Oscar buzz: It's 'Precious,' you know

Lee Daniels, Gabourey Sidibe, center, and Xosha Roquemore on the set of "Precious."

(Courtesy:  Lionsgate)

So, maybe just getting nominated for an Academy Award is enough ...

No way.  Winning is everything in Hollywood.  Come to think of it, coming out victorious is primo playing the Lotto and almost everywhere else.  Admit it, it's even important to manicure a better looking yard than the guy next door.

(I don't compete against the guy on the other side.  He gets professional help.)

Some of this year's crop of Oscar nominees are enjoying some unexpected perks, though.  "Precious" director Lee Daniels, for instance, has a new buddy:  "Star Wars" creator George Lucas.

According to Zorianna Kit's article posted on the Hollywood Reporter Web site, Lucas caught a screening of "Precious" and invited Daniels to Skywalker Ranch for lunch.

"I was nervous and intimidated at first," recalls Daniels, who brought along his leading lady, Gabourey Sidibe. "Then we just kicked back and talked about life and about how the film affected him and his girlfriend. We also talked how sound can help me on my next movie, because I have limited funds. It was a really chill conversation," the Hollywood Reporter article states.