SAG Awards honors women and spotlights #MeToo movement

World Today

24th Annual SAG Awards - Press RoomThe cast of “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” pose in the press room with their awards for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture at the 24th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) consists of 160,000 members and they honored their own in television and film on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

This year, there was a different twist to the show and it had everything to do with the growing movement for the fair and equal treatment of women.

CGTN’s May Lee was there and has the story.

Women took center stage at the 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards and there were a few firsts. The show, for the first time, had a host and that role went to a woman.

“We are living in a watershed moment in time, and as we march forward with active momentum and open ears, ” said host Kristin Bell. “Let’s make sure we are leading the charge with empathy and diligence because fear and anger never win the race,”

Every award was given out by a woman, which is also a first at the SAD awards. It was an intentional nod to the movement against sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood and beyond.


Image Gallery from the SAG Awards 2018

Recipients of the SAG award are chosen by other performers in both television and film, so it’s truly peers recognizing peers.

Some of the night’s big winners in TV were the drama “This is Us”, taking home the actor for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series and best male actor.

In an emotional speech, Sterling K. Brown said, “People call us weird and strange — the truth is everyone is weird and strange and we just embrace ourselves for who we are.”

Also in television, the miniseries “Big Little Lies” took home 2 Actors. Alexander Skarsgard won best male actor and Nicole Kidman took home the best actress award.

In film, Gary Oldman won his first SAG award for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour”. Allison Janney, who won four SAGs for her role in “The West Wing”, won best supporting actress for “I, Tonya”.

And like the Golden Globes earlier this month, the film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” won top prizes for Outstanding Performance by an ensemble in film, Frances McDormand won the best actress and Sam Rockwell clenched best-supporting actor.

Sam Rockwell saluted his co-star and women in his speech. “Frances McDormand, you’re a powerhouse, I’m in awe of you. And I stand shoulder to shoulder with you and all of the incredible women in this room who are trying to make things better. It’s long overdue.”

A concrete step to make things better was announced during the show, a result of the #metoo and Times Up movements.

Actress Brie Larson said, “We’re so excited to say with collaboration of Times up and your union members here in this room, there will be a new code of conduct to ensure there’s safety on set.”

And Hollywood legend, Morgan Freeman was given a lifetime achievement award for his long and storied career.

The end of the SAGs means there’s just one more major event in this year’s awards season and that is the Academy Awards.

They will take place March 4th and the nominations came out this Tuesday.