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Internet limits at work?Work on Memphis films earns Oscars
Memphis rap band Three Six Mafia won the Academy Award for original song and Reese Witherspoon took the Oscar for best actress at the 78th Annual Academy Awards Sunday night.
The song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" was written by Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard for Memphian Craig Brewer's motion picture "Hustle & Flow." Three Six Mafia performed the song and later received the Oscar with much excitement. Their acceptance speeches included praises for God and Memphis.
"Hustle & Flow" was filmed in Memphis in 2004 and released July 2005, was the Audience Award winner at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, and was bought for a record $16 million by Paramount/MTV.
Tennessee native Witherspoon won best performance by an actress in a leading role for her role as June Carter Cash in the movie "Walk the Line."
The Johnny Cash biopic that was filmed in and around Memphis in 2004 received five nominations, but was not included among the best picture nominees.
Witherspoon was up against Judi Dench for "Mrs. Henderson Presents," Felicity Huffman for "Transamerica," Keira Knightly for "Pride & Prejudice," and Charlize Theron for "North Country."
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