Get Ready for the Oscars® With Social Media Correspondent Alex Bryant! by Nicole DeAvilla

How is the academy celebrating the 90th year of the Oscars®? Who should you be watching on the red carpet? What are some fun memories from previous years? This week, we were thrilled to welcome 30Seconds contributor Alex Bryant, an award-winning TV coordinator, as our #30Seconds Twitter chat guest! Alex showed us how to cast our votes for the Academy’s #Oscars90 Challenge for a chance to go to the #Oscars91! We got the inside scoop and shared in the excitement as we approach the Oscars®, which takes place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on Sunday, March 4.

Q: How is the academy celebrating its 90th year in 2018?

A1: @30Seconds - @TheAcademy is celebrating its 9⃣0⃣th year LIVE @DolbyTheatre on March 4, 2018 🗓️ at 8pm EST | 5pm PST ⏰on @ABCnetwork 📺 with 2nd consecutive year host @JimmyKimmel! 🤵🏻https://t.co/t0LlqKaFBn #Oscars90 #30Seconds pic.twitter.com/9HrpGap1i3

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

A1: @30Seconds -To celebrate #Oscars90, @TheAcademy was gone down memory lane with their ‘90 Stories From 90 Years’, highlighting moments from the historic & one of the most celebrated award shows. 🏆 #Oscars https://t.co/HFaSvXKLEz #30Seconds pic.twitter.com/0DVN30Skb6

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

"New for 2018, viewers can take the academy’s #Oscars90 Challenge to select their favorite nominees before the ballots are locked! The winner gets to go to Oscars® in ‘91. Enter at Challenge.Oscar.com/ballot!"

Q. Why should we tune into the Oscars® red carpet and backstage moments?

"The Oscars® red carpet is the first appearance on where you can learn about the latest fashion, media interviews with the nominees and more. Watch LIVE on March 4, 2018! In the media interviews, sometimes you get to hear inspirational messages, get a glimpse on the nominees’ feelings and even find out how they are going to celebrate!"

A2: @30Seconds Viewers can also take a look behind-the-scenes in @DolbyTheatre to see what it takes to make #Oscars90 a reality through @TheAcademy's All-Access experience: https://t.co/NfPUFweUdP #30Seconds pic.twitter.com/EkgJ5liuVg

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

Q. Which two actresses’ and two actors’ past acceptance speeches still resonate with you?

A3: @30Seconds: I would say for actress would be @Lupita_Nyongo’s 2014 Acceptance Speech for Best Supporting Actress in #12YearsASlave: “No matter where your from, your dreams are valid.” https://t.co/yOA18HkQc5 #30Seconds #Oscars90 pic.twitter.com/B9mUQ5Ka3x

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

A3: @30Seconds: The second actress would be @ViolaDavis’ 2016 Storyteller Acceptance Speech for Best Supporting Actress in @FencesMovie: https://t.co/goj04eOShe , because we all have a story to tell. #Oscars90 #30Seconds pic.twitter.com/7InCgfDam0

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

A3: @30Seconds I would say for an actor that still resonates is #MahershalaAli’s 2017 Acceptance Speech for Best Supporting Actor in @moonlightmov, because his thanks for those who paved the way for life & others: https://t.co/dTk38ns8ez #30Seconds #Oscars90 pic.twitter.com/z2UL7zwBlr

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

A3: @30Seconds I would say another actor's #Oscars speech that still resonates is @ForestWhitaker's 2007 Acceptance Speech for winning Best Actor in #TheLastKingOfScotland https://t.co/EYfFqBLhwL "Commits to his dreams with his heart" #30Seconds #Oscars90 pic.twitter.com/h57iyYxEIR

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

Q: What have been some of your favorite moments over the years?

"One of my favorite moments was when 2007 host, Ellen Degeneres, brought pizza into Dolby Theatre to the hungry nominees and guests! This was smart and hilarious, right? Another unforgettable moment was when Jimmy Kimmel surprised the audience with candy falling from the Dolby Theatre ceiling during the show. Another highlight moment was when Ellen took on vacuum duties at the 2007 Academy Awards®."

