Alabamians sweep Oscars ‘all at once’

Two Alabama moms watching from the rafters of the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles last night are in every way, every kind of proud both at once.

They saw their sons’ major motion picture “Everything Everywhere All at Once” bring home seven Oscars at the 95^th Academy Awards Sunday night.

Birmingham native Daniel Scheinert and his colleague Daniel Kwan, known as “The Daniels”, won Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture, while the film’s editor, Paul Rogers, also from Birmingham, brought home the Best Editing Oscar.

Written and directed by Scheinert and Kwan, the film won three additional Oscars for Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan).

Within minutes of the conclusion of the prestigious awards, which aired on ABC, Scheinert’s mother Becky, who lives in Guntersville, said, “It was very special for both of us,” referring to Paul Roger’s mother who was also in the audience.

Scheinert said he wanted to dedicate his Oscar for Best Original Screenplay to “… All the mommies in the world, especially my mom and dad, Ken and Becky.”

“Thank you for not squashing my creativity when I was making really disturbing horror films or really perverted comedy films, or dressing in drag as a kid, which was a threat to nobody.”.

After accepting the Best Editing award, a nearly speechless Rogers said, “This is crazy! Wow, this is um, just too much, this is my second film ya’ll.”

After thanking his wife and family, he, too, acknowledged his mother.

“My mom is up here somewhere, I don’t know …,” he said. “She’ll probably scream…”

A clarion screech rang out from the balcony.

“There she is!” he said with a laugh.

Nominated for 11 awards, it was still a sweep for “Everything Everywhere All at Once” after also taking the Best Picture trophy.

Becky Scheinert, who volunteers at the Mountain Valley Arts Council in Guntersville, said Daniel plans to speak to the group this summer about making the film.

The film has won dozens of prestigious awards over the last year and Scheinert has won more than 300 awards for his work in the film industry, writing and directing.