California Film Awards

This weekend I went down to San Diego to accept my award at the California Film Awards. I really had no clue what to expect about the event and it turned out a much bigger deal that I anticipated.

My favorite thing about driving to San Diego is passing through San Clemente where I some day want to live in this big white house on the hill. I have talked about it before, but I picked this house out as my future home when I was 16.

My house is the one in the middle with the columns.

I stayed with my friend Alex in San Diego. Poor guy was sick with a bad cold, so he didn't feel up to going to the awards dinner with me. I appreciated his hospitality anyway!

Sooo... the actual awards. The banquet was held at the Bahia Resort in Mission Bay. It was too bad it was dark because the resort is right on the water and I could tell the grounds were really pretty.

There were about 150 people at the awards dinner, and I would say they gave out about 30 (maybe more) different awards in different categories. Everyone was dressed in suits ties and fancy dresses. They served an excellent dinner of salmon, chicken, and mashed potatoes, but the chicken kind of scared me a little because the skin was still on. It was open seating and I sat at a table with a whole bunch of different people, all trying to network for their next project. The table had two student film makers, a screen writer, a director, a composer, an actor, as well as some entourage. I think I was the only person in the room who didn't plan on having a career in film.
In the spirit of doing one thing a day that scares me, when I accepted my award I was expected to say a few words. I had briefly thought over what I would say, just in case, but I didn't actually think I would get a podium and a microphone in my face. So, in the spirit of acceptance speeches, I thanked the CA Film Awards for the award, the Wil Devils because without them, I wouldn't have had a story to tell, and my dad for submitting my film for me. Everyone found this hilarious and laughed when I said that. Ha... just telling the truth!
The picture is a little dark because of the dim lighting and weird flash issues, but that is me accepting my award.

I was surprised how many legit film makers and people with actual film dreams were in the room. I felt like I fit in because I knew I had worked hard on my project, but at the same time I really didn't fit in because everyone was talking about their producers and budget, cast and crew, and I was a one women show who was just trying to graduate. In one person's speech he said that you don't have to go to film school to win a film award, and it made me laugh because I am living proof of that.

After the awards ceremony (which took forever with all the speeches, some more amusing than others) they took pictures of everyone with their awards on the mini red carpet. Pretty cool.
Me with my Gold Level award in the Student Category.
Here I am with a fellow student winner. He was telling me about how hard film school was for him and how stressed out his movie made him, and then he felt like an idiot because I made a movie and won an award with no film experience or qualifications. I laughed with him because I wasn't sure how to take it that comment.

Now, I am going to look for a frame for my award. I never imagined Dear Devils would be known for anything outside my personal circle, but clearly that is not the case anymore.

Checking making an award winning documentary off my Bucket List.