Colin: May 2008 Archives
Have to laugh. Here CENTIGRADE wins at Cinequest and thereby qualifies for an Academy Award. Then, we take 5 Leo’s (out of 7 noms) including Best Pic, Best Director and Best Actor.
What makes the Georgia Straight?
THREE SNAPS!!!
Brad Pitt. Eat your heart out.
Wow.
The British Columbia Film Awards finished up this weekend. Also known as the LEO AWARDS, it was a red carpet event complete with champagne, beautiful women and all things glamorous. The little film that could, CENTIGRADE, was up for a total of 7 awards in the Short Drama category. And I’m so very proud to announce, we took home 5.
BEST SHORT DRAMA - Madison Graie, Derrick Garland
BEST ACTOR - Colin Cunningham
BEST DIRECTOR - Colin Cunningham
BEST MAKE UP - Jayne Dancose
BEST OVERALL SOUND - Réal Gauvreau
And it was incredible. Gary Jones, the ceremonies host, was fantastic. Gary is not only known for his work on SG-1 and other numerous television and film projects, but he’s also one of the funniest people I know. And so, on top of all the pomp and circumstance, there was a lot of silicone and sequins bouncing to Jonesy’s punch-lines.
In addition to being nominated, I was also honored to have been asked to ‘present’ in a few categories, and so was able to enjoy the best of both worlds. Back stage was a riot. Cathryn Barr from the Metro Newspaper was back there taking photographs and being her wonderful crazy self. The beautiful trophy models were making sure their nipples were properly duct taped to their dresses and everyone did their best not to face-plant themselves upon taking that final (and very dark) step onto the stage.
But it was all very much a friendly, warm and wonderful affair. This was the tenth anniversary of the LEO AWARDS and everyone was quite proud of both Sonny Wong and Walter Daroshin (producers) for having the courage and dedication to make and keep it all happening. This town owes those two gentlemen a lot.
My girlfriend Brianne looked radiant. My best friends (and fellow nominee) Madison Graie and her husband James Fantin looked like prince and princess. Jonathan Tyrrell was there with his main squeeze Elisa. John Penhall, our illustrious AD. Derrick Garland and his gal Kathy. Muse and Mentor, Ron Sauvé and his wife Beverly. Mike Rudd flew up from LA. And then of course there was my incredible agent Dylan Collingwood, beautiful casting director Melissa Perry and the lovely and talented, Sonja Bennet. All, some of the best people on the face of the earth.
5 out of 7. Wow.
That’s quite the number. Stack those puppies one on top of the other and I’d say you’d be standing pretty tall. Come to think of it, that’s how we felt walking out of there.
Tall indeed.
It’s been well over a year since Madison Graie suggested we create CENTIGRADE. Seventeen years since I first wrote it. And last night was one of those weird but wonderful ‘full circle’ moments in a lifetime of people, places and films.
The Directors Guild of Canada screened the (2007) Kick Start films at the Ridge theatre last night. And it was exactly one year ago that Madison and I sat in the very same theatre and watched those who had won the previous year.
Five films in all. And some of them were damn good. I was proud to be there. And Madison and I shared more than one unspoken wink. We made it. We actually did it. We lived to tell the tale.
We were proud.
Taking a ‘thought’ and manifesting a tangible, three dimensional reality from it is a pretty nifty trick. You are literally changing the world, albeit in a small way, but you are. You are not simply drifting through a life without consequence. Existing in the wake of others. Instead, you are simultaneously piloting and building a ship that is going to carry you to places that don’t even exist yet. There are few markers along the way and with little more than faith keeping you afloat it can get very scary. It’s a long, surreal and often lonely journey that will profoundly change how you see the world.
People are beginning to come up to Madison and I to shake our hands. Respected people. People we’ve never met before (but know by reputation). Actors, Producers, Cinematographers. Some of the best in the business. They see something different in what we’ve done and I think they find it refreshing. Word is beginning to spread. The film has qualified for an Academy Award and in an ocean of cinematic indifference, that’s a hard thing to ignore.
And so, we stood a little taller last night. A year ago we were sitting in the front row of the Ridge Theatre asking questions. Last night we were answering them. A difference of ten feet, one year and a gallon of blood.
But we did it.
We made it to the other side.
We earned our fifteen minutes. (Or, should I say 17 minutes, 11 seconds.)
So, I think we’re going to enjoy a bit of fruit. Have a little fun. God knows it won’t last forever. Soon we’ll be setting up shop again, ready to tackle the next big storm. Today the harbor’s calm and welcoming, but I can feel a little wind kicking up. Might be time to pull out the old pilots cap and carpenters hammer again.
A little scary, but that’s life. If you’re going to set out for new lands, sometimes you have to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.
