I started this site exactly 20 years ago, in 1999. To commemorate that, I’ve begun a podcast memoir that talks about the beginnings of the site, my life raising a daughter alone, and covering the Oscar race each year. You can visit it here.
I just want to say thank you to those who helped build the site and the community back then and now. We didn’t know what we were doing, any of us. We didn’t know that someone could create a website that tracked Oscar news 24/7 and that we would attract people from around the world to talk about it 24/7. But somehow it was a need none of us knew we had. And thus, an entire industry has grown around it.
Every so often I hear from someone who came to the site as a teenager and still come to read it and participate in it with us. Even though my daughter is now 21 years old and off at college, I feel, in a way, like the mother or mother ship for all of the lost souls who found their way here — first to Oscarwatch and now to Awardsdaily. You’ve stuck with me through the various evolutions the site has gone through — the most important of which was our co-editor Ryan Adams coming aboard in 2006. Ryan has had to fight for his life for the past two years and has come out the other side an actual Twitter superstar, among other things. As you all know, we could not do without him here so we’re thankful he is here. We’re thankful for his support and focus and generosity as both a friend and as a proofreader (you guys know I can’t spell). So thank you Ryan. We all bow down.
But of course, we had to say goodbye to Jazz Tangcay, our Dorothy who brought so much good cheer and her innate productive spirit to the site, doing things none of us would have ever thought about – like making an Instagram for the site, like making set visits and attending Hollywood events. If you’ve ever done anything with Jazz you’ll know she knows everyone and everyone is somehow touched by her kindness. She’s onto Variety as their Artisans Editor, which is as swanky a job as one could imagine. We’re proud to have had even a small part in that great promotion. We miss her dearly, but we know we’ll never lose sight of her.
In her stead, a mighty force has risen in the ranks – Clarence Moye who has been co-running the TV section for a few years but has now stepped up in all ways we need and appreciate. Probably much to his regret, he’s even become part of the daily emails Ryan and I send back and forth, which range from site discussions to porn to movies to dreams to architecture. After Telluride, Marshall Flores took off in another direction but can still be found on social media here or there, even if he’s taken his leave from Awards Daily. We still thank him for all of his proofreading, analysis, and contributions to the podcast and the site for many many years. We don’t do many things right in life or on this site, that’s for sure, so losing both Jazz and Marshall in the same year was, well, in typical fashion for someone deemed a “fuck up” going all the way back to high school. But you know, life is choices.
And to the other rising stars on this website that you’ll be hearing a lot more from now that we’re combining film and television arenas. If you don’t know her already, Megan McLachlan is like an actual romantic comedy heroine walking around in the world. You’d think someone cast her to play that invincible role but she is really that much the full package — smart, funny, goofy — and mostly, kind and humble. Her sharp and stalwart pal Joey Moser has a really raunchy sense of humor (actually, everyone at AD does, thank god, because if there is one thread that ties us all together, it’s THAT). If you listen to their Water Cooler podcast you already know Clarence, Megan and Joey but you might not know Jalal Haddad, whom I finally got to meet, along with Megan, when Jazz, in her Mary Poppins-like fashion, introduced us at a rooftop bar in L.A. Jalal and my daughter turned out to have a lot in common! He too is wicked smart and very funny and will be doing a lot more prominent stuff for Awards Daily.
And then there’s our film noir hero, David Phillips, who pops in now and again with his great writing for obits and reframes. You’ll be reading a lot more of his stuff too. Though we occasionally clash on Facebook over various topics, he’s a good egg and a devoted film lover with a flair for good writing, just like everyone else that writes for Awards Daily. Thanks to our steadfast friend Dr Rob, who builds the fun and informative Awards Daily Oscar ballot each year, and labors so tirelessly to help us see the inner workings of the preferential ballot in his fascinating charts.
You don’t know this, but for quite some time an angel named Dora Kappou who redesigned the FYC gallery and keeps updating it for us. She literally gets nothing in return and was kind enough to write me and ask me about the local fires a day or so ago. It’s a mostly terrible world and there are terrible people in it but there are also good people who do good things and Dora is one of those.
Where would we be without our intrepid Zhuo-Ning Su who covers Cannes, Venice, and the Berlinale for the site. If you don’t know him, you’d never meet a nicer guy — a terrific writer and someone who really just loves the movies. We thank him for his contributions. Our longtime friend Paddy Mulholland somehow finds time to cover the London Film Festival while attending college in London, with his inimitable insight and irreverent wit.
But really, I just wanted to thank all of you readers out there in the dark — for making this site what it is and for being the reason, quite frankly, I haven’t pulled the plug on it. Your enthusiasm for the Oscars, your passion for movies and the debates that surround them — even when you’re sometimes angry about the opinions written here — are so important and so appreciated. I do feel like we’ve become a family and some of you have lived through all of the years with us — the Chicago year, the Brokeback year, the Departed year, the Social Network year. What a strange thing to have become involved in for half my adult life but there’s no turning back now. We all hacked the weeds and blazed the trail – so until the weeds grow back over it, it’s here to stay.
