Oscar nominations 2015: Reactions

On her character: “We’ve seen so many hero journeys with men, but I’ve never read or seen one like that with a woman, who saved herself -- no money, no job, no man -- and it had a happy ending. I connected not as a woman, but as a human being.”  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

On Chris Kyle: “Two days after we were handed the script I talked to Chris on the phone ... then all the sudden he’s murdered, horribly. [Then] ... it was then much more a movie about relationships that the servicemen and women have with their spouse and family, what their plight is.”  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

On writing: “I remember the stuff where I really got sort of energized writing were some of the early rehearsal scenes between [J.K. Simmons’] character and Miles Teller’s character ... it was like writing a fight scene but with music and dialogue instead of weapons.”  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

On the film’s directors, the Dardenne brothers: “They create tension and they research and they seek a special rhythm that will take them and all the people who work with them to reach this sense of authenticity.”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

On making “Birdman”: “I knew that [challenging conventions] can come with a high cost to many people, and that’s why people were scared to make it. So I’m surprised and thankful that this unconventional film touched people.”  (Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

On an early morning call: “I thought, ‘It’s way too early ... I’m not answering that.’ Then I thought, well, it could be family. Then it struck me, ‘Wait, aren’t I supposed to be up already?’ ... It was my brother, Paul, on the phone. It was really sweet to hear it from family first.”  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

On other lead actress nominee performances: “I’ve seen them all and I’ve been struck by all of them. ... They’re all actresses I hugely respect and have admired for years. So to be in their company is fantastic - they’re pretty much my favorite actresses. All of them for different reasons.”  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

On getting recognition deep into his career: “It’s very gratifying and humbling. I’m honestly very glad in my case that it didn’t come a lot earlier in my life because I definitely wouldn’t have been equipped to deal with this kind of attention as a young man. I’m not sure I am now.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

On her life now: “It’s a mad clash of all areas of my life piling on top of each other in this surreal cocktail of motherhood and career -- and it’s also been grounding. The scene right now -- in my bed and my baby covered in toys and talking about the Academy Awards!”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

On his fourth Oscar nom: “The older I get, the more it means. I think when you’re young you think you’re going to fall in love a million times or have a million wonderful experiences, [but] you start to realize they really are rare. ... ‘Boyhood’ ... I’ll never have this experience again.”  (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

“It’s a lovely recognition, and the academy particularly means a lot to me, having gone to the Oscars at 7 years old with my mother when she was nominated. It was a big part of my childhood -- watching the awards and being raised by two actors. It was an annual event in our house.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

On the film: “Mostly I’m just grateful. Grateful to Megan Ellison and everyone who trusted and gave themselves to this film. It’s the film I wanted to make. I’m proud of it and everyone involved and I’m deeply grateful to be recognized by the academy.”   (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

“I am completely knocked out. Thank you to the academy for this incredible honor. I am very proud and lucky to be a part of ‘Birdman’ and can’t believe it came to this. I am so ... excited. Are you allowed to say ... when you’re making a statement for the Oscars? I’m just really ... excited.”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Giacobone on the film’s unique style: “It’s funny because we were writing and we were creating these transitions between scenes and moments, and the thought was, ‘I have no idea how they’re going to do this.’ Seeing now the result is so fascinating.”   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

On Twitter: “thank u everyone for the congratulations! i am so happy i can barely breathe #makingmyselfdizzy #AcademyAwards”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

On Twitter: “Thank You @TheAcademy for the #Foxcatcher nomination! Honored and humbled. Thanks @channingtatum @SteveCarell and Bennett Miller. The best.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

On having never won despite many nominations for his cinematography: “I’ll probably go to the ceremony feeling a little more relaxed.”  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

On Twitter: “We couldn’t be more proud to see Everything is Awesome has been nominated for an #Oscar for Best Original Song!! Congrats to the whole team!”  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“We always dreamed of being at this place and hoped the academy would recognize our work.... Being nominated is victory in itself.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

“The score for ‘Interstellar’ was [Christopher Nolan] and I at our most collaborative. Even in this modern world ... sometimes all you need is a simple, typewritten letter from your director to spark what undoubtedly became one of the most personal scores I’ve ever written.”  (Jim Spellman / WireImage)

“Getting a nomination is such a surprise, an anomaly, and getting two, it’s almost embarrassing! I immediately thought of my wonderful directors, who I have to share with, Wes Anderson and Morten [Tyldum], because without their beautiful films I wouldn’t be there.”  (Thomas Samson / AFP / Getty Images)