Oscars 2015: Quotes from the stars

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look at the other awards,” he said, noting Eddie Redmayne’s recent SAG Award win in the same category he’s up for, lead actor. “But the interesting thing is, it’s like a political campaign and you can see how things shift. It’s fun.” More Oscars: Full coverage (Christopher Polk / Getty Images)

Feb. 22, 2015 4:46 PM PT

What the celebrities had to say at the 87th Academy Awards.

Nicolas Giacobone, Alejandro G. Inarritu, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Armando Bo | original screenplay, 'Birdman'

Dinelaris Jr. on the film’s meaning: “It doesn’t reflect on superheroes. It might be a meditation on ego -- and at this particular time that’s superhero films, but in 10 years it might be a commentary on something else.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Graham Moore | adapted screenplay, 'The Imitation Game'

Moore on opening up about his suicide attempt onstage: “It was really hard, but ... I’m a writer. When am I ever going to be on television again? I felt I might as well use it to say something meaningful.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

“I haven’t figured out why I did what I did with this film, why I took these chances,” he said. “I think it’s when you lose fear.... Fear is the condom of life. It doesn’t allow you to enjoy things. So I did it without, and it was real. It was making love for sure.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Eddie Redmayne | 'The Theory of Everything'

On the pressure of playing people still alive: “Our responsibility to tell their story truthfully and authentically, we felt it.... It was essential to me that I was authentic to what that experience was like. There were so many things that terrified me ... but, of course, it galvanizes you.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

On her passion for serious, character-driven dramas: “I like stories about people, about real people, real relationships, real families. That’s what I respond to.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Common, left, John Legend | original song, 'Selma'

On “Glory”: “There still is a lot to be done: the rolling back of the voters rights act, incarnation -- it’s a waste of our resources to put so many people in prison,” Legend said. “We have a lot of work to do, and we hope our song is inspiration for people who want to do that work.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

On equal rights for women: “Actresses, the older they get the less they get paid,” she said. “The truth is, even though we sort of feel we have equal rights in America, right under the surface we have huge issues.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

On his Oscars speech about mothers and fathers: “I got out most of what I wanted to say.... I was somewhat taken aback by the response I got from people I don’t know. Honestly.” (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier | makeup and hairstyling, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

Hannon on director Wes Anderson’s role in her Oscar win: “He’s the one who wrote on the page. We just go with it. He always pushes to the limits and always wants to see something else. It’s all over the page with Wes. The film is edited before he starts it.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Mat Kirkby, left, James Lucas | 'The Phone Call'

Kirkby on the win: “I hope it gives us a springboard into feature films. Everybody along the way made sacrifices.... We’ve proved what we could do without a budget and it’d be nice to show what we could do with a budget.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Kristina Reed, Patrick Osborne | 'Feast'

“It’s an honor,” Patrick Osborne said, “to be able to make something that you can place among the shorts that exist in Disney’s history.” “We obsess over every pixel in an animated film,” Reed said, “and we want the audience to see every pixel.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Roy Conli, Chris Williams, Don Hall | 'Big Hero 6'

One of the film’s three directors, Roy Conli, on the film’s hurdles: “Our biggest challenge is always story. ... The story is the ultimate thing you try to tackle.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Alexandre Desplat | original score, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

On his win, and the music in “Budapest”: “It’s all [Wes Anderson]. Actually, he should have this award. The music you can hear from Switzerland to the Balkans -- the instruments vary, and they are crystallized into one sound.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Laura Poitras (2nd L), Mathilde Bonnefoy, right, Dirk Wilutzky, journalist Glenn Greenwald | 'CitizenFour'

Mathilde Bonnefoy, right: “One of the things we can do is focus on the person Snowden ... to give him a real voice. His motives were pure, authentic. It took an extraordinary act of courage. Once you understand that, you understand [what he did is] really important.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Dana Perry, left, Ellen Goosenberg Kent | 'Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1'

