“Precious” Day for Waterford Screenwriter

It’s a good day for Geoffrey Fletcher. The Waterford native was nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay, “Precious.”

The screenplay is the story of a Harlem teen overcoming horrible abuse and neglect, based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.

"I am, as you can imagine, thrilled. It’s still sinking in. Still sinking in," the 39-year-old Fletcher told the Day of New London from his current home in New York.

And, as you might expect. He’s pretty popular today. His phone has been ringing and e-mails are flooding his inbox. The most touching call was from his mom, Bettye.

"She saw me working for so long, ever since I was very young, and I pulled out these toys and a camera and made these little movies with them. It’s this lifelong dream, and a year ago, I was just happy to have a movie made, to be involved with a feature film. For this to happen, it still hasn’t fully sunken in," he told the newspaper.

Precious was also nominated for best picture, and Mo'Nique and Gabourey Sidibe were nominated.

Sidibe made her screen debut in "Precious," earning an Oscar nomination for her first professional acting job.

Lee Daniels, who made "Precious," became only the second black filmmaker nominated for best director, after John Singleton for 1991's "Boyz N the Hood."

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Copyright Associated Press / NBC Connecticut

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