An Act of Futility

By Acheron March 14, 2001 8:19 AM

(Fox News) For the past ten years, Oscar producer Gil Cates has asked the actors and actresses to keep their speeches short. While this may be an act of futility, he's not changing his tune.

"I've done this every year for 10 years," Cates told Oscar hopefuls at the Motion Picture Academy's annual pre-awards luncheon on Monday. "I've tried to be charming and humorous. I've tried persuasion and bribery. It all comes down to my belief that brevity is next to godliness."

Since 1982, the President of the Academy, Robert Rehme, has held a luncheon for the nominees, despite a lackluster turnout. Fifteen of the twenty acting nominees showed up this year.

Among those present, Tom Hanks for Cast Away and Geoffrey Rush for Quills, both nominated for best actor, said that Russell Crowe is likely to walk away with the Oscar for his work in Gladiator.

The Academy Awards will air on March 25 in a live broadcast on ABC.