Today’s News: ‘Argo,’ Affleck come up gold; Special effects protest; Sequester cuts

Hollywood’s night. The Iranian hostage drama “Argo” was the big winner at the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre, but no single film dominated the Oscars ceremony. Daniel Day Lewis won his third Best Actor award and Jennifer Lawrence her first. Ang Li was top director for “Life of Pi.” There were a few surprises, a few eyebrows raised by host Seth MacFarlane and plenty of song-and-dance numbers. Early returns show that ratings were up four percent from last year, but many critics are saying the show was dull. L.A. Times

VFX Protest. The folks who put a tiger on a boat for “Life of Pi” won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects last night – but it was a bittersweet triumph. Rhythm & Hues, the Marina del Rey Studio that led the effects team, has filed for bankruptcy. Some of the artists who lost their jobs were part of a crowd of about 400 people protesting at Hollywood and Vine, a couple blocks from the Dolby Theatre. They say underbidding from foreign competition is decimating the Hollywood visual effects community. Variety

Sequester shakeout. The White House is warning that California could lose 64,000 defense jobs if looming federal budget cuts start to take effect this week. The administration has come out with a state-by-state breakdown of how $85 billion in sequester cuts would play out if lawmakers fail to make a deal. The Obama Administration says California’s losses would include more than $87 million for grade schools and $93 million for educating children with disabilities. San Jose Mercury News

Mahony testimony. Cardinal Roger Mahony has given a new deposition about his handling of clergy abuse cases. The former head of the L.A. Archdiocese answered questions for more than three hours this weekend. He was deposed by a lawyer representing a man who claims he was abused by a priest a quarter century ago. It’s the first time he was asked about recently released church files that show he conspired to shield abusive priests from law enforcement. L.A. Times

Dorner victims. A memorial service for a couple believed to have been killed by former LAPD officer Christopher Dorner brought more than 2,000 mourners to Concordia University in Irvine. Monica Quan and Keith Lawrence were found shot and killed in the parking garage of their condo building three weeks ago. Their deaths set off the 10-day manhunt for Dorner. Quan’s father is a former LAPD officer who represented Dorner in a hearing over his dismissal from the department. KNBC