Stars talk of writers strike, relax at this year's AFI Award lunch
No winners, no long speeches, just lunch and clips
|
Print
E-mail
share
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Talk of the writers strike buzzed around a Four Seasons ballroom Friday as George Clooney, Javier Bardem and other stars gathered for a no-pressure awards lunch hosted by the American Film Institute.
The AFI Awards honored 10 films and 10 television programs of 2007, as selected by juries that include critics, academics and others in the industry. There were no winners or losers, and no acceptance speeches - just a lunch of Lake Superior whitefish, truffle herb mashed potatoes and chocolate cake.
The awards are among several traditionally low-key Hollywood gatherings that are getting a bump in attention this year because glitzier events like the Golden Globes have been toned down.
Attire was mostly business casual, there were only a handful of photographers and the only TV cameras there were shooting for AFI.
Producers, directors and actors from each honored film and show sat at tables together to watch clips and listen to AFI's "rationale" for each pick.
Critic Leonard Maltin read out the reasoning for each movie, and AFI trustee Rich Frank did the honors for the selected TV shows.
"It's relaxing," said Hal Holbrook, whose supporting performance in "Into the Wild" has won wide acclaim.
"This was nice. You don't have to sit around waiting for somebody to call your name. That was tough the other night at the Critic's Choice."
Tilda Swinton, wearing a loose linen dress, said she was grateful for the no-competition atmosphere.
"This is great. This is the way it should be," said Swinton, who plays a corporate lawyer in "Michael Clayton."
"Maybe it'll start a trend."
The writers' strike topped AFI's list of moments of significance from 2007.
"AFI looks forward to the day when a new business model will form, and an artist's work will rise above the numbers," said Bob Gazzale, the organization's president and CEO.
Former Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Frank Pierson said it had been "a very difficult year" and praised the honored films for showing that "the artists and the businessmen have done it again together."
The AFI Awards honored 10 films and 10 television programs of 2007, as selected by juries that include critics, academics and others in the industry. There were no winners or losers, and no acceptance speeches - just a lunch of Lake Superior whitefish, truffle herb mashed potatoes and chocolate cake.
The awards are among several traditionally low-key Hollywood gatherings that are getting a bump in attention this year because glitzier events like the Golden Globes have been toned down.
Attire was mostly business casual, there were only a handful of photographers and the only TV cameras there were shooting for AFI.
Producers, directors and actors from each honored film and show sat at tables together to watch clips and listen to AFI's "rationale" for each pick.
Critic Leonard Maltin read out the reasoning for each movie, and AFI trustee Rich Frank did the honors for the selected TV shows.
"It's relaxing," said Hal Holbrook, whose supporting performance in "Into the Wild" has won wide acclaim.
"This was nice. You don't have to sit around waiting for somebody to call your name. That was tough the other night at the Critic's Choice."
Tilda Swinton, wearing a loose linen dress, said she was grateful for the no-competition atmosphere.
"This is great. This is the way it should be," said Swinton, who plays a corporate lawyer in "Michael Clayton."
"Maybe it'll start a trend."
The writers' strike topped AFI's list of moments of significance from 2007.
"AFI looks forward to the day when a new business model will form, and an artist's work will rise above the numbers," said Bob Gazzale, the organization's president and CEO.
Former Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Frank Pierson said it had been "a very difficult year" and praised the honored films for showing that "the artists and the businessmen have done it again together."
Comments