Stanek weekend video: Joni’s song – nominated, then not, for Oscar
A remarkable David vs. Goliath story was anticipated at this year’s Oscars when a small independent film received a nomination for Best Song. Alone Yet Not Alone , a religiously-themed story set at the time of the French and Indian War, had only a limited release last year.
However, the Oscar nod met with disapproval in the Hollywood community that resulted in a withdrawal of the nomination. The explanation given was that composer Bruce Broughton broke the rules by emailing members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to remind them to consider the film when they voted. Yet free private screenings and dvd copies, as well as millions in advertising are the norm in movie promotion.
The title song was sung by Joni Eareckson Tada , an author, artist, and special needs activist well-known and very popular in Christian evangelical circles. She has been a quadraplegic since a diving accident in the Chesapeake Bay in 1967. While speaking at last year’s National Religious Broadcaster’s Convention she was asked if she would like to sing the title song. Only able to use 51% of her lung capacity, she needed her husband Ken to push on her diaphragm to perform the song.
She is known for saying: “Deny your weakness, and you will never realize God’s strength in you.”
[youtube]http://youtu.be/BWVyVMbSzM4[/youtube]
Tada discussed the controversy with Megyn Kelly. You can see some of her artwork here.
[Photo via The Blaze]

The Academy is very clever about discovering rules when they want to hide a Christian film from awards.
Does anyone remember when Mel Gibson’s block-buster The Passion of the Christ was denied consideration for Best Picture because it was just a “foreign language film”?
Winning an Oscar would have tainted this song. The song and the story are too beautiful for Hollywood.
Only 3 animals were harmed in the filming of this movie.
“Does anyone remember when Mel Gibson’s block-buster The Passion of the Christ was denied consideration for Best Picture because it was just a “foreign language film”?”
… It’s against the rules for films in other languages to win Best Picture. That’s the same reason “Life is Beatiful” didn’t get considered for Best Picture.
Sometimes people are great at creating imaginary discrimination on this site,
What to make of the current deluge of rain in Los Angeles right now? Could it be “Big Hollywood” promoting the upcoming Noah? Or is it Someone with even more pull expressing disapproval over this snub? Notez Bien: :)
Beautiful song, Hans, thanks for posting. Has anyone seen the movie? Looks good.
Love Joni – an amazing Christian woman who knows what it means to lean hard on God daily to serve Him and others with disabilities. LL <3