I'd like to thank the Academy

I've been so consumed by my agent drama that I've completely neglected sharing my incredible achievement in the craft of acting! That's right folks, I won my first Oscar this past weekend. No, stop, let me thank you.. For what? Shhh...
    First I'd like to thank the academy and their DVD-screeners, because without them I wouldn't have seen half the nominated films. I'd like to thank my family for always believing in me, and for urging me forward. I'd like to thank my neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn for always inspiring and terrifying me with new trends in fashion. I'd like to thank my roommates of past and future for putting up with my occasional actor-babble, and my weird hours. I'd like to thank myself for still living the dream after 3 years!
    What's the Oscar for? well..

If you look around the 1:45:00 mark in 'Man On Wire' (the winner for best documentary) you'll see me running down the stairs. Seriously. RUNNING. That was the last shot of the day and I ran up and own those stairs like a dozen times. You can also see my charming mug in the back of the van earlier in the movie. I did about four days of work on the movie almost two years ago now.
    It did however get me thinking, that while I strive (and occasionally succeed) to be a working actor - I've never, ever, practiced my oscar acceptence speech. I've never really even fantasized about it. I never held the shampoo bottle in the shower and practiced my best 'really just an honor to be nominated' schtick. I wasn't one of those little boys who was dying to be an actor - and as I've plowed ahead with my career, my focus has been working and trying to keep my momentum. But winning my first Oscar has taught me something, that I should take a little time to revel in the small success I've had, and maybe even dream a bit. Good timing, my birthday is on Sunday!

-- Shawn Dempewolff

Comments

[stacey jackson]

OMG! Are you serious? I think you're my new hero. I was just going to write a blog about how "Man on Wire" is the best documentary ever and that it deserved to win...but, alas, you stole my thunder. Congrats...umm...on your Oscar!?