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The awards season is currently underway. Recently, the Palm Springs gala and the Golden Globes took place. The National Board of Review presented their awards on Thursday. The Critics Choice awards will be held this weekend.
Each of these events holds a high level of prestige. Additionally, they serve as opportunities for potential Oscar nominees. The way nominees present themselves on the red carpet, socialize in the room, handle loss gracefully or win charmingly is closely observed by voters who have yet to vote for the most esteemed award of the season.
Although the general population may be aware of the lack of spontaneity in selecting a nominee’s dress, they may be surprised by the amount of planning and preparation that goes into the 60 seconds of gratitude they express on stage.
According to Steven Gaydos, executive editor of Variety, speeches have the power to shape your image and set the tone for a story. Crafting a speech requires careful thought and is not a casual or random process.
Less well-known candidates have more freedom in their expressions of gratitude, but those who are involved in a larger strategic effort that is heavily funded can anticipate their speeches being carefully curated before final approval.
The outcome of numerous Oscars has been determined by a successful or unsuccessful appearance on stage a few weeks prior. Emma Thompson solidified her win for the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Sense and Sensibility in 1996 when she captivated the audience at the Golden Globes by reciting a diary entry written in the persona of Jane Austen, as if she had been present at the ceremony.
Last year, Austin Butler delivered a subdued and somber speech when accepting the Bafta award for his role as Elvis. This may have given Brendan Fraser an advantage at the Oscars two weeks later. Similarly, Joaquin Phoenix’s powerful anti-racism speech at the 2020 Baftas left a strong impression on voters, leading them to invite him to speak again at the Oscars. At this event, Phoenix shifted his focus to promoting veganism.
In 2018, Lady Gaga may have hindered her own chances by delivering a 13-minute speech after receiving the best actress award for A Star Is Born at the National Board of Review gala. During her speech, she repeated lines that had already been heard frequently during the awards season. According to studio publicist Nate Jones from Vulture, this may have turned off some voters and diminished her chances of receiving further awards.
Olivia Colman, for her role in The Favourite, was declared the winner of that year. Her charming British demeanor swayed voters to choose her over the expected frontrunner, Glenn Close. Colman showed her gratitude by delivering a truly memorable Oscar speech.
Having a lively and humorous personality, as well as being diligent in your preparations like Thompson, is always valued. Similarly, showing enough self-assurance that Oscar voters (who still remember Will Smith) will be confident that you will not cause any issues on the night is also appreciated.
This year, Robert Downey Jr., the leading candidate for the supporting role in Oppenheimer, is adopting a new strategy. He appeared relaxed and modest (to some extent) on the Globes stage and took the opportunity to promote a new storyline for himself as the “most improved player.” Gaydos comments, “He was carefree, happy, and at ease. And that casual attitude is attractive.”
The most highly debated competitions of the year include the battle for best actor between Downey’s co-star Cillian Murphy and Paul Giamatti, known for The Holdovers, as well as the race for best actress between Lily Gladstone from Killers of the Flower Moon and Emma Stone from Poor Things.
Each of the four received awards at the Globes, where the lead performance categories are divided into comedy and drama. However, in all other ceremonies, there can only be one winner.
In the competition for best actress, Stone’s previous win for her role in La La Land may not be as detrimental as the Academy’s desire to improve its reputation following the #MeToo and #OscarsSoWhite movements.
According to Gaydos, the Academy is still heavily focused on “virtue-signalling.” This involves trying to create the appearance that Hollywood is concerned about social issues, despite the fact that there has been little improvement in opportunities for female and minority filmmakers. Hollywood is still dominated by a white, elitist, and male culture.
During her speech in Palm Springs, Stone shared that she aimed to challenge a statement made by an agent who claimed that women’s acting careers are like sprints, while men’s are like marathons. Gaydos remarks that this statement was not only political, but also personal. Those who disagree are deemed as bad individuals.
The validity of Gladstone’s win is a contentious issue. During her acceptance speech at the Globes, she made sure to address the ongoing erasure of Indigenous people in Hollywood and emphasized the significance of her win, hinting at potential future successes.
