THE 8TH GOLDEN MOON AWARDS CEREMONY

THE LOCATION

CMP moves to Venice for the 8th Edition of the Golden Moon Awards. The beautiful Italian city is not only known for the romantic channels, the splendid architecture and the gondoliers but also for its world famous Film Festival, la Mostra. Venice is a Movie City in all senses and it is so more than ever now hosting the ceremony of these prestigious awards at the Palazzo del Cinema.

THE RED CARPET

Stars from past Season and upcoming CMP’s pictures showed up at the Palazzo. Some talents that will be seen during Season 9 in new CMP’s releases were there to enjoy the night.

Walking down the Red Carpet, here are Michelle Rodriguez (‘Reform School Girls’), Katherine Heigl (‘Silver Sable’), GMA Winner Russell Crowe (‘The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three’) and Quentin Tarantino (‘Drawing Dead’) with good friend, director Robert Rodriguez (‘Lobo’s Back’)

















THE CEREMONY

Will Ferrel appears on stage dressed up as the butler played by Steve Martin in ‘The Manor’.

‘So last Season you rewarded a comedian like Jack Black with the Best Actor GMA and this Season you have ignored my magnificent work in ‘Q*Bert’… And you think that’s fair, right?...’

He suddenly starts to speak with an accurate impression of the strange language used by Steve Martin and Emma Thompson in ‘The Manor’.

‘You see… I could have starred The Manor. But no. David Lynch preferred Martin. And why? After all it was a movie nobody got to understand so… why not me? Well, I have a surprise for you…

He takes out from his back a tray and, with a great special effect, Jack Black’s head is on it.


‘Here you have it!’, says Ferrel with an evil laugh. ‘Now what?’ I wasn’t Captain Planet. Ok. I wasn’t in ‘The Manor’. Ok. But, tell me, what comedian are you going to reward tonight? Patrick Stewart? Patrick Stewart, a comedian? Come on…’
‘Will…’, says Black’s head.
‘Yes?’
‘Will, calm down. We all loved your work in QBert…’
‘Did you? Then, how is it that I am not nominated?’
‘You know… Comedians are not lucky at awards ceremonies…’
‘But you won the GMA! Everybody loves you! Please, tell me the truth, do you think I could have been in ‘The Manor’ speaking funny?
‘Sure!’
‘And what about me playing a lead role in ‘Maleficarum’?
‘No doubt. You could have even played Nicole’s role. You are a great actor!’
‘And do you think I could be one of The Avengers?’
‘Hey, if Rose McGowan can, why shouldn’t you?... Now, would you put me back together with my body again?’
‘Just one last question. Who would have looked more sexy as the female Lobo? Diesel or me?’
‘You. Sure, Will, sure…’
‘Ok, you voters, remember my face! Next Season, I don’t wanna return here with a silly costume, right? I want to be right down there, sitting beside Sean Penn and looking as cool as him while I wait to pick up my statue, you hear me? And now, let’s go with the ceremony…’

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Our two first hosts have succeeded in Season 8 with two action adventure movies that have captivated audiences. He made his debut in CMP this Season playing a tormented hero with a faith. She is a veteran in CMP and this Season shot us up all playing a sexy and brave heroine in ‘Bullet Witch’. Ladies and Gentleman, a dangerous couple: James Marsden and GMA Nominee Hillary Swank!


JM: You know, Hillary, I am not sure where did you look more sexy? In Bullet Witch’s poster or right here tonight.

HM: Well, thanks, James. Everything looks better here in Venice.

JM: We are here to honour the best production designs of the Season. Production designers are the guys that define the look of a whole movie: dark, romantic, mysterious, epic… creating the perfect atmosphere for each story. Not an easy task…

HS: But here we have three great examples of brilliant production designs that upgraded the appeal of the movies. And they are…

BULLET WITCH
DR. JONES AND THE CURSED TREASURE
THE NAKED SUN

And the Best Production Design winner is…

BULLET WITCH

Claire Thompson, production designer of the movie, took the award and thanked all voters for supporting her team’s work.

MOST WANTED SEQUEL

They started to work for CMP not long ago but they have rapidly become two recognized stars for the Studio. He starred this Season the engrossing adventure, ‘The Running Man’, and will be coming back next Season with the thriller ‘Killer On The Road’. She played in Season 7 one of the most commented CMP’s scenes ever in ‘The Sex Monster’ and joined this Season the Wild Cards universe in ‘Wild Cards: Double Solitaire’. Mark Wahlberg and Megan Fox!


