Local wins an Oscar

Editor’s note: Facebook is lit up with the news, including this post from local Heather McDonald:

“CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR HOMETOWN ACADEMY AWARD WINNER TONIGHT FOR ‘COCO’ ADRIAN MOLINA!!! He was in tears as he gave his comments at the Oscar stand. But mucho congratulations to his parents: Dr. David Molina and Maria Molina of Grass Valley, CA. This very young man wins the Oscar on his first screenplay and co-direction.

“I am not surprised because I know his parents and their influence. A talent like this is not just  ‘born.’

“I sat in Dr. Molina’s dental chair or while my husband was setting up lights and cameras for his commercials, all the while staring at Maria Molina’s paintings hung on every wall. The paintings were of her children (including a teenaged Adrian), but what fascinated me the most, were the colorful portraits of Mexican children in native dress. The same color and beauty you will see in ‘Coco.'”

“His father became a dentist, but also majored in film for a time and encouraged his young son in Adrian’s addiction: watching ‘old’ Disney animated movies. Adrian’s father also played the guitar and serenaded his family. Both parents encouraged Adrian to follow his heart in animation. They were also very proud of their son when the love of his life, Ryan, became Adrian’s husband. Quite a family. Quite a talent. Quite a movie.”

—Heather McDonald’s Facebook page

Author: jeffpelline

Jeff Pelline is a veteran editor and award-winning journalist - in print and online. He is publisher of Sierra FoodWineArt magazine and its website SierraCulture.com. Jeff covered business and technology for The San Francisco Chronicle for years, was a founding editor and Editor of CNET News, and was Editor of The Union, a 145-year-old newspaper in Grass Valley. Jeff has a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a master's from Northwestern University. His hobbies include sailing and trout fishing. View all posts by jeffpelline