Hollywood is built on making things up.  Pretending is what they do and authenticity plays only a bit role in a town where to get ahead you have to ‘play the game’.  And playing the game often involves lying directly to a face; in fact this is accepted and expected behaviour.  But I love storytelling and this environment creates films which can genuinely move us to real emotion.  

As the 86^th Academy Awards arrived, like many I started thinking about memorable acceptance speeches.  Not a breeding ground for authenticity but take out the stunts and politics, and the moments we remember are the genuine ones.  Whether it’s the tears (Paltrow), the exuberance (Cuba Gooding Jr, Affleck & Damon and McQueen’s effusive jumping last night), or the sincere gratitude (Hanks, Bullock), it is sharing genuine emotion that moves and touches us.  Still, I didn’t expect to be writing about it here – until this:

 “What I’ve learned is I don’t have to be anyone else,

I can be myself and do extraordinary things like this

that I didn’t think were possible.  You have to allow

for the impossible to be possible.”

 Lupita Nyong’o – Best Supporting Actress

Thank you, Lupita, what a gift.