guess it was about seven years ago in secaucus or wherever our studio was, joe, mika, myself and john ridley around a table. >> so he went on to win an oscar? >> yeah. and i'm still sitting around the table but it was so cool to see john get that award. we are so proud of him and he is so talented. >> absolutely to all of that. >> he is than incredible guy. as he would tell you, "undercover brother" was his finest piece of writing. got you, ridley. we love you. winning first oscar was lupita nyongo. >> it doesn't escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks so so much pain in someone else's. when i look down at this golden statue may it remind me every little child, no matter where you're from, your dreams are valid. >> how big of a star is she going to be? >> what a dress! a great actress but that was a fantastic dress. in a night i don't know what y'all think, but there were not very many standout dresses. >> i noticed her dress but yints it was -- >> what else do you look at the oscars? what is the point? >> film editing mostly. >> cinematography. >> matthew mcconknee wo

. >> john ridley, dust off the tuxedo.is is just a fantastic piece of work. >> thank you. >> i'm very, very, very happy to have you here tonight. thank you, john. whatever happens on oscar night, it is one of the greatest contributions to our -- >> thank you very much. >> -- understandings of our selves in this country through film. >> thank you. forgive me, not just to this country but to the world because there were other countries that were involved in it. so it's not just america's history. it's the world history, unfortunately. >> last night screenwriter john ridley shared the praise, as he always does, with the author of the book he had the honor of adapting. >> all the praise goes to solomon northup. those are his words. that is his life. >> and steve mcqueen reminded us once again that slavery is not yet a thing of the past. >> everyone -- everyone deserves not just to survive but to live. this is the most important legacy of solomon northup. i dedicate this award to all the people who have endured slavery. and the

turning that book na a screenplay was the job of now oscar nominated writer john ridley. >> i read it it was singular. the way that he wrote, the elevated nature, the clarity of detail, the lack of bitterness, the lack of hatred that he spoke with about the circumstance was absolutely phenomenal. >> my back is thick with scars for protesting our freedom. >> northup story filled gaps in john ridley's own understanding of history. >> but you start to realize how little we as americans really know about this aspect of history and how it affected all of us. you know, certainly people of color, slaves, no pun intended, got the bad end of the stick. >> any more, i'll earn you 100 lashes. >> collective consent where what's evil becomes ordinary. the film shows that in a way rarely seen on screen. >> i've gotten really emotional. you go to screenings and people walk out and want to hug you, they want to shake your hand. >> yet as powerful as the film may be, some like talk show host tavis smiley were left with a feeling of frustration. >> tears i think are important. it's important that we li

. >> john ridley right there who wrote the screen play to "12 years a slave" to me.ost powerful movie i have seen in years. it's more than just a movie. >> absolutely. i think what he did with the screen play and steve mcqueen with the film, is taking a obscure autobiography, and if your honored it into america's diary of anne frank. >> it was the first time i was at a theater when the audience was completely silent. i remember that with "schindler's list." and it reminds people about the reality of slavery. >> when i saw it, usually audiences are quick to come out and gibber jabber about the movie and people there just could not say anything but wow, or oh my god. it was a very emotional experience. >> for me, about halfway through i could not watch it any more, it was so hard to watch. and you know, slavery still exists, even in america. and it is such a scary thought to me, and it's not that i would leave it hush hush and not see it, it is still there and still so emotional. >> i interviewed lupita recently, and spoke with steve mcqueen, and it was amazing the way

i learned that our good buddy, john ridley, is our favorite of the oscar winner class. sir, you've come a long way from is he caw -- >> thank you, william. >>> it's a cold war flashback sending chills up the spine of the west. while vladimir putin is getting an earful, are economic sanctions enough to make russia reverse course? secretary kerry heads to ukraine later today. back at home, it may actually be chillier inside than outside. when president obama and israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu meet today. we have new details from the reporter who sat down with the president to preview the meeting of the upcoming mideast peace talks. >>> plus, whether you're talking presidents, governors, or gazillionaire gad flies, week two of the tdr 50 is ready to roll. >>> good morning from a wild and winltry washington. as you can see behind me, it's monday, march 3rd, 2014. the government is closed today. we'll get to the first reads in a moment. let's get the latest on the winter storm system impacting more than 130 million people and has shut down the federal government y