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The Empire Awards 2014

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Posing with the beautiful Margot Robbie and Sophie Turner, talking paintball with Will Poulter, James McAvoy looking like he wanted to beat me up, helping James Nesbitt find the toilets, nearly knocking a drink out of the boy from Love Actually’s hand (who’s now taller than me) and laughing at the character from the date rape story in Hollyoaks (back in the day)….. It has to be the Empire Awards.

By Simon Jago

Firstly thank you everyone who voted for Movie Maniacs in this years Empire Awards. Every year we rely on your support and generosity and you never let us down so thank you very much. Unfortunately we weren’t successful in making the International Final but we did still manage to attend the after show party. Thanks to friends in high places, mainly our good friend David Smith who only went and won the bloody competition we got tickets to attend.

Pictures from the night

[See image gallery at www.themoviemaniacs.com]

 

Myself and Ryan Casey have been involved with the Empire Jamesons Done in 60 Seconds awards now for four years and even though we’ve never won, we’re not bitter and I’ll tell you why.

Our first success with the competition was in 2011 with out 300 in 60 Seconds which made it through to the International final. It narrowly missed making it through to the Sunday Awards night getting a shout out from Empire Editor Mark Dinning and fantastic praise from the other judges and competition entrants.

One year later in 2012 Movie Maniacs entered two entries; The Fighter in 60 Seconds and The Thing in 60 Seconds, with the latter making it through to the International Final where we met some fantastic young film makers from all over the world. One winner was amazing animator Phillip Askins from Manchester who brought his mum to celebrate the success of his ‘Indiana Jones in 60 Seconds’. We also had the pleasure of meeting the west country Smith twins, Michael and David who had parodied ‘War Horse’ in 60 seconds. Despite Phil being the only one to make it through to the Empire Awards itself, the real prize from the competition was the friendships that developed.

2013 and Movie Maniacs were unfortunate enough not to make it through to the Awards weekend (first time since entering) with their clever play on Avengers Assemble, Blockbusters Assemble. However, Phil with his beautiful re-imagining of ‘Blade Runner’ did and to prove what a nice guy he really is he took David Smith, one half of the Yeovil twins as his plus one. On top of that he invited both myself and Ryan Casey as his guests to the after show party. It was the least he could seeing as he went and won the whole damn competition! Once again it didn’t matter who had got through and who hadn’t, or that none of us had seen each other for a whole year. The night was a success and the Movie Maniacs were so happy to be party of the celebrations of Phil’s hard earned success.

Another year trickles past and none of us have seen each other since the chaos of before. Despite making the top 20 UK shortlist with what we consider our best entry, Pacific Rim in 60 Seconds, only David Smith made it through out of the gang this year. To repay the favour he took Phil as his plus one and had to work bloody hard to get after show party tickets for the Movie Maniacs but he did it. Funnily enough it was another happy ending as he went and won the whole competition. As long as one of our gang made it through and won it, it didn’t matter whose name was on the award because we were all winners!

Forget the celebs, the copious amounts of free whiskey, the living like movie stars for the weekend before crawling into work with an aching head, back to reality on the Monday morning. This is for me the highlight of the Empire Awards. The long lasting friendships that you make with others like yourself. Young, passionate film makers who have a love of all things cinema and want nothing more than to pay homage to the great actors and film makers working in the industry today. Thank you Empire and Jamesons for this great opportunity, your competition really does bring the stars down to earth and give you a chance to reach for them.

Our DISS14 entry – Pacific Rim in 60 Seconds

For those of you who didn’t see our entry


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