By Ryan Pearson, Entertainment Writer
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) --Bradley Cooper, Spike Lee, Olivia Colman and other Oscar contenders kicked off Hollywood’s 2019 awards season with an emotional trip to the desert city of Palm Springs.
The Palm Springs International Film Festival gala was a familiar setting for Cooper, who received director of the year honors on Thursday. He had presented the same trophy to his “Silver Linings Playbook” director David O. Russell six years ago, and filmed key “A Star is Born” scenes in the area.
First-time director Cooper choked up while thanking co-star Sam Elliott for his “blind faith,” saying, “It’s just a testament that if you believe in something so strong and you’re willing to work tirelessly, you can get great artists like Sam Elliott.”
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” star Melissa McCarthy and “The Favourite” star Colman both held back tears when talking about their husbands on stage.
Lee, winner of a career achievement award, recounted his early ambitions after being introduced by his “BlackKklansman” stars John David Washington and Adam Driver.
“Growing up in public school in Brooklyn, I would sit in the back of the class,” he said. “I would practice my autograph. Didn’t take any notes. Just practice my autograph. I don’t know why. But I knew one day I would be signing autographs. So this whole thing, as a filmmaker. I think that I didn’t choose film. Film chose me.”
Emily Blunt heaped praise on her “Mary Poppins Returns” director Rob Marshall.
“If what Mary Poppins does for people is come in and infuse a sense of wonder and hope and joy, well then … you are our Manny Poppins, always and forever,” she said.
Colman made one of the night’s few nods to real-world politics. She called Queen Anne, her character in “The Favourite,” ‘’someone in whom resides all the madness, frustration, confusion and instability of a powerful person unfit for their job. I don’t know if you know of anyone like that.”
“Green Book,” a race-focused story set in the 1950s and inspired by a true story, was given the Vanguard Award at the event. On the red carpet, star Viggo Mortensen pushed back against what he called “extremely unfair” recent media reports questioning the historical accuracy of the film.
Honorees at the black tie optional gala dinner will be seeing plenty more of each other. All the individual award winners are also nominees at the Golden Globe Awards, to be held Sunday in Beverly Hills..
AWARD RECIPIENTS
Icon Award
Glenn Close
The Wife
Sony Pictures Classics
Breakthrough Performance Award
Rami Malek
Bohemian Rhapsody
Twentieth Century Fox and Regency Enterprises
Spotlight Award, Actress
Melissa McCarthy
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Vanguard Award
Green Book
Participant Media, DreamWorks Pictures and Universal Pictures
Sonny Bono Visionary Award
Alfonso Cuarón
Roma
Netflix and Participant Media Present, A Netflix Original Film, Produced by Esperanto-Filmoj
Director of the Year Award
Bradley Cooper
A Star is Born
Warner Bros. Pictures, Live Nation Productions and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures
Chairman’s Award
Regina King
If Beale Street Could Talk
Annapurna Pictures, PASTEL and Plan B Entertainment
Career Achievement Award
Spike Lee
BlacKkKlansman
Focus Features
Desert Palm Achievement Award
Olivia Colman
The Favourite
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Spotlight Award
Timothée Chalamet
Beautiful Boy
Amazon Studios, produced by Plan B Entertainment in association with Big IndiePictures
Ensemble Performance Award
Mary Poppins Returns
Walt Disney Pictures
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More