Spirit Awards Viewing Party 2010

Best Feature

I voted for: Precious
Winner: PRECIOUS

Best First Feature

I voted for: Easier With Practice
Winner: CRAZY HEART

John Cassavetes Award

I voted for: Treeless Mountain
Winner: HUMPDAY

Best Director

I voted for: Lee Daniels – Precious
Winner: LEE DANIELS - PRECIOUS

Best Screenplay

I voted for: Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman – The Messenger
Winner: SCOTT NEUSTADER, MICHAEL H. WEBER - (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

Best First Screenplay

I voted for: Scott Cooper – Crazy Heart
Winner: GEOFFREY FLETCHER - PRECIOUS

Best Female Lead

I voted for: Nisreeen Faqur – Amreeka
Winner: GABOUREY SIDIBE - PRECIOUS

Best Male Lead

I voted for: Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
Winner: JEFF BRIDGES - CRAZY HEART

Best Supporting Female

I voted for: Mo’nique – Precious
Winner: MO'NIQUE - PRECIOUS

Best Supporting Male

I voted for: Woody Harrelson – The Messenger
Winner: WOODY HARRELSON - THE MESSENGER

Best Cinematography

I voted for: Roger Deakins – A Serious Man
Winner: ROGER DEAKINS - A SERIOUS MAN

Best Documentary

I voted for: Food Inc.
Winner: ANVIL: THE STORY OF ANVIL

Best Foreign Film

I voted for: An Education
Winner: AN EDUCATION

Someone To Watch Award

Winner: KYLE PATRICK ALVAREZ - EASIER WITH PRACTICE

Producers Award

Winner: KARIN CHIEN - SANTA MESA - THE EXPANING GIRL

Truer Than Fiction Award

Winner: 45365 - BILL ROSS IV - TURNER ROSS

Robert Altman Award

Winner: A SERIOUS MAN

The Official Spirit Awards Viewing Party was held tonight at The Standard in downtown Los Angeles. Arrived about a half hour before the stated party start time, but of course there were a number of people already at the hotel. Having come through the hotel’s front door, I had missed the check-in table, which was located near the parking garage exit (that’s what happens when you take the bus). After receiving my wristband and a Jameson drink ticket, I proceeded up the escalator for the second time within five minutes. As the main viewing area was practically full, I ended up in a separate room where the event gift bags were being assembled. There were only two other viewers when I entered, so I went to the front where the not-terribly-large television was and sat in one of the white leather chairs in the first row. As there was a bartender in the room, I decided to obtain my Jameson drink right away. Had the whiskey with ginger ale on the rocks. During the time (about an hour) before the live telecast of the Spirit Awards at 8:00 p.m., I drank the whiskey and wrote and watched excerpts from previous Spirit Awards ceremonies. Of course more people discovered the room and it filled up rather quickly. One disadvantage in being in this room was that no servers were coming with hors d’oeuvres. So I went in search of food, but was unsuccessful. During the Awards broadcast servers did arrive, but I only had a bit of quiche and a cupcake. My location near the television and not the door was the reason I (and others) were being deprived. Anyway, I was busy keeping track of the winners and enjoying the ceremony. Over the course of the broadcast, people began leaving, but I stayed to the end. Of the thirteen categories in which I voted, I was correct in seven of them or about 54%. That’s fine, I voted for who I wanted to win, not for who I thought would win. Collected my gift bag, left by the front door, and caught the bus home.

Images:
Left: LA Film Fest T-Shirt – gift bag item
Center: Invitation to the Spirit Awards Viewing Party

Right: Scented Candle – gift bag item