As you know unfortunately we had to cancel our big awards show – The Toscars ceremony – this year. However, it seems we created a monster and teams wanted to go ahead and make the films anyway. Scaling it back and going back to our bar roots seemed like a perfect fit and Nadia Wit produced a lovely intimate event at the trendy Here lounge in West Hollywood, and honored the show by naming it The Spirit of the Toscars.
As most who were there know, the screening was interrupted momentarily when a gentleman in the audience took ill and stopped breathing. Brits in LA members sprung into action and resuscitated the man until the paramedics arrived within five minutes. I was a life guard in my youth at the local swimming baths and it’s amazing how quickly instinct kicked in. A big Shout Out to Michael Enright who performed CPR, Ali London and Kim Morgan Greene for helping control the situation immensely. I hear the gentleman – only known as Ray – is stable right now and we continue to pray for his recovery.
In the world of showbiz the show must go on but after such an episode it was difficult to play comedy. However, we decided we were going continue for the sake of Ray, as that’s why he was there in the first place and I’m sure he would have wanted us to continue.
Sandro Monetti was this year’s master of ceremonies with a little help from his friends, adult movie actor Ron Jeremy and British comedian David Schall. They managed to keep the mood light and led us into a great end to the evening.
Thanks to all of our 16 judges, comedians and industry professionals who voted in all categories.
All of the films this year were really excellent and very, very funny. Big BirdMan took home the best picture honors and the majority of the awards – six in total including, Best Whactor, Best Supporting Whactor, (which I happened to win) Best Boss, Best Shooter, Best Scribblers and Best Parody Film. Other winners were Immigration Game for Best Tunes, American Snapper for Best Editing, Boy Wood for Best Supporting Whactress and, in a gender-bending turn, Dickie Sanderson took home the award for Best Whactress for With-Lash…a spoof on WhipLash! Let’s see if we can once again predict the big winners at this year’s ‘other’ awards show, the Oscars, this Sunday on ABC, hosted by the very talented Neil Patrick Harris.
A fun night was had by all and thanks again to Nadia for keeping the flame alive and letting us all get to play and be silly! If there was thing we could take away from the night it is that life is too short not to be silly and have fun! – We did it for you Ray – Now concentrate on getting better!
Cheers
Craig
(Kermit: Artwork and photography by Walter Tabayoyong)
cast show (Pic by Kerstin Alm AKA Mammarazi)
ron Jeremy three shot (Pic by Kerstin Alm AKA Mammarazi)
