Screen Actors Guild Celebrates with Abbreviated Ceremony

BY SCOTTIE KNOLLIN

Like all ceremonies so far this awards season, the Screen Actors Guild opted to try something new, while still keeping the majority of the show via Zoom. Once voting concluded early last week, the show’s producers decided to pre-record each group of nominees sitting through acceptance speeches and the like. Then, with that pre-recorded material, the content was edited into a tight, sometimes static, hour-long production that raced through all film and television categories, leaving room for a few comedic bits, the famous “I’m an actor” segment, and an In Memoriam montage.

During the 27th SAG Awards, history was made as all four film acting categories were won by people of color, including Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. Not only was it the first year two Black actors won the top two acting prizes, but it also marked the first time since “American Beauty” that the top two acting prizes went to the leads from the same film. For “American Beauty”, Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening took the prizes.

The awards’ equivalent to a Best Picture award, the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Award, went to the cast of Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7”. Though the win wasn’t necessarily a surprise, many were hoping “Minari” could squeeze through with a win to earn a bit more buzz for this month’s Oscars. Traditionally, the winner of the SAG Award for Best Ensemble inches towards the frontrunner status. Even if “Minari” had earned the prize, it would still take a lot to unseat current awards season frontrunner “Nomadland”. The Chloé Zhao drama wasn’t nominated for the SAG Ensemble award, but is still expected to win Best Picture in a few weeks at the 93rd Academy Awards.

One other small bit of history was made as Michael Keaton set a new record for most Ensemble Cast wins by an individual. As part of the cast of “The Trial of the Chicago 7”, Keaton has won three separate Best Ensemble prizes at the SAG Awards, more than anyone else in the award’s history. His other two ensemble trophies were rewarded for his work with the casts in “Spotlight” and “Birdman”.

For those following awards season hoping to predict the eventual Oscars winners, the SAG Awards did little to flesh out a few of the more head-scratching categories this year. Davis’ win in the Leading Actress field means each Oscar nominee for Best Actress has won only one major precursor award. That could change later this week when the BAFTA winners are announced. Of the Oscar nominees, only Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”) and Vanessa Kirby (“Pieces of a Woman”) are nominated for that award.

Similarly, the Best Supporting Actress race continues to be the category to watch. With Youn Yuh-Jung’s win for “Minari”, she is somewhat in a better spot to eventually win the Oscar. Though, it really is still a wide open field.

COMPLETE LIST OF FILM WINNERS:

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
(Netflix)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Viola Davis
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
(Netflix)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Chadwick Boseman
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
(Netflix)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Youn Yuh-Jung
MINARI
(A24)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Daniel Kaluuya
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
(Warner Bros.)