SAG Awards: I Reveal My Movie Votes

Normally, I wouldn't do this, but I think it's been such an interesting awards season race.  With The Academy changing the timeline of the entire season by announcing the nominations on January 10 this year, it created a ripple effect that has been felt through every show since.  From the Critics Choice Awards to the Golden Globes to last night's Producer's Guild Awards, the crammed nominations period has left many pundits scrambling to guess a few categories.  Normally, we know exactly who is going to win come Oscar night by now.  I love that a few categories still remain open.

When I voted for the SAG Awards on Thursday night, I even surprised myself with some of my choices.  A couple were purely emotional reactions to the film and performance, so I don't believe all of my choices will win.  So will win and should win, while I think others got left behind by stronger campaigns....not necessarily by stronger performances.

I'm just going to talk about the movie categories even though SAG is honoring TV as well on Sunday.

Here were my picks for the SAG Awards:

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:
Argo

I know all bets are on Lincoln in this category and the performances in this movie were excellent.  However, I've said this all season long, Steven Spielberg is not my favorite director.  He makes important films, but I feel like I'm being told as an audience member that it is important and I don't like that.  Argo took me more on an adventure and the juxtaposition between what was happening with Alan Arkin and John Goodman in Hollywood versus Ben Affleck and company in Iran had me riveted the entire time. Argo wins my vote.  Will it win overall?  Hmmm, I would be surprised.  I think the SAG voting body is going with Lincoln. (I wrote this before the PGA Awards were given out and Argo won last night.  It makes me think that SAG could go the same way, especially after talking to a few SAG voters. So here's a good question:   Did the Best Director Oscar nomination snub work in Argo's favor?)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
John Hawkes, The Sessions

This was a purely emotional vote.  I admit it.  He's one of my favorite actors year in, year out.  From Winter's Bone to Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene, I just find him interesting. I loved his portrayal of Mark O'Brien and his true story of finding love even though his body works a little differently than the most of us.  It was a beautiful tale and I loved the sweetness between Hawkes and Helen Hunt.  I'm sorry to see he wasn't nominated for an Oscar this year.  He won't win the SAG Award.  This is Daniel Day-Lewis' award, hands down.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

Okay, I think Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence were both excellent in their respective films, but nothing moved me more this Oscar season than Naomi Watts.  I was haunted by her performance for days after watching The Impossible.  I'm kind of flabbergasted that she isn't in the mix more for that Oscar this year.  In the meantime, Chastain and Lawrence are running neck and neck for the Academy Award.  The SAG Award will clarify who will probably go home with that gold statuette on February 24th.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan Arkin, Argo

I first checked off Javier Bardem for Skyfall.  That was completely a wrong choice.  This category is so strong and everyone is so good in their roles.  No Christoph Waltz to mess with the equation for the SAG Awards, so it will probably be Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln.  I honestly won't be upset if anyone wins in this category, that's how tight the race is.  Arkin just made me love Argo that much more.  He won't win, but he got my vote.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables

Even though she annoyed me at the Golden Globes by hijacking the Les Mis acceptance speech,  I really did love her performance in the film.  This film received so much criticism, but I saw it early before opinions had been formed.  I think she created such sorrow and pain in Fantine and mark my words.....no one else is going home with that Oscar in this category.  As good as Sally Field is, it's not going to happen.

Now, I realize some of my choices are nothing more than pipe dreams, but I voted more for who I wanted to win this year.  Other years, I have voted with who was going to win because the field was locked in so early.

What do you think is going to happen at the SAG Awards?  I would love to hear your thoughts...chime in below!

I will also be hosting a Spreecast immediately following the show at 7:15pm PT/10:15pm ET.  James Molnar of the Toledo Free Press and Gold Knight Blog will be joining me for our immediate reactions.  RSVP and join us live here.


Disclosure:  Clearly, I'm a SAG member who voted in this year's race.  I checked the rules of the SAG Awards and nothing in the rulebook prevents me from revealing who I voted for.  It's probably the only time I will do this, but I thought it might be interesting to get into the mind of a voter during a surprising season.  I chose not to reveal my TV votes, so at least some of my ballot remained private.  

SAG-AFTRA Merger: Exclusive Interview with SAG President, Ken Howard

There is a lot of debate going on in the entertainment industry about the possible merger of the two main actors' unions in Hollywood:  Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists.  The current status is up for vote and I recently turned in my ballot.  I have voted for a merger several times in the past because I felt like the strength of unions has weakened since the 1950's and 1960's.  When the other mergers did not pass, the unions started to compete for contracts ultimately hurting the people they represent:  actors.  Now, as a host, many of my broadcast contracts, including The Web Files, fall under a SAG New Media contract.  While I do have certain reservations about some of the merger points, I did vote "yes" because I do not see any other option in order to keep our union relevant, viable, and strong through the next decade.  Last night, I caught up with Ken Howard, current SAG president, on the red carpet at the 20th Anniversary Alzheimer's Association, "A Night at Sardi's" at the Beverly Hilton. Right away, I hit him with the merger question.  Here is his exclusive response to Red Carpet Report and I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below on this hot topic:

Calling All SAG Actors!

Okay, tonight is the 18th Annual SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards and likely, the last one with this name attached to it since both boards of SAG and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) have paved the way for a merger of the two unions.  I have always loved how SAG opens the show with various celebrities stating "I am a SAG actor" and The Hollywood Reporter often asks actors how they got their SAG card during their roundtable discussions. Well, it's nice, but it excludes the majority of us who represent the union.  I, in fact, am a member of SAG, but I am not an actor.  I am an entertainment reporter and a host.  We even utilized the SAG New Media contract for The Web Files, but I have had my SAG card since 1999 during my days in NY.  I'm thinking it's time we honor the little people too, so indulge me on this idea, please.

So, here's my fun project:  Tell me how you got your SAG card in the comments section below.  I will feature all of the stories at some point this week because it is fun to see what show, commercial, or industrial gave you your official union start and that coveted SAG card.  Make sure to include your name and the link to your website. And don't worry, I will be sharing my story too.  Stand up and represent, SAG.  Let your voice be heard!  Ready, set, go!