A4: @30Seconds I love giving surprises, so when #Oscars host @JimmyKimmel surprised @StarlineTours tourists LIVE on @ABCNetwork during the @TheAcademy taping was a no brainer: https://t.co/6ixZC9PiK0 🎥 credit: @JimmyKimmelLive #Oscars90 #30Seconds pic.twitter.com/A5q89TRlEP

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

Yes, but with sweets! The excitement from @TherealTaraji is the best. #30Seconds #Oscars90 pic.twitter.com/mhkcA72jW4

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

Q: What are your 2018 Oscars® picks including Best Picture, Short Film (Animated), Leading Actor and Leading Actress?

• "My pick to win Best Picture is Universal Pictures’ 'Get Out.'"
• "My pick to win Best Short Film (Animated) is Disney/Pixar’s 'Lou,' directed by my pal Dave Mullins!"
• "My pick to win Best Leading Actor is Daniel Kaluuya for his portrayal of Chris Washington in 'Get Out!'"
• "My pick to win Best Leading Actress is Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Kay Graham in 'The Post!'"

A5: @30Seconds My #Oscars90 pick to win Best Leading Actor is...#DanielKaluuya for his portrayal of Chris Washington in @GetOutMovie! 🏆#30Seconds #GetOut pic.twitter.com/CiZDJpc43Y

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

Q: Which film, actor and actress would you nominate that wasn’t selected for this year’s Oscars®?

A6: @30Seconds If I had the power to nominate a Best Leading Actress from 2017 for @TheAcademy's #Oscars90 I would have chosen @GalGadot for @WonderWomanFilm! #Oscars #30Seconds #WonderWoman #WonderWomanFilm pic.twitter.com/HwaF6r74td

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

A6: @30Seconds If I had the power to nominate a Best Leading Actress from 2017 for @TheAcademy's #Oscars90 I would have chosen @CarrieFFisher for her portrayal of General & Princess Leia in @StarWars: #TheLastJedi ! #Oscars #30Seconds #StarWars pic.twitter.com/8GEglhYtZY

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

A6: @30Seconds Sorry one more! If I had the power to nominate a Best Leading Actress from 2017 for @TheAcademy's #Oscars90 I would have chosen Dame #JudiDench for her portrayal of Queen Victoria in @VictoriaAbdul! #Oscars #30Seconds #VictoriaAndAbdul pic.twitter.com/XtMsyWfkjR

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

A6: @30Seconds If I had the power to nominate a Best Picture from 2017 for @TheAcademy's #Oscars90 I would have chosen @LEGOBatmanMovie! ‘For all the kids out there & the kids at heart’ #Oscars #30Seconds #LegoBatmanMovie #LegoBatman pic.twitter.com/XIMrC5aMEJ

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

"If I had the power to nominate a Best Picture from 2017 I would have chosen 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' and 'The Big Sick!'"

"If I had the power to nominate a Best Leading Actor from 2017 I would have chosen Ali Fazal for his portrayal of Abdul in 'Victoria and Abdul," Idris Elba for his portrayal of Ben Bass in 'Mountain Between" and Ben Whishaw for his portrayal of Paddington Bear in 'Paddington 2!'"

Q: How can the 30Seconds community join the watch party with you?

"I will be a social media correspondent with CTV Communications and CTV’s etalk team for their #Oscars90 coverage in Dolby Theatre on March 4, 2018! I would love our 30Seconds tribe to tweet along with all excitement."

A7: @30Seconds Cheer on your favorite #Oscars90 nominees with your friends, kids & extended family over with watch party food together. Need ideas? Get tips from fellow #30Seconds contributor @CJAllDressedUp: https://t.co/bldCVhXYnc pic.twitter.com/iGvzkWadzn

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

Yes! It's shown in the nominees this year but more work is still to be done for more diversity and inclusion. #30Seconds #Oscars90

— Alex Bryant (@Official_AlexB_) March 1, 2018

Thanks for the great chat! #30Seconds #Oscars90 pic.twitter.com/CW6K3KRYxg

— Georgette (@GCastillion) March 1, 2018