Jane Fonda received an honorary award – settled with her own industry – VG

The renowned climate activist and actor received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at this year’s Golden Globe Awards for his unique contribution to the film industry.

– We are a society with storytellers, and in turbulent times of crisis, like this one, telling stories has always been fundamental, opened the speech of thanks.

Because the speech had a clear common thread. Storytelling.

He praised his colleagues with such films as “Nomadland”, “Ramy”, “Minari”, “Small Ax”, “Judas and the Black Messiah”, “I Might Destroy You” and “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”.

She believes that these films have helped her better understand “how vulnerable the land we live in is”, “what it is like to be Muslim in the United States”, “the reality of immigrants arriving in a new country”, how ” see sexual violence in a whole new way ”and that they have“ strengthened empathy for what it means to be black ”.

Then he turned his gaze to the industry leaders.

– It is a story that we have been afraid to see and hear even in this industry. The story of which voices we respect and promise, and which we choose to ignore. It’s about who sits at the table and who stays out when decisions are made, he said.

He spoke to the entire industry, but emphasized that he wanted the message to reach those who decide who gets the roles, who decides what gets done, and who wins awards.

– I think it simply means recognizing reality, being in tune with diversity and everything that happens for those who have marched and fought for this in the past. Those who have picked up the baton today. After all, the storytellers have not only always been in sync with the story, they have also led the way. So, let’s be leaders, shall we? Then everyone’s stories can be seen and heard.

The deal comes after the LA Times revealed that among the 87 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which is behind the Golden Globe award, no one is black.

The Cecil B. DeMille Award has been awarded since 1952, but Fonda is only the 17th woman to win.

Fonda, known for 1971’s “Cloth”, 1978’s “Homecoming”, and more recently “Grace and Frankie” and “The Newsroom,” used much of his thank you speech to talk about the importance of storytelling.

– Stories can change our thoughts and feelings, they can help us see ourselves in a new light. Stories can help us understand, despite the divisions in our country, that we are first and foremost human beings.

She made references to the religious personalities of Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad.

– They all speak to us in stories, poetry and metaphors, because they speak to us in a different way. It opens us up, creates a new energy that penetrates through our defense mechanisms, so that we can see and hear what we may have been afraid of. Stories can change us.

P.S! Director Chloé Zhao received the Best Director Award for her film “Nomadland.” It also won the award for drama film of the year. This is the first time that a film directed by a woman has won the most prestigious award, writes Variety. She also became the first Asian woman to win the best director award.