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And the Oscar Goes To...
By Donna Fentanes
Live from sunny Antioch is the 2023 From The Shoe Oscars. Twenty twenty-three was an exceptional year at the Shoe. Dramatic as well as comedic stories and performances abound. The industry here at the Shoe has undergone many changes and those changes are reflected in last year’s stories.
The Best Actress category is filled with spectacular and moving performances. The nominees for Best Actress are:
- Donna Fentanes “Let Me Know”
- Eleanor Fentanes “Bruh!”
- Esperanza Fentanes “You Don’t Need to Know”
- Eloisa Fentanes “A Friend From Work”
- Evangelina Fentanes “Nevermind”
And the FTS Oscar goes to… Donna Fentanes for her patient, understated and restrained performance in “Let Me Know”. Congratulations, Donna!
Though the Best Actor category is a little sparse, it, nonetheless, comprises strong and impactful performances including a memorable performance by wunderkind, Peyton Carter. The nominees for Best Actor are:
- Elias Fentanes “Mom, I’m a Full Grown Man”
- Evaristo Fentanes “The Eighty Hour Work Week”
- Peyton Carter “I Don’t Wanna…”
And the FTS Oscar goes to… Elias Fentanes for his consistent, strong and determined performance in “Mom, I’m a Full Grown Man”. Congratulations, Elias!
The nominees for Best Picture are:
“Almost Untethered” by Donna Fentanes. Critically acclaimed, “Almost Untethered” is about a former middle-aged woman’s emotional ups and downs as her children fly the emotional nest while still living with her physcially.
“Working Girl” by Eleanor Fentanes. Underscoring the plight of Gen Z, “Working Girl” is about a young 20-ish woman who embarks on a 40 hour work week and experiences the emotional and physical ups and downs of working full time as well as enjoying the financial benefits of earning one’s own money.
“Cat Lady” by Esperanza Fentanes. Sympathetic with cat lovers, “Cat Lady” explores the emotional ups and downs of a 20-something young woman as she juggles work, school and her two cats who wreck havoc on her life.
“Travels with Mario & Luigi” by Elias Fentanes. Adrenaline junkies adored “Travels with Mario & Luigi” which is about a full grown man’s travels around the country going on various and sundry adventures with his friends.
“Driver’s License” by Eloisa Fentanes. Highlighting a teen’s rite of passage, “Driver’s License” is about a late teenager’s emotional ups and downs as she learns how to drive and experiences the freedom and financial impact of passing her driving test.
And the FTS Oscar goes to… Eleanor Fentanes for “Working Girl”. A young adult braves the treacherous trenches of the 40 hour work force. Her emotional ups and downs are brilliantly portrayed by Ms. Fentanes herself. Congratulations, Eleanor!
What a phenomenal year of stories! Twenty twenty-four is looking just as good as well with early entries such as: the election story “What is a Primary?”, adult dental decisions “Should I go Under?” and retirement worries such as “I Can’t Live Off of That”.
—Donna Fentanes
Donna Fentanes is a mother of ten grownchildren. She credits Erma for sustaining her over the decades with wisdom and laughter. In 2022, her youngest graduated from high school, concluding her childrearing duties. She continues to write on her blog, From The Shoe and will soon self-publish another anthology of her blogs and columns, The Plight of the Hare, Vol. 2. She has begun to send in some of her short screenplays to various film and screenwriting festivals and has received some great responses, even winning one competition. She is enjoying this time of transition from mothering to grandmothering and exploring new options in screenwriting, photography and travel.