MW: The importance of sequels in CMP is well known. The Studio regularly develops franchises that become moviegoers favourites. In Season 8, CMP has produced eight sequels. And I am almost sure some day we’ll have the chance of watching a sequel of the three movies nominated tonight.

MF: Hope so, Mark, cause the three of them are wonderful movies that leave you with the feeling of wanting more of it. And they are…

DR. JONES AND THE CURSED TREASURE
PREACHER
THE NAKED SUN

And the winner is…

DR. JONES AND THE CURSED TREASURE

Winston Claypool, executive producer of the movie, took the award and promised that the third Dr. Jones’ adventure will be even better than the two previous ones.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

He was the undisputable triumphant of the past GMA’s edition. He won two awards then: Best Supporting Actor and Best Villain. He was also nominated for Best Director for his wonderful work in ‘Life and Facts of a Dirty Mind’. And here he is tonight: Mr. Bill Murray!

BM: Well, well, well… I remember past edition of the GMA… When I went up to the stage to take my statue, I remember telling Uma: ‘I will be waiting for you at the press room’. Well, here we are again, baby… It was a pleasure to work with you in ‘Life and Facts…’ (sends her a kiss). Anyway, whoever wins, I know for sure a beautiful woman and a talented actress will be with me tonight at the press room cause you all three are, ladies.

Nominees for Best Supporting Actress award are…

ROSARIO DAWSON – The Funeral Drum
SANDRA BULLOCK – The Chinese Bride
UMA THURMAN – The Naked Sun

And we have a winner…

UMA THURMAN – THE NAKED SUN

Uma Thurman said: ‘Bill, I promised you we would meet at the Press Room. I only didn’t tell you you would have to wait for me just one more Season!’. She dedicated then her award to director Brett Ratner and screenwriter Steve Connors.

BEST CAST

This Season, he chased the most dangerous villains as a member of The Avengers. Next Season, he will be chasing again a Chinese dragon in ‘Drawing Dead’, the sequel of the acclaimed ‘3’s and 7’s’. But one of this Season’s main villains was captured by her in the cyber-thriller ‘Netchasers’. Villains, be afraid, cause they are both here tonight: Orlando Bloom and Reese Witherspoon.


RS: Oh, how great it is to be here in Venice… And talking about villans, good luck, Philip! It was a pleasure chasing you! (*Philip Seymour Hoffman waves from his seat*).

OB: Making a movie is a team work. And making a good performance is also a team work. It is very hard to act if you are not surrounded by a good cast. The three nominated movies tonight had splendid casts that inspired for sure the individual acting work of each of their members.

RS: Nominees for Best Cast are…

THE FUNERAL DRUM
THE MANOR
THE THINKING MAN

And the GMA goes to…

THE FUNERAL DRUM

Anne-Marie Reynolds, Cast Director of the movie, expressed her happiness for being able to put up such an outstanding cast for the movie.

BEST VILLAIN

Past edition, she won the Best Starring Couple award together with Frances McDormand for ‘Velcro’. And she was also nominated for Best Actress. In 9th Season, she is returning with a change of mood: from drama to comedy with the upcoming ‘Mary’s Dark Side’. The nice and beautiful Kate Hudson!

KH: Villains are always men. I think only two actresses have ever been nominated in this category: Angelina Jolie, for ‘Westworld’, and Kirsten Dunst, for ‘Misplaced Affection’. And does that mean that men are worse human beings than women? Nop. That only means that men are usually caught in the act while women are intelligent enough to not be discovered when they act badly…

Nominees tonight for Best Villains are…

PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – Netchasers
RON PEARLMAN – Preacher
TIM ROTH – Dr. Jones and the Cursed Treasure

And the favourite villain of the Season is…

RON PEARLMAN – PREACHER

Ron Pearlman came up to the stage and said: ‘If there is any other CMP’s franchise coming up that needs somebody to work with tons of latex and make up on, you know you can always count on me!’

It’s being a thrilling night. So let’s make a pause and relax a bit enjoying the first live music performance of the night. Ladies and Gentlemen, coming directly from the Original Soundtrack of ‘Netchasers’, the White Stripes!


BEST SCREENPLAY

He had a tough Season trying to prove that the woman he loved was not a murderer. But she had an even tougher Season trying to survive to volcanos, pirates and ancient curses. From, ‘The Chinese Bride’, GMA Nominee Matt Damon! And from ‘Dr. Jones and the Cursed Treasure’, Naomi Watts!


MD: Some people think that the best guarantee to be nominated in this category is to have a box office’s flop.

