Let me just say that I was advised not to write about the Academy Awards but why not? What's the problem with me sharing my opinion? I don't think there is a problem, so here we go.
I'm not sure I'm entirely up to date on what happened concerning the Academy Awards. I've heard through the grapevine, the individuals nominated for some of the more popular awards such as, best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, and best supporting actress, are white actors and actresses. It seems no African Americans were chosen. I have to admit, at first I was upset and angry about it myself. I'm all about equality. I hate racism. I hate people feeling discriminated against. Believe me, I've seen it happen across all walks of life and I'm against it. So after hearing what I'd heard through the grapevine I thought to myself, "What are the Academy Award members/voters thinking?" After all, it doesn't appear to me that anyone is against black actors and actresses, in fact, I had just watched the Golden Globes on television and loved seeing Denzel Washington accept his Life Time Achievement Award. I enjoy watching all actors of all ethnicity's in the movies so this information had me dumbfounded.
It took me a few days to sort this out before my mind started spitting out new thoughts and ideas concerning this dilemma; this situation; this problem. My brain began asking, "Why is this a problem?" After all, African Americans have been nominated before, they've been nominated in the past, they've won several times over the years.
Then I asked myself, "If you're nominated, what are you being nominated for? Isn't the decision based on your acting abilities?" If you did a good job and the Academy took notice, you might wind up to be one of the nominees. I'd have to guess that's some stiff competition. Only five people in a category are nominated? Wow! I'm guessing that leaves several actors and actresses left feeling disappointed and left out.
I started thinking about my daughter, a young 13 year old actress that loves to act in school plays. If my daughter were to excel to the level these actors and actresses do in the industry, and I thought she should be nominated for an, Academy Award and she wasn't, how would I feel? I might be heard saying,
"Hey! What's the deal? Why didn't my daughter get nominated? Her performance was awesome! Outstanding! Certainly deserving of the nomination!"
Oh so many wonderful actors and actress let down each and every year. Here's what you would actually hear me saying, "There is no award big enough or grand enough, to define who you are as a person or as an actress."
So where do I pull this from? Let me tell you. When I was in high school I ran track. I became an All-State track athlete in Michigan. I received a beautiful certificate that my dad had framed professionally for me. I received a nice gold medal as well. I went on to run at the collegiate level and did well. I thought my life would forever be different because I possessed something so few possessed. I had achieved something higher than most had achieved.
Here's the reality. No one remembers. No one cares because no one knows. It wasn't as big a deal to others as it was to me. Sure my parents have never forgotten, but it lost its importance to the outside world and in the end, it never defined me anyway. I have done so many more wonderful things in my life that have defined me more than any medal could.
I'm embarrassed to say it, but one time in thinking about that certificate framed so beautifully I realized I had no idea where it was. I couldn't think where I might have stuck that thing. I felt guilty that my dad had gone to the trouble and had spent the money, when I didn't even know where it was. I found it eventually, I'd stuffed it in a closet. See how much it means to me? I know where the gold medal is, I threw it in a bag with other medals. Yep, an old purple Crown Royal bag, residing in a dresser drawer somewhere. Sure, I displayed it for awhile but its significance faded. See how important that award really is in the scheme of things. Its not. What's important is who I am without it.
This is where my thoughts took me in regards to these actors and actresses who are feeling discarded. They weren't, they just weren't up to the requirements this particular year when the voting ensued. These actors and actresses are placing too much power in this gold figure that is handed out to people each year. To them, it feels like it means everything, and for awhile it will, but most actors and actresses who have one will find it is irrelevant. I hope this doesn't offend those who have won an Academy Award, but unless I go online and look up an actor or actress specifically, most of the time, I can't remember who has taken home an Oscar. What I remember about actors and actresses is what I see on television, or in movies. I love their personality, the way they carry themselves on the red carpet or in the audience, or when giving out an award. I love watching actors and actresses as they're interviewed on different television shows. I love their individual style, the things they hold close to their heart, the things they support. I love hearing them talk about their kids, their spouses, their friends.
I don't care if they got that Oscar, all that means is I have to sit and listen to them thank every, Tom, Dick and Harry that I don't know. I would rather see you in the audience enjoying yourself, laughing, talking with your friends, looking top-notch, than to not see you because you weren't nominated and therefore chose not to attend the event all together. That would make me sad. That would take away from what I love about actors and actresses. Their ability to transport me to another world when I watch them on the big screen. That's their job. Accepting awards isn't. Not to mention, the event is only good because you are there. You showed up with a glowing appearance, an elegant dress or tuxedo, a joy that can be felt all the way through my television. That's why we watch. We want to see you. If you don't show up because you feel unwelcome, well that's just simply not true. You are welcome and I'm guessing you know this. You've jumped the hoops, you've put in the hours, you've acted your butt off. So you didn't get nominated, join the several others all around you who also didn't, they can relate to how you're feeling, but they're still having fun.
One last thing- I find the Golden Globes to be so much more historic in setting your name in lights for eternity than any Oscar.
Why? Because the Golden Globes are decided by the Foreign Press. The winners are announced around the globe. Pictures adorn news papers all around the world and that is where you are seen and adored to a much higher level.
But remember, that idol that you are desiring, that Oscar, that Golden Globe which means so much to you, over time will come to mean less and less and you will find, what defines you, is You not an award, not that trophy, not a certificate, you will define you. So hold your head high, high, high, and walk tall, because this is your time in this life, with or without that award.
All the best.
S.
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