chris connelly has been followed kristen bell and company for the past year. >> i don't really do that>> a feature financed by fans via social media. it's unprecedented in hollywood history. >> mars. >> it's been a year in the making. "nightline" has been there every step of the way. >> a girl, a teenager and a private detective. a triple threat. >> seven years after its small screen debut, veronica mars and its sleuth at center with enjoy an unlikely resurrection. kristen bell is now the voice of anna in "frozen" and the original veronica mars cast. >> i wanted to make the movie since the day our production shut down. our cast has been stayed very close. we knew everyone was in. >> did anyone on your team say it's crazy. you have a flourishing career. you don't have to do this. >> i do not let them talk to me like that. second of all, i do not have a flourishing film career. >> reporter: veronica mars was a perfect fit for the skills of kristen bell. >> so much of me is in veronica. i present a lot sweeter of an exterior than i maybe am thinking all the time. i think a lot of snarky s

abc's chris connelly got inside access, and he joins us live from hollywood. chris, did you cry?> you know, i was verklempt. i was verklempt. good morning, guys. from outside the dolby theatre and on what will eventually be the red carpet once the rains pass and we get to clear away some of the stuff that's protecting the carpet, and you're right, oscar's producers lifting the veil for us on the big show giving us news you can use about all kinds of things including the evening's big theme and a host who gets it. ♪ can't keep up >> reporter: oscar producers neal marin and craig zadan say along with entertaining viewers at home, host ellen degeneres has a comedic game plan designed to soothe those stressed out nominees. >> she said we need to understand that these people are scared to death. that's why we're not going to do all the comedy up front and as people are more and more nervous as the night goes on, she can relax them. >> reporter: ellen herself told robin roberts she'd be getting off the stage and getting into the mix. >> because i'll be in the audience a lot. there's go

and chris connelly is on the red carpet with blews on who takes home tonight's oscars. great to see you. >> reporter: good morning. yes, the independent spirit awards honor the best in movies not funded by a major studio. there were lots of honors on a lot of performers we loo wiwill today. the spirit awards, a stress-free blue carpet. >> not too much time for naps. i have three kids. but if i can sneak one in, that's dessert. >> reporter: if it seems like a grind, don't tell cate blanchett? >> this is all cream. you have an extraordinary opportunity to be in a brilliantly written screen play. that's a win-win situation. >> reporter: every movie you've ever made. >> no, some straight to video. >> reporter: bruce and laura denver, it's grand. >> people are discovering i can play. that's all i wanted out of this. >> if you pay me less money, i'm going to work harder. >> reporter: if we pay you less -- it's a kind of community for up and comers. you had a moment with angela bas et. >> she gives amazing hugs. >> reporter: and then the love seen from the film "young adults "

chris connelly with a look at the front runners.chris. >> reporter: dan and bianna, there have been open and shut oscar evenings, but this is not one of them. expect to feel the suspense up to the last envelope. they've made the movies, they've rocked the red carpets. now which of this year's major category nominees is going home with an oscar tonight? there are no sure things. but -- ♪ let it go there will likely be good news for little sisters everywhere, as animation nation figures to be celebrating a "frozen" win. ♪ double trouble in supporting actress. >> thank god for me. >> "american hustle's" jennifer lawrence always compelling. but portraying her character's all but unimaginable anguish. "12 years a slave" nyong'o is expected to prevail. supporting actor, "dallas buys club" lee leto is the favorite. but could barkhad abdi from "captain phillips" shock the world with a win? "gravity," sandra bullock gives it the entire movie the emotional gravitas. >> i'm drifting, do you copy? >> cate blanchett's work in "blue jasmine" has

alinda wheat, christian ameer and our own chris connelly. >> we've got to get over on all these guys.at we need to be thinking about right now. "american hustle." how good a movie? >> it's top three of the year. >> top two for me. >> they're all awful people, but they're so funny and so sexy you can not stopwatching. >> you all love this mu veen yea -- movie and it's not going to win best picture. >> no. >> it's not going to win best actor is it? >> no. >> best actor? >> no. >> best director? uh-uh. >> is it going to win anything? >> sometimes it's just nice to get invited to the party. jennifer lawrence maybe could have won best supporting actress if she had really wanted to. >> what do you mean if she really wanted to? >> i think she saw what happened to anne hathaway last year. i think anne hathaway was on so many awards shows people started to not like her. but i think people love her. she's not on screen all that much, but every time she is, it's explosive. >> you come here. >> i said come here! >> now you tell me all is lost? >> you want to survive, do and say as little as possi

abc's chris connelly joins us again with a look at the front-runners. r: dan and bianna, there have been open and shut oscar evenings, but this does not seem like one of them. expect to feel the suspense right up to the last envelope. they've made the movies. >> cut. >> reporter: they've rocked the red carpets. now, which of this year's major category nominees is going home with an oscar tonight? there are no sure things but -- ♪ let it go let it go ♪ >> reporter: there will likely be good news for little sisters everywhere as animation nation figures to be celebrating a "frozen" win. ♪ turn away and slam the door >> reporter: double trouble in supporting actress. >> thank god for me. >> reporter: "american hustle's" jennifer lawrence is always compelling, but for portraying her character's all but unimaginable anguish, "12 years a slave's" lupita nyong'o is expected to prevail. >> why you so good to me? >> reporter: as for supporting actor "dallas buyers club's" jared leto remains the favorite transforming into the heart-rending rayon. >> four pirates o

abc's chris connelly has a look at ellen's shining moment. >> reporter: it was ellen just being ellen. >> reporter: a superstar selfie gone wild. that turned into tweet-tastic history. and with more than 2 million retweets smashed the twitter record set by president obama. >> we crashed and broke twitter. we have made history. >> reporter: it was the perfect execution of her comedy game plan. to spread the laughs out all show long. starting off with some soft-edged zingers. >> amy adams, you went to college, right? no? who cares. >> reporter: with the first ten rows relaxed, she spent time off the stage and among the nominees. >> i have a crazy idea i will order pizza. so if i do, i don't want it to go the waste. who will eat pizza if i -- jennifer? yes. harrison? >> reporter: turning it into an everyone's invited dinner party with dinner. >> julia wants cheese. who is your favorite movie star? they're here. who do you want to talk to? >> reporter: and passing a very famous hat to pay the delivery guy. >> what do you have, harvey? >> $200. does that cover it? >> it's a start. >> your