'Apocalypto' sound mixer hopes 19 lucky

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Kevin O'Connell, nominated for sound mixing for "Apocalypto," hopes the 19th time's a charm when Academy Award winners are announced Sunday in Los Angeles.

Eighteen times he's been nominated. Eighteen times speeches were written, just in case. Eighteen times someone else's name was called.

The losing streak's a dubious record, but O'Connell remains upbeat.

"How many people get nominated for an Oscar in their life? It's insane, just to be part of that is an incredible feeling, so I don't get discouraged," O'Connell told CBS News.

His sound-mixing abilities have been seen -- heard -- in everything from blockbusters such as "Spider-Man 2" to tear-jerkers such as "Terms of Endearment," which earned him his first nomination in 1984.

Other movies nominated in the sound mixing category are "Blood Diamond," "Dreamgirls," "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."