“We’ll be celebrating their achievements with the knowledge that the work they have accomplished – with passion, dedication and a desire to make a positive difference – will also enrich future generations”, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said. Laura Linney said Rowlands “smashed and destroyed” the traditional female image of her generation by creating a seismic shift in depiction of women in her films with John Cassavetes. Isaacs, he said, was “trying to do something that needs to be done”.
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“Everybody in here probably voted for Obama but when I go to offices, I see no black folks except for the brother man at the security who checks my name off the list as I go into the studio”, the director said. “This industry is so behind, is ridiculous”. “It’s easier to be the president of the United States as a black person than to be the head of a studio”. At the inaugural Governors Awards ceremony in 2009, John Calley was too ill to attend; for the second rites, Jean-Luc Godard stayed home. When the Governors Awards were launched in 2009, the event was low-key and familial, with informal toasts mixing with onstage speeches.
In 2009, the Academy broke out the Governors Awards into a separate, untelevised ceremony; the Oscarcast time constraints limited the number of honorees and the time devoted to each.
Washington, who starred in Lee’s 1992 film Malcolm X, pointed out that the director was key to improving the representation of black actors in films. Davis, she said, gave her life and career lessons that were one of a kind.
“Say ‘Cheese!,'” she said, and then grinned.
In a brief audio acceptance, Debbie told the audience, “I’m thrilled beyond words, shocked, and you couldn’t be more amazed that a little girl from Burbank even came near this sort of accolade”.
Other Hollywood stars in attendance at the glitzy gala included Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, Will Smith, Mark Ruffalo and Quentin Tarantino.
And every year it seems to get more intense.
The evening lasted more than four hours if you include dinner, but nobody watches the clock at the Governors Awards the way they do at the Oscars. Her granddaughter accepted Reynolds’ statuette. “She’s been fearless in her advocacy”, Fonda said.
Filmmaker Spike Lee, and actresses Gena Rowlands and Debbie Reynolds were recognized with honorary Oscars at the Governors Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. “I think it’s next to the ruby slippers”.
Blanchett began the presentation to Rowlands, calling her “the actress who has had the most profound influence on my work”.
Lee, who has been twice nominated for Oscars, talked about his early profession as a director and his want to place extra African Americans in appearing roles and in jobs behind the digital camera. “First Oscar in the family!” he pointed out. “It’s about damn time”. An all star presenting team of Samuel L. Jackson, a heavily accented Wesley Snipes and Denzel Washington were hilarious in giving Lee the reasons for his award.
In his acceptance speech, Lee admitted that was the plan.
Spike Lee has once again put Hollywood on blast.
Saturday night’s events will get mentioned during the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, where Chris Rock is set as host.
A victim’s body lies covered on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire in Paris.
Victim of the Paris terror attack.
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Military police patrol the streets in the aftermath of the attacks.