Wishing you all here in America a happy and healthy Thanksgiving and wishing the rest of our international friends Happy Oscarwatching.
Ryan I had rare priveledge of being in touch with you but even all years we coordinated by email you not once mentioned I shocked to learn you ‘ needed to fight for your life literally or metaphorically? I confused so truly relieved though if you once had a threat to your life health wise right? Perhaps email me mate if you able to u got my other msgs ?
I given a shitload of compliments to this site, the people involved . I never had the priveledge since I been part of awards daily and before that Oscar watch to have an email from sasha
( understandable given the extent of unforgettable concentrated levels of commitment this great online auteur that right Sasha despite fact our views differ quite a bit at a political level no still value the pizazz and class so deeply as we all should manner you handle online criticism of your views your views mindful Lord forbid anyone ever attack anything else about you .)
To me Oscar watch then it evolution to awards daily.com appeared at a time and era I was disillusioned, disenchanted and absolutely turned stone cold shitted off with forums and online communities . From Facebook to at the time msn msngr, even email, even irritable but I reluctantly accept txt msging laziness society on mobile phones, I endured psychological trauma.
Cyber intimidation forms of manipulation I even admit I was naive naive to think every single online site was a screwed up excuse for profits, and abuse. But thank g-d praise hashem for Sasha Stone and Ryan Adams and their evolving team of elite contributors that have some come and gone others building on foundations of success of awards daily.com
Your formula effectively represents way the social media platform should work online and still to this day this site is superior in it precise diverse depth and breadth of opinion pieces and welcome counterpoint to near total lack of integrity and honesty non judgemental society online of liked of ever increasing corrupt greedy fundamental dishonest liars who run Facebook, Google, etc.
You endured as a organisation on your own right you make us majority of your most loyal members feel this is our community we are family we are your ‘ minions you don’t buy our loyalty ( like Facebook seem increasingly do) you don’t manipulate users and blindside them for financial gain you don’t become commercialized .
You have faith in your style and substance Sasha you kept integrity basic formula your like the rebbitson ( or to those who not Jewish equivalent chief minister or imam of church or mosque ) letting quality the wisdom of your spoken word bless us in your presence . Then the power of honesty and depth insight you bless us with you stick with one formula that see successful congregation grow and expand: not marketing not trickery but WORD OF MOUTH.
I said it before I say it again you set bar so high for accountability honesty and sheer character and all round global engagement we all feel part of Sasha and you Ryan both your lives. It quality more precious than raw gems on this earth. It cannot be measured in quantity only superior quality and for us feel we part of your community becomes part of us and our lives is something I never ever forget. And none of us should.
And frankly no online organisation of social media calibre Inc. Google not just farcebook, can ever hope to compete with sheer supreme quality integrity and depth of personality insights and feeling of communal engagement this sight has achieved.
Now I pretty sure my years of genuine compliments I find it pretty damn hard to top this one off. So my feedback next year Sasha can we add a ‘ crossreference ‘ footnote function us users can utilize ? So that if evervi can give a compliment I just say ‘refer to this msg dated such and such. ‘
for record Sasha and Ryan I never ever since my dark twisted days expressed ANY form of gratitude, compassion and high praise on any I mean ANY form of online social site…cos frankly they pale imitations of your site. There credibility to this as truth u know for Oscar watch was established before Facebook close to it anyway even then u streaks ahead of so called ‘ competition ‘ while farcebook loses members the global community reevaluate trustworthiness of Google I would expect amongst us nobody abandons this flying ship. Fly high you reached for sky Ryan and Sasha now it time for you to rule the stars. ( ok we don’t want dictatorship right?:P ) but still world/ universe would be far better more tolerant place with you Sasha as queen of world and Ryan as your senior adviser and your other staff as your loyal subjects ey? Too far? I think not.
Finally to finish as I started to get an email from you Sasha about u thoughts perceptions of my loyalty from almost beginning u insights not through Ryan direct uslf would be greatest priveledge of email behind only my loving partner if 4 years of quality email I keep and treasure certainly not delete. In my lifetime.
Until then Sasha keep soaring this formidable mighty most powerful influential cinematic communal driven flagship with Ryan as your vice admiral for least say another 20 yrs we be extra extraordinarily grateful for that .
How fitting a supreme quality list of Oscar contenders emerging will mark 20th year since you founded this juggernaut.
Perhaps finally finally most enduring phrase from any film fitting way sign off my 20 yr tribute msgs here is simply put from words of ‘ Gladiator ‘ incidentally my first full year on this site that film one best picture thank g-d “….what we do in life there goes an eternity” you know exactly what I mean in directing that phrase to you Sasha .
