The first national live television broadcast in the US took place in 1951 but sixty-three years later, certain awards shows are unaware that this technology has been invented yet. The Spirit Awards will be broadcast on IFC tonight at 10PM EST the tent in Santa Monica will be cleared and we'll know all the winners and we'll have probably have lost interest completely, this being Oscar weekend when time is precious and tight.
That's Greta Gerwig left on the red carpet (that's where the stream froze so that's the expression you get!) where she said...
The Spirit Awards are my jam."
The best moment on the red carpet was definitely birthday girl Lupita Nyong'o evading questions about what she's doing on Monday once the Oscars are over.
I'm getting away from here."
She wouldn't say why, what for, or where. Smart girl.
Best First Screenplay: Bob Nelson, Nebraska
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club. (He nearly swept the season of major prizes but for the BAFTAs and two smaller but still key prizes: NBR & NSFC). And he reportedly thanked:
...all the women I've been with and all the women who think they've been with me... and my future ex-wife Lupita"
Hee!
Best First Feature: Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station
Best Editing: Nat Sanders, Short Term 12
Ensemble Award: Cast, director and casting director of Mud
Best Screenplay: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
Piaget Producer's Awards: Toby Halbrooks & James M. Johnston (Upstream Color, Aint Them Bodies Saints, Pit Stop)
John Cassavettes Award: Chad Hartigan, This is Martin Bonner
Cinematography: Sean Bobbit, 12 Years a Slave
Supporting Actress:Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom
Foreign Film: Blue is the Warmest Color
Director: Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Actor: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Film: 12 Years a Slave
And there you have it. As I say each year, despite the quality of their winners, there's no point in Film Independent existing if they're just covering the same mainstream ground as every other group. If all four of those acting winners repeat tomorrow night with Oscar (and they're all frontrunners) it will be the first time in history. But they've been working towards that merger for a long time now.
It's practically a flashing neon sign telling Film Independent that they need to rethink their goddamn raison d'être. They have lost their identity and now basically they're just a cheaper version of the Globes and maybe a slightly pricer version of the BFCA. It's time for them to lower the budget requirements and get back to focusing on new voices and truly independent ones that need the attention. The only area you see that anymore with the Spirits is that one prize "The John Cassavettes" which went to the wonderful This is Martin Bonner which is currently available on Netflix Instant Watch so go watch it.