Academy honors Cicely Tyson, Kathleen Kennedy – Variety



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Things were a little different at this year's annual Governors Awards Gala, the Academy of Arts and Film Science Gala, during which Honorary Oscars are presented to industry icons. of the film.

Instead of being held two Saturdays before Thanksgiving, the ceremony took place on Sunday just before the day of Turkey due to scheduling conflicts at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood. For the first time, a DJ provided the tunes at the cocktail party. And, like many events last week, the red carpet has been reduced to photos, only out of respect for the victims of the California wildfires.

"This devastating fire so close to our homes and those of our friends has brought us closer in a special way," said the president of the academy. John Bailey said in his opening remarks adding, "Many thousands of our American compatriots are homeless and live in tents. Nearly 1,400 people are still missing. Our thoughts of love go to all those who are affected [in northern California] and here. And our thanks to firefighters and first responders, many of whom are still on the front line. Tonight we could show our support for the victims of the fires in recent weeks. When you ask them for help, be generous. "

After the mixed and mixed guests and unofficially campaign for Oscar nominations during dinner, the Gala turned into a celebration of the 2018 Laureates: Cicely TysonPublicist Marvin Levy, composer Lalo Schifrin, and producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall.

Tom Hanks Levy, 90, is the first publicist to receive an honorary Oscar. "Marvin faces a daunting challenge," said Hanks of Steven SpielbergLongtime publicist. "After years of writings, directors and actors who invest their sweat in a film and without saying too much, Marvin Levy must make sure that the American public wants to give up his precious time and his hard money. won to go see it. A marketing department can make you know a title, but it takes a bit like a storyteller to convince an audience of stories without telling the story. That's what Marvin Levy does. It's his magic. "

Levy's first job in the industry was at MGM, where he worked on "Gigi", "North by Northwest" and "Ben Hur". "I find it hard to believe that this is actually happening," said Levy after having Laura Dern presented him his statuette. "This Oscar is the most exciting and surprising prize I can imagine … It certainly makes me think of all the bosses and mentors who have inspired me throughout the process."

Schifrin, best known for composing the emblematic theme of "Mission Impossible", received his Oscar for Clint Eastwood (they worked together on eight films), but not before the introductory remarks of Kathy Bates. "Let's be honest, without the cool" Mission Impossible "theme, I bet Tom Cruise fails in his mission the first time," said Bates as the audience burst out laughing.

Eastwood began by asking Schifrin to go on stage to "ask him some questions because I do not see the prompter". Once on stage, the two men engaged in fun jokes before Eastwood gave him the Oscar. "You can put it on the front of your car like a Pontiac," cracks the "Dirty Harry" star.

"To receive this Oscar for Honor is the culmination of a dream," said Schifrin. "It's an accomplished mission."

Tyler Perry discussed the importance of Tyson in the African-American community. "She is a queen for us. We prostrate before her, he says. "It's not just because she has chosen the roles she has chosen over the years, because she would only play roles that would have served us as African-Americans. Not only because she is an activist or a philanthropist, but because she was such a good example, an extraordinary woman with a good heart and a good soul. And we honor her to be just what she is.

Tyson, who received his Oscar by Quincy Jones, gave an emotional speech, recalling that his mother was not one to offer compliments or words of encouragement. "Mom, I know you did not want me to do that, but I did it and here it is," she said, raising her Oscar to heaven.

Tyson recalled that shortly after receiving praise from critics for her work in the television adaptation of "The Autobiography of Jane Pittman" in 1974, she had called her mother. "I told him," Good? And she said, "Well what? Remembered Tyson. "I said," You better tell me something. And she said, "I'm so proud of you. "And I think if I had not heard his words, none of this would make a difference to me."

She concluded by saying, "You know, next month, December 19th, I'm going to be 94 years old and I do not know if I would cherish a better gift than this one. It's the culmination of all these years of having and having.

Producers Kennedy and Marshall, who have been married for 32 years, received the final prize of the evening, the Irving Thalberg Award. They are the first couple to receive this honor, and Kennedy is the first woman to do it.

Spielberg remembered having learned that the two men were more than pleasant workmates when he had caught them kissing on his office couch. "From where I was and from what I saw, I'm suddenly the third wheel," he said. "We were still three, but they were two."

Kennedy joked that she did not think she could "get over the couch story."

She recovered very well and urged the industry to embrace diversity and inclusion. "Each of us has an obligation to ensure that all those who have a story to tell have the opportunity that we and many of you have in this room," she said. "And I hope that with the inclusion of these powerful new voices, we will simply be able to bring the world back to its senses and perhaps, perhaps, break some glass ceilings en route . "

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