By Screen Illawarra chair Nick Bolton, Finding Addison executive producer and actor
It’s 4pm, two hours till showtime, on Saturday, February 10 when we receive a text from the organisers with our seat numbers. They are close to the front and on the aisle, which means… easy access… to the stage… Surely not, we couldn’t win could we? Why else would they seat us here?
It’s the Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts (AACTA) Awards, aka the Australian Oscars, and our film, Finding Addison, is nominated for Best Short Film.
Held at the House of the Arts, or HOTA, on the Gold Coast, the AACTA’s are split into two events – Industry Awards on the Thursday and the Actors Awards on the Saturday night – the Margot Robbie and Cate Blanchett night. Industry conferences, film screenings and networking opportunities take place on the Friday and Sunday.
After a few glasses of champagne at our hotel while the girls have their make-up done, we walk up to security, show our passes and before we know it, we are on the red carpet.
At least we thought we were, until, as nominees, we are ushered onto another red carpet, faced by a wall of photographers.
About a thousand incredibly well-dressed people flock to the foyer as champagne and canapes are handed out. I feel hopelessly underdressed. It’s incredibly overwhelming and disorientating. Lots of tiny quick conversations. Our group all lose each other regularly, only to bump into one another again.
It's now 5.45pm and we are being ushered to our seats. The stage looks amazing with its oversized awards and LED screens. The who’s who of the screen industry is in this room.
We receive our programme and guess what, our award is up first. Best Short Film. Now our hearts are really pumping.
But first, a lovely Welcome to Country, and then AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella welcomes us before MC Harry Connick Jr opens proceedings.
Before we know it, the two Kates, McLennan and McCartney, the brilliant creators of Deadloch, are introducing our award nominees. Our trailer and poster are on the big screen. What the???
“And the winner is Finding Addison.”
Time ceases to exist. Sound is warped. Breathing and walking suddenly seems hard as we head up onto the stage and look out to the huge audience and TV cameras. Fran somehow manages to do a great acceptance speech and we are ushered off stage with our very heavy gold statue.
Backstage I vaguely recall the three of us hugging each other, hugging Damian, shaking hands with lots of strangers, more photographers and being walked down long, dark corridors backstage, to a media room and more photos. But it's utterly surreal and a blur.
And then we are ushered through a set of doors and we are back in the foyer, which is now completely empty. The three of us burst into laughter and float, not walk, float towards a sofa where we just sit in the eerily quiet, cavernous foyer for about 10 minutes in total disbelief, soaking it all in.
We head back into the awards ceremony and I pick up my phone from under my seat. It’s gone berserk with texts and social messages from friends and family. The next two hours sat in the dark having won an AACTA are very surreal. My body was there but my head and heart were elsewhere.
West Wollongong composer Damian Lane is sat behind us and he wins Best Original Score in a Documentary for The Dark Emu.
And then we’re getting to the big awards and our good friend, Austinmer’s Anousha Zarkesh, is up for two nominations in Best Casting in Film and she wins for Shayda. Illawarra Film Society is screening Shayda soon. Go and see it.
For the first time, Screen Illawarra members have picked up three awards at the Australian Oscars. Just nuts.
At the end of the ceremony, all the winners are invited onto stage for a group photo and then we are out into the foyer, thronged by friends wishing us well.
The after party is outside in a big marquee with free bar, DJs and the like, and the party is in full swing. It's amazing how popular you become with a statue on your table!
We leave about midnight and head back to our hotel for a nightcap. The bar is closed! Well, if you can’t order room service when you’ve just won an AACTA, then when can you?! Ringing my Dad and brothers in England is particularly special. At about 2am, the adrenalin finally starts to wear off and having lived out our dreams, we sleep the sleep of sleeps.
Until 5am when the phone starts ringing again…
Finding Addison
Written, directed, acted and produced by Francisca Braithwaite at Blue Sparrow Entertainment.
Director of Photography and Executive Producer, Jess Milne at TEN ALPHAS FILMS
Executive Producer and actor, Nick Bolton at TEN ALPHAS FILMS
Fran, Jess and Nick would like to thank the cast, the crew, crowdfunders, investors, supporters, family and friends for their support throughout Finding Addison’s journey. This award is for all of you.
A screening in Wollongong will take place in the next month or so.
Visit Screen Illawarra for more information.
