Former NCAA WR Matthew Cherry nominated for Oscar after predicting he would be in 2012
Matthew Cherry is a talented artist.
He’s also prescient.
The former standout Akron wide receiver who tallied almost 2,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons set his eyes on the entertainment industry in 2007 after his NFL career failed to launch beyond three years of bouncing around practice squads and active rosters without playing a snap.
Cherry’s bold prediction
He used his media degree from Akron to work behind the scenes in production and writing efforts for titles like “BlacKkKlansman,” “The Last O.G.,” and “Black-ish,” according to News 5 in Cleveland.
In 2012, he predicted the he would be nominated for an Oscar.
I'm gonna be nominated for an Oscar one day. Already claiming it
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) June 2, 2012
On Monday — almost eight years after that tweet — Cherry’s prediction came true.
‘Hair Love’ gets Oscar nod
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced early Monday that Cherry’s film titled “Hair Love” is nominated for an Oscar in the Animated Short category.
Wow! And to have @IssaRae announce it! It feels like a dream. Huge thanks to our great team @BruceAlmighteee @Mr_Scribbles @KDRupe @Monica_aYoung @DanielDCrawford @LionForgeDave @CarlForge @lionforge our kickstarter backers & @SonyAnimation for believing in us. @TheAcademy pic.twitter.com/2sVn7LqWk9
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) January 13, 2020
Cherry describes the seven-minute film he wrote and co-directed as about an “African American father learning how to do his daughter’s hair for the first time.”
#HairLove is live! It’s an animated short film about an African American father learning how to do his daughters hair for the first time. Written & Directed by me, co-directed by @BruceAlmighteee @Mr_Scribbles & stars @IssaRae. @SonyAnimation #HairLove pic.twitter.com/RRlh2Ncol1
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) December 5, 2019
Already a NYT best seller
An illustrated book adaptation of the film made the New York Times Best Seller List. Cherry funded the film by raising $300,000 on Kickstarter, and now has an Oscar nomination to show for it.
You gotta believe! https://t.co/7DiX2sTGws
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) January 13, 2020
If he wins, it will be in the same category that Kobe Bryant took home a 2018 Oscar for his animated short “Dear Basketball.”
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