About

Each year on that fateful evening, some particularly talented artists are crowned Oscar® winners. But what about all those other nominees that didn’t win? Are they officially “losers” now? The answer is no, of course. But it’s unfortunate that not winning something is often interpreted as losing. Honestly, losing an award you were nominated for could be downright depressing.

The goal of this web experience is to bring a splash of positivity to those who did not get the recognition they’d hoped to receive. Choose a quote from past Oscar® speeches to create a custom quote piece for yourself; these past winners won because they never gave up on their craft. This website was made not just for actual nominees, but for all artists: we may not always get the recognition we deserve, but hey, there’s so much more to being an artist than winning awards.

Designed and built by Brian Yung.
See more of my work at brianyung.com.

For educational purposes only.
Oscar® ©A.M.P.A.S.®
Clips Courtesy A.M.P.A.S.© 2016-2019

I didn't win an Oscar®,
but I'm still a winner.

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What's your name?

(Don't worry, we're not keeping a list.)

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Choose a quote from the stars.

(Hover over the gold circles.)

When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you're from, your dreams are valid.”

Lupita Nyong'o
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I stopped writing this movie about twenty times because I thought it was impossible…But I kept coming back to it because I knew if someone let me make this movie…people would see it.”

Jordan Peele
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I haven't really written a speech because every time I wrote a speech for the past one of these things I didn't win. But, you know, there comes a time in life when everything seems to make sense and this is not one of those times.”

Adrien Brody
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Because for someone to win, someone has to lose. But the paradox is that, you know, true art…can't be compared, can't be labelled.”

Alejandro G. Iñárritu
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…You have to work harder than you think you possibly can…And it doesn't matter how you get knocked down in life, because that's gonna happen. All that matters is that you gotta get up.”

Ben Affleck
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My junior high guidance counselor…asked me, ‘What do you want to do with your life?’ And I said, ‘I want to make movies.’…And he said, ‘What if you couldn't make movies?’ And I said, ‘I'd have to find a way that I could.’”

Brad Bird
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Life has taught me to just try and be the best that I can be, and I thank the Academy for saying to me that on this given night I was the best that I could be.”

Denzel Washington
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…To all of those who come next…Keep going…Never give up. And when you think it's impossible, just remember to say this piece of advice I got…: I did my best, and my best is good enough.”

Hannah Beachler
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It's not about winning…and it's not about how many times you get rejected or you fall down or you're beaten up. It's about how many times you stand up and…you keep on going.”

Lady Gaga
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My hero's always 10 years away. I'm never gonna be my hero…and that's just fine with me, because that keeps me with somebody to keep on chasin'.”

Matthew McConaughey
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Hey there,
hope this gives you inspiration.

(And better luck next time.)