NW: No, that’s not true. Some times, quality movies have a hard time at box office. It is a sign of the times… But if you look at tonight and past nominees for Best Screenplay, most of them worked in box office. There are no rules on the reasons why movies are nominated. It’s people’s choice!

MD: And people chose tonight three talented screenwriters and three wonderful stories to be remembered in this category…

JAMES BRADLEY – The Chinese Bride
JAMES BRADLEY & JOEY STARK – The Funeral Drum
JOHN DAWS – 1066

And the GMA goes to…

JAMES BRADLEY & JOEY STARK – THE FUNERAL DRUM

Both writers came up to the stage. ‘We are happy to announce that Mr. Bradley and I have reached an agreement to share the custody of this statue’, said Stark. ‘Yes, I’ll have it one of each two weekends and half of the Summer holidays’, said Bradley. Stark and Bradley dedicated then the award to the movie director, Michael Mann, ‘who should have been sitting right there waiting for his deserved award tonight’, said Stark.

BEST STARRING COUPLE

They have never starred a movie together. But they should, as both are wonderful talents that would make a great couple with anyone. Directly from his brilliant work in the funny mockumentary ‘The Critic’, GMA Nominee Morgan Freeman! And yes, she is not only a voice but also has a beautiful presence: from the mega-ultra-hyper success ‘The Ice Princess’, Cameron Diaz!


MF: Oh, man, I hope some day everyone will understand that an animated feature may win all kind of awards as well as a live action movie…

CM: I would just be happy if someone at CMP understands that I can do more as an actress than just lending my voice to an animated character (*big laughs*). Just kidding. It was great to be part of such a marvellous movie like ‘The Ice Princess’.

MF: The chemistry worked in an amazing way this Season for these starring couples…

BRUCE WILLIS & PAUL BETTANY – The Naked Sun
JOHN CUSACK & SCARLETT JOHANSSON – The 6th Av. Castaways
KEVIN BACON & JENNIFER JASON LEIGH – The Manor

And you are the Best Starring Couple of the Season…

BRUCE WILLIS & PAUL BETTANY – THE NAKED SUN

Willis and Bettany took the statues. ‘Come on, Steve, write another one for us!’, said Willis. ‘Honey, now we have a cute couple at home!’, said Bettany to wife Jennifer Connelly, standing up his award.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

She made an impressive, moving and funny work as the mother of a lesbian teenager in Season 7’s hit, ‘Lyra’, one of the two movies to reach 7 nominations at the GMA ever together with ‘Pompeii’. And she won the Best Supporting Actress award for it. Jodie Foster!

JF: This has been a great Season for supporting roles both for actors and actresses. So, gentlemen, being here tonight directly means you are such great actors. I really enjoyed your works and your movies. Congratulations.

Nominees for Best Supporting Actor are…

BILLY BOB THORNTON – Maleficarum
DANIEL CRAIG – 1066
KEANU REEVES – The Funeral Drum

And the winner is…

DANIEL CRAIG – 1066

Craig said: ‘No matter box office’s breakdowns, I just hope CMP keeps giving all of us the chance of working in such great movies like 1066’. Then he dedicated the award to Mel Gibson, John Daws and the whole crew of the movie.

We have a surprise for you now. Usually, winners of the previous editions present a category in the next edition. Past Season, Jena Malone won the Best Actress GMA for her splendid work in ‘Lyra’. So we asked her to present tonight an award. But she said no… Instead of that, we have something better from her tonight! Here she is: GMA Winner Jena Malone singing alone with her band!


BEST ACTRESS

If we had a Most Heroic Award, he would have undoubtedly won it tonight. One of the biggest CMP’s stars and one of its main heroes after his work in two productions this Season, ‘Fallout’ and ‘The Avengers 2’. GMA Winner, Robert Downey Jr.!

RD: Sorry, I have to replace past Edition Best Actor winner, Jack Black, here tonight, as the guys from backstage do not know how to put his head and his body back together again.

So… you didn’t vote for ‘The Avengers 2’ as the most wanted sequel, ah? Ok, ok, ok… I love challenges…You don’t want it? You’ll have it! I’m proud to announce right here and now the upcoming of six or seven or maybe eight sequels of The Avengers together with a nice number of spin offs to be determined… (*big laughs*)

In the meantime, here are the deserved nominees for Best Actress. A witch, a survivor and a suspect of murder…

NICOLE KIDMAN – Maleficarum
SCARLETT JOHANSSON – The 6th Avenue Castaways
ZIYI ZHANG – The Chinese Bride

And I’m proud to say that the Best Actress award is for…

SCARLETT JOHANSSON
THE 6TH AVENUE CASTAWAYS

Scarlett looked so happy finally holding the statue in her hands: ‘I just could not imagine another night faking a smile!’, she joked. ‘I have travelled all over the world chasing this statue in so many GMA’s ceremonies. Well, baby, I finally catch you up!’, she said kissing the statue.

