This year's BAFTA Craft Awards were distinguished by the presence of Ruby Wax in the role of Hostess, a role which she fulfilled with her usual acerbic wit, hardly bringing credibility and dignity to the occasion. On an evening dedicated to recognising the achievements of the people behind the scenes she succeeded, within the first five minutes, in mocking the video soundman, talking to the chef and doorman of the Hilton, and crawling around the floor of the Ladies 'powder room' ostensibly 'door-stepping' a pig. Once in the hall for the main event she hosted the proceedings with two male stooges, or 'studs' who became the butt (no pun intended) of many of her jokes, when other celebrity presenters were not actually making a presentation. All very jolly, cozy and bearable until one realised that this was going to be the content of the BBC2 transmission the following evening.
Those who had access to the BAFTA programme would have been aware of the nominations for the individual awards, but no announcements were made and the winners were hustled on and off with almost undignified haste. Why, they might actually want to thank their colleagues but would be in danger of getting in the way of the next bit of Light Entertainment banter between Ruby and her 'guests'!
Lengthy film compilations were shown and long acceptance speeches made, for several worthy Award recipients, directors Roy Battersby and Mike Leigh, animator Nick Park, and Academy Fellow, Jeanne Moreau; all more suited to the Awards Evening of a week later. These, together with our Hostess and guest presenters took up the bulk of the TV transmission. So what happened to the Craft Awards? Over three quarters of the Nominees in both Film and Television failed to get public acknowledgement of their achievements on what was after all, the occasion specifically for that purpose.
There is a TV audience with a interest in the Film & TV Crafts and there are also plenty of minority TV programmes so why the need to dress up the Awards as a quasi-variety show? Once again the BBC, BAFTA or both chose populist entertainment over the one, and hardly time consuming, annual event that honours the members of our industry.
Miss Wax called us 'the little people' - an opinion seemingly held by some others 'above the line' if choice of presenter and programme format are anything to go by. Well, we are all entitled to our opinions but to patronise and dismiss the Craft base of Film and TV production is short sighted and offensive. Perhaps it is time that the Craft Awards reverted to the internal industry event they once were instead of being used as another opportunity to trot out those all too familiar TV personalities.
Did you see the programme? Were you disappointed in the presentation of the Crafts? Does it even matter? If it does then AMPS can give voice to your opinions and perhaps next year we can do something to reclaim the Craft Awards as our own.