Moonlight director Barry Jenkins didn’t let the biggest flub at Sunday’s Oscars ceremony (Feb. 26) snatch away his opportunity to make a passionate speech about the night’s top honor.
A series of very unfortunate events were projected (or streamed) onto the television sets of millions when La La Land was mistakenly announced as the winner of the “Best Picture” Oscar. Acting vets Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were reportedly given the wrong envelope for the category, leading to what now is considered the biggest moment in Oscar history.
#Oscars shocker: Warren Beatty reads the wrong Best Picture winner, 'La La Land' didn't win — 'Moonlight' did. pic.twitter.com/iB6TLxyTn5
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 27, 2017
After La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz had passed the golden trophy to Moonlight’s Barry Jenkins, the director shared a few gems about achieving your dreams.
“Very clearly, even in my dreams this could not be true,” Jenkins said. “But to hell with dreams! I’m done with it because this is true. Oh, my goodness.” He went on to congratulate the makers of La La Land before praising the rest of the Moonlight cast for encouraging him during the making of the film. “There was a time when I thought this movie was impossible because I thought I couldn’t bring it to fruition, I couldn’t bring myself to tell another story. Everybody behind me on this stage said, ‘No that’s not acceptable,” so I just want to thank everyone behind me, everybody out there in that room because we didn’t do this, you chose us. Thank you for the choice.”
Watch the #Moonlight cast react to the mishap at the #Oscars https://t.co/Whd15lX6SY pic.twitter.com/Jo288RLDOv
— Tre'vell Anderson (@TrevellAnderson) February 27, 2017
The film’s producers Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner were also in shock as Romanski called the moment “humbling” while speaking on the importance of Moonlight. “I hope it’s inspiring to little black boys and brown girls and those watching at home who feel marginalized and who [can] take some inspiration from seeing this beautiful group of artists,” she said.
“I still couldn’t believe we were up there,” Moonlight actor Andre Holland said to The New York Times. “It was a ton of people on stage, and I don’t think anyone could believe it.” Speaking to reporters backstage, Jenkins called the moment “special.” “I noticed the commotion and I thought something strange had occurred, and I’m sure everybody saw my face, but I was speechless when the result was offered,” Jenkins said. “So it made a very special feeling even more special, but not in the way I expected.”