BEST ACTOR

She has made a great and successful return to CMP this Season playing a brave woman facing the aliens… or was it a brave alien facing the humans?... in the blockbuster ‘Civilization M’. A CMP’s classic star… Halle Berry!

HB: I always thought I would present this award the day I had previously won the Best Actress award… and that might take long. So thanx, Jena, for singing. Replacing you here makes me feel already a winner tonight.

I admire so much the three nominated tonight. I loved the movies they made this Season. And I’m glad to announce they are…

JOHN CUSACK – The 6th Avenue Castaways
PATRICK STEWART – The Critic
SEAN PENN – The Funeral Drum

And the winner is…

SEAN PENN – THE FUNERAL DRUM

Sean Penn took the award and dedicated it to his loving wife and kids and thanked James Bradley, Joey Stark and Michael Mann for making such a great movie.

BEST DIRECTOR

They may have been forgotten at the nominations. But they sure made a great starring couple in ‘The Thinking Man’. The spontaneous Johnny Depp and the unspontaneous Jim Carrey!


JC: Ok, Johnny, you had Jessica Alba in 'The Thinking Man'… but I got the lead role of the upcoming comedy ‘Bond Scum’…

JD: You know, Jimmy, I’m coming back too next Season. But I will only be starring Tim Burton’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’…

JC: Never mind… I already have a Golden Moon Award at home for Best Starring Couple…

JD: I know, Jim. I’ve got the Best Starring Couple award too, you know. Oh, yes, I almost forgot… And the Best Villain too.

JC: Damn it! Hey, Ted Froats, what the hell are you doing out there in Iraq, man! I need Froats back to write me another musical so I can win another GMA! Come on, Obama, bring the boys back home! (*standing ovation*)

JD: Nominees for Best Director are…

ANG LEE – The Chinese Bride
MEL GIBSON – 1066
SOFIA COPPOLA – Maleficarum

And the winner is…

SOFIA COPPOLA – MALEFICARUM

Sofia said she was so grateful to have had the chance of working with such amazing talents like Sean Penn, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Costner, Billy Bob Thornton, Alexander Gould, Jordan Claire-Green and particularly screenwriter David Makalaster.

BEST PICTURE

This Season, John Daws announced the ending of one of the most acclaimed CMP’s sagas. After five movies, ‘Hitman’ came to an end with the death of the iconic and legendary character of John Jackson. And we wanted to pay tribute tonight to a franchise that has been part of CMP almost since the birth of the Studio. So, Ladies and Gentleman, here is with us tonigh Mr. Hitman himself, GMA Winner Colin Farrell!!


CF: It was a honour and a pleasure to be part of the Hitman movies. We fought against some of the toughest villains of the industry…: Paul Bettany, Arnold Vosloo, Ewan McGregor, accusations of plagiarism and religious controversy… (*laughs*). But we made it. Five movies, five hits. Thanks to Tony Scott, John Daws and a big kiss for Keira – I had to do it, baby, you were suffering… - and my two favourite Kates: Winslet and Beckinsale. Patrick, you deserved the award, you are so big.

And now, let’s get to work. The three brilliant movies nominated for Best Picture tonight are…

THE 6TH AVENUE CASTAWAYS
THE CHINESE BRIDE
THE FUNERAL DRUM

And the Best Picture of CMP’s Season 8 is…

THE 6TH AVENUE CASTAWAYS

Writer and Director James Bradley and Producer Ruth Emily came up to the stage and expressed their gratitude to John Cusack and Scarlett Johansson for putting the best of them in the movie. ‘You are the real winners who made this possible tonight’, said Bradley.

And that was all for tonight from Venice!

SEE YOU ALL BACK AT THE 9TH GOLDEN MOON AWARDS CEREMONY SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD!

THE PRESS ROOM

Best Villain, Ron Pearlman

Best Starring Couple, Bruce Willis and Paul Bettany

Best Supporting Actress, Uma Thurman


Best Supporting Actor, Daniel Craig

Best Actress, Scarlett Johansson

Best Actor, Sean Penn

THE HALL OF FAME