Everything Everywhere All At Once was the big winner at the Oscars on Sunday night, taking home seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, though another win included special recognition.
Writers-directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, with Scheinert taking the stage and quipping, “I had this fantasy of winning an award and going up and berating all the teachers who punished me and my brother.” .
He admitted he was joking, choosing instead to show, “teachers who changed my life, most of them public school teachers,” naming teachers like “Mrs. Dummier, Mr. Toole, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Chambers, Madame George” and more, adding that “they educated me, inspired me and taught me to be less thick-headed.”
Scheinert, 35, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, certainly surprised at least one such teacher, Kay Dummier, who revealed to Good morning america on the Monday that she was, ‘watching live’ when he gave her the greeting.
‘When he said my name I almost went crazy. Wow,” Dummier told GMA about Sunday’s recognition from the Oscars.
Special mention: Writers-directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, with Scheinert taking the stage and quipping, “I had this fantasy of winning an award and going up and berating all the teachers who gave my brother already I stop’
Teacher: Scheinert, 35, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, certainly surprised at least one of those teachers, Kay Dummier, who revealed to Good Morning America on Monday that she was “watching live” when he greeted her.
Dummier said he taught Scheinert when he was in the fourth grade at Oak Mountain Elementary and Middle School in Birmingham, Alabama.
“I remember, but I don’t remember doing anything special with him that I don’t do with all the kids, so I really don’t know… the impression I made,” the now-retired teacher said, adding. , ‘I treated him like all my other neat little boys.’
He added that he didn’t know Scheinert was working in Hollywood until his grandson saw his movie Everything Everywhere All At Once.
When he found out that his film was nominated for 11 Oscars, he made sure to watch the broadcast to “make sure he got something.”
Scheinert also used her speech to thank her parents for “not squashing” her creativity as a child, and Dummier admitted she was “tickled” that she thanked teachers and parents in her speech.
‘I’m really impressed with him because he thanked the public school teachers, because where do you think they start?’ she said.
“And the next time he got (an award), he thanked his parents first, so I was like, you know, this guy’s got his head on right,” Dummier added.
Other teachers he thanked taught the Oscar winner at Shades Valley High School, a public school in Irondale, Alabama.
Student: Dummier said he taught Scheinert when he was in fourth grade at Oak Mountain Elementary and Middle School in Birmingham, Alabama.
Didn’t know: She added that she didn’t know Scheinert was working in Hollywood until her grandson saw her movie Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Speech: Scheinert also used his speech to thank his parents for “not squashing” his creativity as a child, and Dummier admitted that she was “tickled” that he thanked teachers and parents in his speech
Dr. Walter Gonsoulin, the Jefferson County Schools superintendent, told GMA that the school system Scheinert attended was “honored” to have greeted the teachers.
‘We are very proud of our graduate Daniel Scheinert! It was a special moment to see him recognized for his outstanding work,’ Dr. Walter Gonsoulin said in a statement.
‘We are also honored that you took the time to thank your teachers who made a difference in your life. Teachers do what they do to empower students with the tools they need to succeed; they teach how to change lives,’ added Gonsoulin.
‘One of the main goals of our school district is to help our students achieve their dreams. There is no greater joy than seeing a student progress and succeed at the highest level!’ concluded the statement.
Everything Everywhere All At Once won Best Picture, Best Director for the Daniels, Best Original Screenplay for the Daniels, Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), and Best Editing ( Pablo Rogers).
Yeoh made history as the first Asian actress to win Best Actress in the 95-year history of the Oscars.
The Daniels met while studying at Emerson College in Boston, beginning their careers directing music videos for groups like The Shins, Foster the People and Tenacious D.
They made their feature film debut in 2016 with the beloved queer Swiss Army Man, starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe.
Scheinert also directed 2019’s The Death of Dick Long, with Scheinert and Kwan both attached to direct the TV series Mason.
Proud: ‘We are so proud of our graduate Daniel Scheinert! It was a special moment to see him recognized for his outstanding work,’ Dr. Walter Gonsoulin said in a statement.
First meeting: The Daniels met while studying at Emerson College in Boston, beginning their careers directing music videos for groups like The Shins, Foster the People and Tenacious D.
