Thursday, January 15, 2009 Seares: Accepting a Globe or an Oscar By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
WHAT'S in winning a Golden Globe or an Oscar, two most prestigious awards for film and TV, that makes actors blab in near-idiotic chatter?
Not every winner does. A few are prepared with well-crafted words. Most bring a list of people to thank, pretty much like a grocery or laundry list.
But when they talk before a world-wide multi-million audience, some freak out.
In last Monday's Globe awards, Kate Winslet still had some shred of control when she accepted the best supporting actress trophy ("The Reader"). But when called for the best actress award ("Redemption Road"), she flipped.
Behavior gurus can tick off reasons why a person with huge amount of stage presence turns into a wreck: mammoth audience, award's weight (not size of trophy but impact on career), and capacity of the unexpected to unnerve.
Shattering
As one gets the greatest honor one hopes for but expects least, the moment is shattering. Kate Winslet was voted Best Actress over such icons as Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie. How could she be cool?
Winners in a daze prattle about loving an entire nation (Charlize Theron, awarded for "Monster," loved all of South Africa) or remembering the dead (Gwyneth Paltrow, for "Shakespeare in Love," named deceased kin).
Can there be gems amid general hysteria? Grace Kelly, for "Country Girl," said "This is one night I wish I smoke and drink." James Cameron, for "Titanic," said "I'm the king of the world."
If only Globe and Oscar winners, while thanking people, shun or kill on sight worn-out adjectives. The relief it will give the audience will be amazing, incredible, unbelievable.