Kindest regards with some friendly love and deepest gratitude always Aaron
“Ryan has had to fight for his life for the past two years and has come
out the other side an actual Twitter superstar, among other things.”
He’s fully O.K. now, I hope! (And deduce from the wording here.)
“I just wanted to thank all of you readers out there in the dark — for
making this site what it is and for being the reason, quite frankly, I
haven’t pulled the plug on it. Your enthusiasm for the Oscars, your
passion for movies and the debates that surround them — even when you’re
sometimes angry about the opinions written here — are so important and
so appreciated. I do feel like we’ve become a family”
I think we pretty much all feel that way, Sasha. 🙂 And these words mean a lot; to me, at least…
I also love the specific shout-outs to the ADTV gang – they’re absolutely awesome and I’ve always been a big fan!
Hi Sasha, and thank you and all your team for being there. I am being following you since the beginning and actually now I just couldn’t manage without AD. I wish I could be more present in the discussions but you know, the language somtimes is a barriere. Anyway, keep on doing it, I will be always reading your interesting pieces from far away. Vincenzo – Rome Italy
You shouldn’t be reluctant to post just because your English isn’t proficient – that’s never stopped Aaron Reichwald. Not saying you have to, of course (I can also perfectly understand wanting to remain a reader alone, if that’s what you’re more comfortable with), but just that, if you do want to, you probably shouldn’t worry about that aspect too much. 🙂 It’s not a big deal.
Thankyou to the entire AD team! I am so grateful for you all and this site. It has meant so much to me over the years. I’ve been around since the Oscar watch days.
Movies and award season are my biggest passions in life and I’m so glad I’ve been with the award season site pioneers for all these years!
Last night at thanksgiving I was giving my family all tips for what to see right now.. they all want movies to see lists to help them keep up. And boy what a year we are having! I just saw Jojo Rabbit..wow!
As a tried and true awardswatcher, I love this community. I feel at home and safe here. Peter Weir, I know you have a couple more films in you, please return to the fray.
Thanks—-the Oscar race is much more fun because of this site. I remember the first time I heard Sasha’s podcast. I was in my basement watching an NFL playoff game with my husband and stumbled on it after seeing her name on Gold Derby. 🙂
Many thanks to Sasha and the whole community here. I stumbled upon this website later than many here in 2010 when I was still in high school. I was a then still closeted quiet gay film lover who hadn’t yet really come into myself and who didn’t really have a space in the real world to discuss film. It took me until 2012 just as I was leaving school before I got the confidence to start commenting and posting around here but I can honestly say even though it exists in this weird online space where you don’t really have to be yourself finding my voice here helped me with finding my voice in the real world to.
Leaving school many years ago now, coming out, still being in a place where I don’t exactly know where my life is headed I am so grateful for this wonderful community of weirdos because beyond helping me come into myself it now exists as an amazing place to escape to when I want to spend time away from the real world. The more time spent around here the more cynical I get about the Oscars and the Oscar watching game but the people and the movies always keep me coming back.
I honestly don’t know where I would be today without this site and I’m quite certain many others around here feel the same way so thanks Sasha, Ryan and everyone on staff here and thanks to the whole community here. We may occasionally butt heads, we may disagree all the time but the space that this site and it’s community has built is really special and I love each and every one of you for it. Plus much respect to Sasha et al for the brilliant quality of writing on the main articles of the site!
Beautiful words…
Congratulations to you Sasha. It is indeed an important milestone. I’ve been a part of your ‘family” here for more than a decade and so appreciate the way that you and Ryan especially encourage the robust debates that rage on here. It is infectious. It is healthy. It is a discourse and that is invaluable. I would wish another 20 years but that may not be welcomed so suffice to say ‘long may we all shine’ best wishes from Dave down under. 🙂
Happy days are here again everyday I read your well written posts. Congratulations from Spain for this amazing job!!!
Happy Thanksgiving. You guys are awesome!!
https://media3.giphy.com/media/KJ1f5iTl4Oo7u/giphy-downsized-medium.gif
seconded! Couldn’t have done it better. Happy TG to all AD! ♥
That’s brilliant!
Happy Thanksgiving and special thanks for the last 12 seasons I get to be a part of !
Thanks , Sasha for your expert analysis and passion for movies , it’s infectious
Discussing films and making fun predictions has become my number one hobby, and that is 100% because of this wonderful gem of a site. I can’t imagine how I’d spend my free time if it wasn’t around. Thank you so so so much Sasha, Ryan and everyone else involved!!
Happy Thanksgiving Sasha…I know I’ve said it before…but the new podcast…it’s so good. It’s helping me through my transition back to California just like Oscarwatch helped me back in the day. Grateful….
Thank you for 2 decades of dedication, inspiration and friendship.