Last year, Michelle Yeoh took a similar approach to that of Cate Blanchett and won all the major awards, except for the best actress Bafta, for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
The entire team involved in the making of the movie, including Jamie Lee Curtis who won an Oscar for her supporting role, contributed to its ground-breaking story. It started with the early successes of Yeoh and co-star Ke Huy Quan and reached its peak when 94-year-old James Hong gave a powerful reminder at the SAG awards that Asian characters were once portrayed by white actors in offensive ways because Asian actors were not considered good enough.
Gladstone’s prominent role in the film has overshadowed her co-stars, DiCaprio and De Niro, as well as director Scorsese. The attention has been solely on Gladstone as the film is being marketed as a commentary on the mistreatment of Native Americans, potentially for the purpose of gaining awards recognition.
In the meantime, Giamatti’s speeches have given weight to The Holdovers – a cleverly written comedy where he portrays a grumpy teacher of classic literature. However, the film may seem less substantial when compared to a lengthy explanation on the origins of atomic warfare. Giamatti has accomplished this by drawing on his personal experiences with his family who were also teachers, and emphasizing the significance of the profession.
This is an excellent illustration of how to effectively combine the story behind the movie – its creation and significance to the world – with your own personal background. According to Gaydos, the 14-minute rendition of Giamatti’s brief speech at the Golden Globes, given the night before in Palm Springs, was everything one could hope for: moving, captivating, meaningful, and influential.
“It went into great personal detail, and the more you make a dramatic story elicit empathy the better.” That Giamatti’s own history also includes an egregious Oscars snub 20 years ago for another Alexander Payne movie, Sideways, can only help.
However, what may have solidified the victory was the actor’s post-ceremony actions: going to a fast food restaurant for a burger, which was captured by fascinated bystanders. Gaydos comments, “When I saw that picture of Giamatti at In-N-Out, I thought to myself, ‘Well, he definitely won an Oscar.’ Many people in Hollywood have gone straight to In-N-Out after the Oscars or the Golden Globes. After these long award shows, you’re usually starving. It’s something that many people can relate to.”
It is crucial to prioritize catering to the audience in the stalls. During her Palm Springs speech, Greta Gerwig shared a childhood memory of being taken to the cinema to watch a re-release of The Muppets Take Manhattan. Once the movie ended, she enthusiastically ran down the aisle and attempted to climb into the screen.
She stated that she was continuing to do what she loved and would continue to do so as long as possible because she was proud to work with those in the entertainment industry. Her use of the old-fashioned term earned her the respect and support of an older generation, who still make up the majority of voters, despite efforts to increase diversity in recent times.
Gerwig’s main rival for the best director award this year could either be Scorsese, whose potential win is overshadowed by his leading actress, or Oppenheimer’s Christopher Nolan. According to Hollywood Reporter’s awards expert Scott Feinberg, the acceptance speeches for Nolan’s film at last Sunday’s ceremony seemed to be focused on winning over voters, as he has previously been seen as distant.
Murphy described Nolan as a “visionary” and a “master”, and Downey praised his work as “a remarkable masterpiece”. Upon accepting the award for best drama, Emma Thomas, Nolan’s producer and spouse, expressed her happiness for his recognition and highlighted his unique approach to filmmaking.
However, Gaydos believes that the most intelligent speech of the season thus far did not come from a celebrity, but from The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri. During her Golden Globes speech, she took a moment to express gratitude not only to her coworkers and agent, but also to all the assistants of her agents and managers. She thanked them for responding to her hectic emails.
This sentence seems like it was written specifically for the character that she portrayed in order to win the prize – a hardworking woman who supports a renowned chef in the kitchen. It also quickly earned her admiration in every workplace in Hollywood.
Gaydos commented that it was a rare occurrence for someone to do what was done, stating that it was a brilliant move that was well-received by the audience. This was evident in one of the many shots of Taylor Swift during the event, where she could be seen nodding and smiling genuinely for the first time that night.
Source: theguardian.com
