A long dry spell
How long has it been since you last went to a big party, a gala event, with dozens or hundreds of people? Covid-19 has dominated our lives for most of 2020, and social interaction is at an all-time low. All of the major events went virtual in 2020, except for those prior to the lockdowns.
Like many people, I love a good gala! I was expecting to celebrate at several this year, but instead I learned how to use Zoom for meetings, sort-of-live music and theater, and for fundraisers. It wasn't the kind of tragedy that has befallen 300,000 of my fellow Americans, but let's face it, many of the changes in our lives have created unwanted anxiety.
My last (or most recent) gala was the Annie Awards in Los Angeles in January. The Annie Awards for excellence in animation honor the outstanding work of artists, voice actors, studios and producers among others, and the event is one of my favorite. It was held in Los Angeles at UCLA's Royce Hall, and more than 1,000 attendees enjoyed a great awards show followed by a wonderful outdoor buffet. I've been to the Annie Awards several years in a row, and I love talking with some of the most creative people in film, and some of the most interesting actors who are usually never seen in their films.
If the Academy Awards are the Super Bowl of film awards, the Annies are high school football. So many people are involved in designing, storyboarding, drawing, painting, assembling, and providing voice and sound for an animated feature film that each of the nominees is often represented by several dozen cheering supporters, young and old. The atmosphere is electric! And for many, it's their first-ever gala, their first opportunity to get dressed to the nines since high school prom. I love them all!
One fun feature of the Annies (and several other events I attend) is that the red carpet eventually becomes very democratic. At the beginning, of course, only the stars and nominees walk the carpet, with attention from dozens of media reps. But after the show, anyone can get their photo taken on the red carpet (including me!).
It was fun watching Margaret Kerry being interviewed. She was the model for Tinker Bell in Disney version of Peter Pan, and later the voice of "Clutch Cargo," a woman with amazing talent and versatility.
The Annie Awards evening was magical, the first (I thought) of many this year. I had no idea we were in for a long, dry spell. My sincere hope is that the availability of vaccines will return the nation to health, and make events like this possible sometime in 2021. I'm working on a calendar of in-person gala events. As of this writing, the first on my list is in September, which seems prudent, and I hope not optimistic! I hope to see you soon!
Edie
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