Perry, whose son took his own life, said her main objective “was to honor the responders and staff of a veterans crisis line and the souls out there who are reaching out for help.” “We are really hoping that people will be able to see this all over the world,” Goosenberg Kent added. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Thomas Curley, left, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann | sound mixing, 'Whiplash'

Wilkins on technology’s influence: “It’s just another arrow in our quiver. Digital [as opposed to analog] enables us to do more with less. Digital is here and we love it.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Alan Robert Murray, left, Bub Asman | sound editing, 'American Sniper'

On “Sniper’s” relative lack of music: “The movie had a documentary style and it didn’t feel like it needed a score to carry the scenes,” Murray said. “The sounds were tank treads -- war sounds. The sound designer actually created the score. It was all natural and that naturalistic approach.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Paul Franklin | visual effects, 'Interstellar'

“Every year we get closer and closer to reality because of the technology -- it shows you the outrageous beauty of the universe,” he said. “Some things you can’t [film], you can’t go and film a real black hole. But we’re able to bring visual reality onto the set.” (John Shearer / Invision / Associated Press)

Anna Pinnock, Adam Stockhausen | production design, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

Anna Pinnock on the film’s director Wes Anderson: “Wes is extremely meticulous.... He had very definite ides for production design.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

“I’m happy to be here today when the pressure’s off,” the presenter said. “I’ve felt a big difference in my life [since the win.]” (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

America Ferrera | 'How to Train Your Dragon 2'

On the dynamic of her animated film: “It’s collaborative, it’s a process ... you’re building it together.” (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

On the lack of diversity among Oscars nominees: “It comes down to the roles. You can’t have diverse nominees without the roles there first, like with ‘Jane.’ ... But it’s OK. We’re going in the right direction.” (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

On coming to the Oscars ceremony: “It’s my first time and I’m just in awe. I can’t believe they’re letting me walk the carpet. I can’t believe they let me in!” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

On watching a documentary on the history of the Oscars before attending the ceremony: “It’s good to give things context. So that you don’t feel like you’re on your own little island!” (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Harvey Weinstein | film studio executive

On the best picture nominees: “If there an upset, it’s probably ‘American Sniper’ or [‘The Imitation Game.’] But you know, if ‘American Sniper’ helps vets to understand PTSD, if ‘Selma’ illuminates history, it’s a win. It’s about good movies and doing good things. These movies change lives.” (Jordan Strauss / Invision / Associated Press)

On what the awards hubbub is about: “It’s about creating strong women’s roles in this wonderful industry,” she said, adding that things have changed for her after becoming a producer because “I feel more in control of my destiny!” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Tegan Quin, left, Sara Quin | musicians, 'Everything is Awesome'

On the only non-awesome thing today so far: “Getting dressed up!” Sara said. “I only like to get this dressed up for weddings, funerals and to meet Bill Clinton!” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

On the film’s nod for best foreign language film: “We have a chance. But there are like 6,000 voters -- and you have no way of knowing! All the other films are just ...great!” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Anthony McCarten | producer-writer, 'The Theory of Everything'

On “Theory’s” five nominations: “I think if we win two or three that’d be spectacular. I’ll let you decide which categories that’ll be! But we’re very confident about Eddie [Redmayne, a lead actor contender].” (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

On the nominees: “I’d have loved to see Clint [Eastwood, ‘American Sniper’ director] get a nomination. But it was a competitive year. But Bradley [Cooper] -- he’s got a shot. I’m rooting for him.” (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

On the whirlwind Academy Awards: “It’s my first time. This is just totally surreal.... Is it always like this? This rain. Water everywhere. This is why I moved from the East Coast!” (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

As the presenter of the animated film category, he chose a favorite: “I’m partial to ‘Big Hero 6’ as it’s my home studio. I’ll be playing the lead in Disney’s next animated musical, ‘Moana,’ so I’m rooting for “Big Hero.’” (Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)

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Oscars 2015: Quotes from the stars

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