The Oscars: Upsets and surprises

(WPRI) - Sunday marked Hollywood's biggest night of the year, and Rhode Island native Viola Davis was in the front row for her Best Actress nomination.

Davis' former teacher at Rhode Island College, George Marshall, joined the Rhode Show to give his reaction to some of this year's Academy Award winners.

Marshall, who is also the founder of the Rhode Island International Film Festival, said that even though his former student didn't win , he was very proud just to see her there in the first place.

"This year is just a prelude to the future, I'm looking forward to her next nomination, and I know she'll win," he said. "And frankly if you're going to lose, losing to Meryl Streep is not the worst thing in the world."

Of Davis, Marshall said that "she was someone who had a passion, someone who was extraordinarily nice, and driven. What I remember her was her graciousness."

He was not surprised at all to see The Artist win the Best Picture Oscar, since it's such a feel-good film and "the Academy voters are older voters."

Marshall says that Rhode Island has an enormous amount of potential in the film and media business, but often residents take it for granted.

"Rhode Islanders don't realize what talent really exists in this state."