Governors Awards March 2022

Friday night’s Governors Awards were very special, and very different from years past. We had per usual announced four recipients in advance. These stellar individuals may not have received an Oscar yet, but their body of work is so deserving.This year, we were able to quickly agree on the four – Samuel Jackson, Elaine May, Liv Ullman, and Danny Glover.

However, the normal timing is for the gala to take place at the very beginning of the Oscar season. Therefore, all the stars from every conceivable nominated film come, and naturally the focus tends to be very much about them.

This year, due to covid, we had to delay and it took place just days before the actual televised Oscars. With voting done, there was no campaigning and therefore fewer stars (except for the four presenters of the honorees, namely Denzel Washington, Bill Murray, John Lithgow, and Alfre Woodard). Also, the size of the room was intentionally reduced. The result was a more intimate, heartfelt gathering. Each of the recipients gave an incredibly soulful speech, and we all learned so much about their lives off the screen as well as on.

For us governors, it was one of the first times we were able to gather in person. I so enjoyed meeting many of the new governors that I had only gotten to know as a frame on zoom, and hugging the ones I already know. I am always struck by the genuine camaraderie and mutual appreciation that exists in our film community. We all love what we do, and we know we can’t do it alone.

Only at the end, my good friend and plus one, Lisa Henson, reminded us to take a picture. So here we are waiting for our car. I simply cannot remember to take photos while in the moment.

The other photo was with two of my favorite staff people at the Academy – Jeanell English and Tom Oyer. They are some of the most dedicated, hard-working angels in the biz.

(p.s. Thank you, Prabal Gurung, for the dress.)