Academy Awards Night Comes to San Juan Capistrano Feb. 25

What’s your pick?  Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The King’s Speech, The Social Network, Winter’s Bone, True Grit, Toy Story 3, The Kids Are All Right or 127 Hours?

San Juan Capistrano residents can get a jump on the actual 83rd Annual Academy Awards to be held Sunday, Feb. 27, with a chance to cast their ballots Friday, Feb. 25, at the seventh annual An Evening at the Academy Awards fundraiser for the Friends of the San Juan Capistrano Library. The event will be held from 7-9:15 p.m. in La Sala room.

The library event will give attendees a chance to vote on 11 categories: best picture, best actor, best actress, best actor in a supporting role, best actress in a supporting role, best director, best foreign-language film, best original screenplay, best adapted screenplay, best costume design and best original score.

At the Oscar event in Hollywood, it’s as much about the fashion as the awards.  In San Juan Capistrano, regional branch manager Teri Garza said, “I encourage people to wear their sparkly clothes."

"I personally bring out my bling! Since I’m in the twilight of my career, I plan to wear the most sequins ever worn by a librarian at a library event," she said. "Most people come casual/comfortable.”

Tickets that are purchased prior to the event will have reserved seating up front in the 120-seat auditorium. Price is $10 per person, no matter the age.

Each guest will receive a ballot upon arrival and will leave it for counting when the event concludes. Garza goes through the ballots after the “real” Oscar night, Sunday. A winner will be announced based on who gets the most Academy Awards picks correct. 

The winner will receive a gift certificate to . Last year’s winner was Chris Kramer, who is married to City Councilman . She only missed one in her predictions.

The event started with Robert Kline and his wife, Stephanie Heredia. When the couple moved to town, Kline contacted Garza about her interest in an Academy Awards night. The event was born in 2004. It also jump-started the library’s monthly film program.

Kline and Heredia come from careers steeped in the entertainment industry, especially the 70-year-old Kline.  

Kline is a former executive vice president of production for 20th Century Fox and co-founder of the Lifetime channel. In January the Kline and Heredia premiered their documentary at the .  Heredia is a producer and co-producer with at least 15 projects to her name.  The couple's production company,  Enduring Freedom Productions Inc., celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

When: 7-9:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25

Location: San Juan Capistrano Library

Cost: $10 per person (all ages)

What: Vote on the Academy Award-nominated movies, actors and actresses

Refreshments: “Hosted” snack bar with fresh popcorn, candy and drinks.

Prizes: movie memorabilia door prizes donated by the hosts (Kline and Heredia), and a grand prize for attendee who predicts the most correct Oscar winners (gift certificate to Sarducci’s)

The Academy Awards will air at 5 p.m. on ABC.