The Oscar Luncheon is one of the three key Oscar events. First is the Governor’s Ball, which I attended, but took no pictures of. It was great, but since I have no documentation to share, I”ll just move on to the next event, which was the Oscar Luncheon. This is an event where you can take a guest, which is not always the case. So most of these fine pictures are by my wife.
The event itself is at the Beverly Hilton, which we were just at for the Golden Globes. In the lobby, I run into Phil Alden Robinson. Phil is an amazing filmmaker (FIELD OF DREAMS, SNEAKERS, the last TOM CLANCY movie), a deeply committed social activist, and a fun and wonderful person. I never spend as much time with him as I want to. Last time we talked we discussed doing an adaptation of a comic book property together…I think I’ll try again this year.
Anyway, here we are. He immediately got me involved in doing more the Academy, which I’d like to do anyway.
Once you get inside, there’s a line of press and you take a picture with Hawk Koch, who is running the Academy. Hawk has already made some good innovations this year, like making the shorts films available on DVD. This is a great step forward in making the membership able to make an informed vote on all the films.
Inside, the room is cool and blue. There are sexy red drinks everywhere. All the nominees are there. It’s a star studded room.
Lunch seating is assigned, so you don’t sit with the other folks from your movie, which forces you to make new friends, which is good. Turns out the producer of the Oscar nominated documentary HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE is a comic book head too, so we bond.
There’s a black guy in the room I don’t know. In a room with very, very few black people, I can’t believe there’s a guy there I don’t know. So I go meet him. Turns out that Christopher White is ALSO an Oscar nominee for his special effects work on THE HOBBIT. He went to New Zealand ten years ago for a six month gig and has been there ever since. He’s now got dual citizenship. What a success story!
After lunch, they start calling names one by one. When you name is called, you go stand at the amphitheater set up in one corner of the room for the official photo.
The names are called in random order. Not alphabetical, not by film or title. Each person gets applause as they walk up. It’s very dramatic and suspenseful. You don’t when you will hear your name.
It goes on a long time. My fellow producers are up there. Most people are. Not me. I quietly start to panic. Has there been some horrible mistake?
Then…it’s my turn. I step up. The only other time I felt like this is when I graduated from college. We are the class of 2013. It feels glorious.
I stand where they tell me. I look behind me – Robert DeNiro. Then Helen Hunt stands next to me. Then Stephen Spielberg (the last name called) stands next to her.
I feel very good about where I am in my life.
Afterwards there’s mad press by the pool so me and my fellow producers Stacey Sher and Pilar Savone go take pictures and do interviews with different outlets.
At this point we’ve got the three people talking thing down smooth.
People rarely use an interview with a producer –stars and directors are preferred – but we had fun!
Talk about it on HEF – the Hudlin Entertainment Forum
Comment
+ Permalink
Did you know that the first issue of the DJANGO comic book has gone into its THIRD printing? Did you know you can order AUTOGRAPHED copies of the first three issues at www.reggiesworld.com? Well, now you do so order yours TODAY!
Talk about it on HEF – the Hudlin Entertainment Forum
Comment
+ Permalink
Black achievement in Hollywood really isn’t recognized, let alone celebrated as much as you think it is. It’s usually a fight for respect from white institutions and maybe a well intended but poorly executed tribute from black institutions. So when Blackhouse (and black film support organization) and CAA (my new agency) came together to throw this incredibly nice event for me, it was shocking just because it happened. One of the attendees, one of the highest ranking black executives in music, told me he was totally inspired because “this NEVER happens”.
Common, RZA, Sanaa Lathan, Brandon T. Jackson, Jordin Sparks and More Celebrate Reginald Hudlin At "Dinner With Bevy"
Bonus photos!
Verdine White of Earth Wind and Fire, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, me, Ali LeRoi, creator/producer of ARE WE THERE YET? and many other fine entertainments. Thanks for the classy picture Ali!
Congresswoman Waters is originally from St. Louis. My mom used to go roller skating with her sisters.
Old friends and new: So nice to meet Jordin Sparks, who is as sweet as she is lovely and talented; and my old and dear friends Terry and Rebecca Crews. Terry is one of the hardest working men in Hollywood but his positive spirit is the same as it was when he was working as a security guard.
Me giving thanks to everyone who attended. The best part? My mother got a standing ovation!
Talk about it on HEF – the Hudlin Entertainment Forum
Comment
+ Permalink
2013 Oscar nominees Denzel Washington (best actor), Quvenzhane Wallis (best actress) and Reginald Hudlin (motion picture of the year).
Right after I took it, I showed Quentin this picture, and he said “BOP GUN: Black Oscar Power”.
Earlier that week my old Harvard roommates were wishing me luck, which led into a cool conversation about the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. The short version is that anything could be in the envelope until it is opened. I share the observation with others, but Christoph is the only person who gets it…and builds on the notion.
Boom! Christoph wins the first award of the night. I felt like I mentally willed it to be moments before they read it. He knows his way around quantum physics. He gives an awesome speech, one completely keeping with his class, intelligence and wit.
Here’s what’s crazy. Our friends rewound and did a freeze frame of the live shot, shot this screen grab and texted to us in the theatre as it was happening. I love living in the future.
I later find out this is the first of a half dozen times I ended up camera during the show. Sitting near Christoph, Reese Witherspoon and the star of LIFE OF PI worked out well for me.
Quentin’s Oscar. He earned it.
QT, my agent Cameron Mitchell and I strike a pose. After the Award show is over, we hit the Governor’s Ball. We had not eaten since 2pm so thank goodness there was great food from our friends Wolfgang Punk and his wife Galila.
After the Governor’s Ball, we headed to the Fabled Vanity Fair Party. Here is Jamie Foxx with the beautiful daughter. He usually has family with at important events like this.
Jamie is always great with the media. A total entertainer.
We came, we saw, we were seen, we partied. Time to go home, sleep, and get up and start climbing the mountain again tomorrow.
Talk about it on HEF – the Hudlin Entertainment Forum
Comment
+ Permalink
