2017 UBCP/ACTRA Awards
Anther Red Carpet rollout! From 6 to 68 years old and everyone in between last Saturdays’ 6th Annual UBCP/ACTRA awards was an all out smash!
As he night started and the actors took their most famous of walks…
The Red Carpet Walk, it was this 6 year old Audrey Wise Alvarez (i Zombie, Arrow, FSM) who stole the hearts of all. A born showstopper this young lady already has quite an impressive career and showed up with class. Her little slippers were gold not red and if she clicked her heels she would stay in one spot already at home in the spotlight. This little apple does not fall far from the tree. Accompanied by her award-winning mom, Kyla Wise (i zombie, Motive, Intelligence, ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’: The TV Show,) Alvarez has a bright future ahead.
Check these two out!! Jacqueline and Joyce Robbins (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Android Employed) If you don’t know these two infamous twins, you’ve been living on an isolated island… which truly is…unfortunate. #Thecoolesttwins #bestfriends #sisterlove! They’ve captivated us on and off the screen for many years now and even after all the award shows, autographs and fame that has come their way, with warm smiling faces they graciously welcomed their fans who just wanted a quick chat and to take a picture along side these two magnificent ladies.
There were many, many highlights to the evening though my most memorable moments were hearing these two ladies speak.
Quotes of the night:
“I wasn’t asked to double a girl,” “I was asked to be one of the boys that day.”
With inequality at its for front it was incredible to hear the words stunt actor Corry Glass – who has broken that common saying that so many woman have heard throughout our lives…’that’s pretty good… for a girl’ Glass, along side Leif Havdale, Simon Burnett and Jon Kralt won for (Best Stunt) for ‘SuperGirl’ (Homecoming).
Glass was asked to double for a MALE not FEMALE because she had the skill. Glass is craving out a pathway for many stunt women to come and how refreshing to hear that on this day it wasn’t male stunt actor vs. female stunt actor is was just who are the best stunt actors to get this job done safely and effectively.
Another one of my favorite quotes of the evening was winner of the Lorena Gale Woman of Distinction Award, Veena Sood, A 30-year veteran of the entertainment industry.
“It didn’t matter what the color of my skin was because I knew who I was inside.”
I don’t pretend to know what the struggle feels like for any woman not of Caucasian decent. I can only empathize and join the fight against racism. Though I don’t share in the same experiences, Soods’ words inspired me still. Motivating me as woman, an actor, to be proud of who I am on the inside. To show this world and this industry my beauty and power within because there’s more that meets the eye. Sood took something negative turned it into positive and then within one sentence removed the racial perspective and up lifted the spirits of the entire audience as one community – Actors.
I am a huge fan of these two women who were completely modest as to just how far their inspirational reach goes.
The evening was a room sharing in laughter with the hilarious Host Rukiya Bernard (Van Helsing) who performed her re-written version of Justin Biebers’ song ‘Despacito’ calling it ‘Desperate Ego’s!’ Readers, I’m sure you can appreciate the irony as well as the concern that spread throughout the room full of us actors – wondering ‘is that song about me?!’ Cleverly done.
Congratulations to the winners!!!
Tammy Gillis (Best Actress) for her role in ‘Menorca’, Adrian Homes (Best Actor) for his role in ‘19-2’(Gone), Simon Burnett, Jon Kralt, Leif Havdale and Corry Glass (Best Stunt) ‘Supergirl’ (Homecoming), Rebecca Husain (Best Voice) for her voice in ‘Beat Bug’ (With a little help from my friends), and for (Best Emerging Performer) Adam DiMarco for his for his role in ‘Marrying the Family’.
Thank you to all the sponsors and organizers of this event!
I heard whispers throughout the night that maybe we should have two in the year…just sayin’.
One Last Congrats: To all the nominees and all actors in attendance – keep pounding the pavement, it’s bound to break through!
Elizabeth Lavender (actor reporting)
Robbin’s Twins Audrey Wise-Alverez, Kyla Wise
