On his way into the Oscars ceremony – where he would later pick up the coveted Best Actor award – Casey Affleck stopped for a quick communal cry with Kris Fade.
UAE celebrity Fade was on the other side of the cameras earlier today (February 27), stalking the red carpet for a special regional broadcast for OSN – and nabbing interviews with A-list attendees including Samuel L Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Andrew Garfield.
When Fade stopped Affleck for a chat, neither man had any idea the actor would pick up a statuette for his lead role in indie weeper Manchester By the Sea.
“I told Casey, I’m not a crying man, but after watching his movie, there was a slight tear,” says Fade.
“He said to me ‘mate, everyman should be able to cry freely’, come on let’s have a little cry together’ – it was pretty funny.”
Fade spoke to The National straight from the red carpet, where he was presenting alongside Habiba Basiony, while the ceremony was reaching its final stages – and just minutes after Affleck was announced as the winner.
“I think [Affleck] was a little shocked where he was, and if you watch him accepting his Oscar just now, it feels like he was still in shock,” adds Fade.
Affleck wasn’t the only one feeling starstruck. Fade might be the UAE’s most-recognisable media face, but was clearly humbled by the Oscars gig – which took place coincidently on the night he turned 37-years-old.
“I think this is one of the best birthday presents I could ever get,” says Fade. “It’s chaotic, it’s media against media, but at the end of it, once it’s all done, you just take a deep breath and go ‘wow, did that really happen?’.
“At one stage I was chatting with Samuel L Jackson, and he stopped to have a conversation with Nicole Kidman – so you’re standing watching them talk – and then Samuel comes back and in your head your like, ‘what am I doing here? This is ridiculous’. The entire three hours was a wow moment.”
The footage will be aired tonight at 7.45 UAE time, as part of a special regional segment before OSN’s 8pm repeat of the complete 89th Academy Awards, which took place at Los Angeles’s Dolby Theatre on Sunday January 26 local time.
Fade says media from just 33 countries were accredited to work the red carpet – but that being from the Middle East helped them stand out from the crowd.
“You’ve got the world’s media there and I’m really really proud of OSN and us, because we got probably the most out of any media outlet,” adds the Australian-Lebanese presenter, who is best known for his daily show on Virgin Radio.
“What I love – you’ve got to get the attention of the actors coming through – everyone’s screaming – but as soon as you mention the Middle East, I swear, it’s instantly bang.”
The gig also offered Fade the chance to catch up with Jackie Chan, who in 2015 enjoyed an extended stay in the emirates shooting his recently released Kung Fu Yoga. Chan was recognised with an honorary Oscar recognising 56 years in film, and appeared on the red carpet carrying two stuffed pandas.
“Jackie filmed in Dubai, so as soon as he saw us he was excited,” adds Fade. “It was so humbling talking to him, and I just thought ‘wow, this a guy that didn’t need to stop and do the entire red carpet, but he did’ – and you know, he’s a funny guy.”
Nearly as much as the awards themselves, the world’s media is quick to weigh in with winners and losers in women’s fashion. Asked to pick the best-dressed female from his front row view, Fade is torn between two leading ladies.
“First of all, Salma Hayek – Salma doesn’t age, she’s just stunning, she was wearing this golden dress and she just looked spectacular,” says Fade.
“And then – about five minutes after that Halle Berry ran out from the red carpet – not only was her hair spectacular but what she was wearing – she looked great.”
Fade, for his part, kept things classic in a black tuxedo.
“The funniest conversation I was having with the boys earlier – for us it’s so easy, we literally just put our tux on and head out the door,” adds Fade. “I feel sorry for all the ladies.”
As much as the awards themselves, the Oscars are renowned for their celebrity tier-levelling after-parties. When we spoke to Fade at the end of a long day's work, he was thinking about taking an early night, but said he might be tempted to pop in at an E! News party in his hotel, The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, attended by Kris Jenner and Giuliana Rancic.
“The world of celebrity is looking pretty good,” added Fade. “Hollywood is hollywood man – it’s crazy, the whole idea of it is absolutely ridiculous.”
rgarratt@thenational.ae
