Siberians donate valuables for DiCaprio 'Oscar' statue
Russian fans of the actor Leonardo DiCaprio are casting a statuette in gold and silver to show their love for the film star.
No matter the result of the Academy Awards on 28 February - where DiCaprio is nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Revenant - he will be assured at least one award thanks to his fans in eastern Siberia, state-run TASS news agencyreports. Around 100 locals in Yakutsk have donated gold and silver, which will be melted down and cast into a statuette of a man holding a choron, a traditional Yakut three-legged goblet. According to TASS, the goblet will be in gold, while the figure will be silver, "a metal sacred to the people of Yakutia with powers to purify and protect its owner."
The statuette's size will be determined by the amount of metal donated but it will be no shorter than 30cm (12 inches), TASS concludes.
Local television reports show fans donating their valuables to the "Oscar Leo!" campaign, while sculptor Nicholas Chochchasov works on the clay prototype for the statue. Risking the trademarks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, campaign spokeswoman Tatyana Yegorova tells Yakutsk TV that, apart from the goblet replacing the Oscar's sword, the figurine will be almost identical to the original. However, she insists that the Siberian prize is equally valid for his part in The Revenant, which was released as "The Survivor" in the Russian market. "Since the movie is a mass art form, aimed at the broad masses, we believe that viewers have a right to give this prize," she says.
As well as the award, the Oscar Leo! campaign has also extended an invitation for DiCaprio to holiday in Yakutsk this summer.
Russia: Leo DiCaprio fans donate jewellery, plan to present him with 'Oscar'
A group of predominately female Leonardo DiCaprio fans formed an initiative called 'Oscar for Leo!' which saw them associate to donate old silverware, mostly necklaces, in the city of Yakutsk on Thursday.
SOT, Karina Chiryaeva, Leonardo DiCaprio fan (Russian): "As cinema is a mass art we believe the audience also has the right to give an award, why not? We Yakuts aren't indifferent to creativity which is developed by us in all directions and is known around the whole world. So as people who respect Leonardo DiCaprio's creativity we decided to present him with this award."
SOT, Tuyara Alaas, Leonardo DiCaprio fan (English): "If for example I have the chance to meet Leo, it would be a great success for me. And of course if there is chance for him to come to Yakutia, it would be just fantastic. Because there is a lot of people who are big fans of the actor and after this 'The Revenant' film and after his speech when he was getting his Golden Globe award, when he mentioned about situation, about indigenous people in the world, and ecological situations, it would be a really great thing if he would come and join us."
SOT, Sardana Savvina, Member of initiative group Oscar for Leo! (Russian): "I decided to hand over silver to make a contribution to the creation of the Oscar for Leonardo DiCaprio who is nominated for the 6th time this year. We, the northern Yakut women, are hoping that this year he will win it. In any case, we very much hope he will receive it both from us and from academy."
