If Bob Ross were alive today, he'd be painting happy little trees all over the place in ecstatic fervor for all the arts and culture happenings in Phoenix. To help you see the forest for the trees, here's a recap of the top arts and culture stories of the week.
The 10 Best Moments in Oscars History
It's one of our favorite seasons of the year. No, not spring (that's our second): Awards Season, and the biggest awards show is upon us. The Academy Awards, aka the Oscars, airs this Sunday, February 24 at 7 p.m. EST on ABC.
While this year's show should prove interesting -- the host, Seth MacFarlane is known for his candidness, and is perhaps even more unpredictable than Ricky Gervais, who made quite the splash when he hosted the Golden Globes last year.
In honor of the impending ceremony we've dug up some of our favorite Oscar moments.
--Darryle Royal
The 85th Oscars: Shutterstock's Pop Art Posters for the Best Picture Nominees
To celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Oscars, designers at Shutterstock created their own posters for each film nominated for Best Picture.
The posters are stylized as Pop Art, draw from the genre's greats -- Keith Haring, Robert Indiana, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein. Looks like the Oscars might need a new category.
--Claire Lawton
Six Must-See Oscars Parties in Metro Phoenix
Many Hollywood pundits and movie industry wags have predicted that Argo is gonna clean up big time at the 85th Academy Awards ceremony this coming Sunday. Then again, it might be a big night for Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, or Zero Dark Thirty. (Personally, we're hoping Tarantino finally gets his due with Django Unchained.)
But whatever the outcome of Hollywood's biggest event of the year this weekend, which is being hosted by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, there's guaranteed to be plenty to tears, cheers, and upsets, which you can witness along with your fellow movie buffs at some of the special viewing parties taking place around Metro Phoenix on Sunday, February 24.
--Benjamin Leatherman
Check out additional top stories on the next page.
Big Brain Awards 2013: Nominate Emerging Phoenix Creatives for Cash Prizes
Nothing beats creativity -- especially if it makes a difference in our community.
Since 2010, we've been on the hunt for emerging creatives in the Valley who are working on cool projects. Call them designers, performers, chefs, singers, dancers, painters, sculptors ... We're sticking to Big Brains.
This year, we're introducing a new category and highlighting the talents of some seriously crafty people in this city. Starting now, we are accepting online nominations for Valley residents who deserve to win $500 in one of the following categories: visual art, performing art, design, culinary art, online, and craft.
Check out how to make a nomination.
--Claire Lawton
The Five Worst Movies Based on Video Games
It's a mystery which movies will take home the big honors this weekend at the 85th Academy Awards. The winning films might be based on a book or use an original screenplay, but one thing is for sure: No Oscars will be going to movies based on video games.
A surprisingly large number of video games have been adapted into films over the years, which is rather odd when you consider nearly every such film has been even worse than, say... Spider-Man 3.
Here's a list of the five most egregious movies based on video games. Watch at your own risk:
--Alex Ferri
