Is Winning Everything?

Last week was the SATO 48 Awards Ceremony, and our film 'Mistaken' took home the award for Best Female Performance. The wonderful Melanie Smith, an old friend from high school, came in at the last minute to shoot a couple of scenes with us, and her performance ended up being what tipped the scales for this to be an award winning SATO entry. 

I didn't win an award on that stage Thursday night. Instead, I'm just hanging onto it for a little while, until it gets into the hands of its rightful owner.

A few minutes into the ceremony at the Gillioz Theatre, I realized that 'Mistaken' wasn't going to be the next 'Syringe' (a film I produced a few years earlier that won 5 golden statues). We had been recognized in the area of Sound, but it was clear our film wasn't going to be the front runner of the night.


And then, during the presentation of the Best Female Performance Award, a category that was the furthest thing from my mind, something strange happened.


I heard our film's title.


And I gulped.


I gulped because Melanie wasn't there. It was her moment to be proud of... her moment to be sitting in the theater seat as a nervous wreck, but she wasn't at the ceremony. She had no idea this moment was even happening. And - wait - if she won, THEN what was I supposed to do? 


I turned to my fellow teammates and laughed. "I hope she doesn't win...she isn't here!"


And sure enough, "The award goes to Melanie Smith, for 'Mistaken'!"


And I laughed. And I stood. I looked around. Please be here. Please be somewhere in this room. 


No one else was standing. A few moments later, I was up on stage, accepting an award on behalf of somebody else.


And I felt wonderful.


The award wasn't for me, and I couldn't have been happier about that. Because deep down I knew - if it hadn't been for Melanie showing up, our film wouldn't have gotten finished. 


The three actresses I had secured earlier that month all dropped out at the last minute, and Melanie was our last hope...and she pulled through. If she hadn't been so open and cool about being in the film despite the short notice, then we would not have had an entry this year.  


If anybody deserves a trophy for our picture, it's her...because she saved it.


I didn't win an award on that stage Thursday night. Instead, I'm just hanging onto it for a little while, until it gets into the hands of its rightful owner. 


When she gets it, there won't be a big crowd. No cheering, or applause. There wont be a musical guest or big stage lights. It'll probably be at a McDonalds with a couple of friends...but that doesn't mean I'll be any less thankful.


And I'll take that feeling over anything. Even a statue. 


Congrats, Mel.