THE LEFT LANE
Actors honor actors

Advertiser Staff and News Services

The guild awards are the only industry kudos devoted solely to actors honoring actors and will be telecast live by Turner Network Television (TNT) from Los Angeles on March 9.

Secret ballots bearing the names of more than 1,400 potential nominees for outstanding performances during 2002 in five film and eight television categories have been mailed to two randomly selected panels totaling 4,200 guild members from across the United States. The ballots must be returned by Jan. 24. Award ballots will be mailed on Feb. 11 to all 98,000 active guild members throughout the country, who will vote on all categories.

A special Korean coin

To commemorate this year's celebration commemorating the arrival of Koreans in Hawai'i, the committee is selling limited-edition silver and gold coins featuring a sugar plantation scene on one side and the University of Hawai'i Center for Korean Studies on the other. The one-ounce coins are inscribed with the Korean words "cha ju" (freedom) and "tong nip" (independence).

Silver coins are $38; gold coins (only 100 were minted) are $680. Checks or money orders may be mailed to Korean Centennial Committee, Center for Korean Studies, University of Hawai'i-Manoa, 1881 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822.

VISA or MasterCard authorizations may be directed to James S.K. Bae at 941-7772 or (fax) 941-7727. Requests should include name, address, phone number, card number and expiration date.

Oscar ballots go out

Nomination ballots and a complete list of the 279 feature-length films eligible for the Academy Award for best picture of 2002 will be mailed this week to members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

To qualify for consideration, a film must be at least 40 minutes long and have been exhibited theatrically on 35 mm or 70 mm film, or in a qualifying digital format. The film must open in a commercial theater, for paid admission, in Los Angeles County during 2002, and run for seven consecutive days.

Films submitted in the documentary, foreign language, animated feature and short films categories have different eligibility requirements and are viewed and selected by special voting panels of academy members.

The 75th Academy Awards nominations will be announced Feb. 11, and the awards will be presented March 23.