oscar Statuette is absolutely priceless. While the actual metal and gold plating only cost a few hundred dollars to manufacture, the immense cultural weight and prestige of the statuette make it the most valuable prize in entertainment history.

 

Sources & References

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: https://www.oscars.org/oscars/statuette

The L.A. Film School: https://www.lafilm.edu/blog/oscar-fun-facts/

Marketplace: https://www.marketplace.org/story/2015/02/20/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-oscars

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