So the Screen Nation Awards 2011 came and went (The SNA’s celebrate the achievements of culturally diverse talent in Film and Television, which include home-grown British talent as well as talent from around the world)
My favourite thing about this particular award show is the celebration of actors of the past, present AND the future, there was a lot of new & emerging talent in the building and just watching the way they interacted and genuinely celebrated each other made me smile inside
LOL. In such a competitive industry there was a very apparent and sincere spirit of camaraderie in the air, winners & nominees alike championed one another in earnest (...and yes I know they’re actors but it was all very believable)
The crowd got warmed (Read: heated) up by young comedian Kevin J who did a short set and then the show got down to business. This year’s stellar line-up of Screen Nation Award winners included two guys I have all the time in the world for; the very talented, very humble and very on their A-Game actors Nonso Anozie (who won Male Performance in TV) & Arinze Kene (Winner of the Favourite Male TV Star)
Other notable winners of the night included Sir Trevor MacDonald OBE who was very fittingly presented (via satellite) with the Edric Connor Inspiration Award by the lovely Charlene White (ITV News) Clarke Peters – Outstanding Achievement Award, Clint Dyer - Male Performance in Film, Sherrie Silver – Female Performance in Film, Tameka Empson – Favourite Female TV Star, Daniel Kaluuya – Young Shooting Star, Tinie Tempah – Favourite Music Video Performance, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – Favourite West African Female, The Mirror Boy – Independent Spirit Film Production and Best West African Film, Majid Michel – Favourite West African Male, Luther – Diversity in Drama Production & Anuvahood – Favourite Urban Movie.
Stand out personalities on the night for me were Eddie Nester who (unintentionally) kept us laughing with his upfront, signature tell-it-like-it-is style of commentary. He made every glitch seem like part of the action and helped keep things moving smoothly. The ever disappearing Gina Yashere had me in actual hysterics she was on top form, and Temaka Empson (I’m belly laughing right now) now this woman literally made a song & dance of her acceptance speech and showed us exactly why she’s going straight to Hollywood.
I came over all proud when the people behind OH-TV and the guys behind ‘The Mirror Boy’ took to the stage, both camps gave very brief, uplifting speeches and passed on words encouragement.
It’s so good to see the careers of emerging actors, production companies, directors etc blossom before our very eyes – and it’s even better to be able to celebrate alongside them but let’s not forget people, we also need to support continuously as when the when the festivities are over it’s business as usual. Clarke Peters who won the Outstanding Achievement Award offered a brilliant summary of the evening (he worded things a lot more eloquently than I am about to) the general gist went something along the lines of - ‘us’ being relatively new in this industry, everything’s a matter of trial & error and as with any other event there were glitches and mishaps but it happens, let’s scold each other in love and continue to champion one another and just keep it moving.
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