Live For Films at the Jameson Empire Awards 2011: Arrivals Part 1

Gary Oldman & the sharpie on the Red Carpet Jameson Empire Awards 2011

Today (actually yesterday) I was fortunate to crack a press pass on behalf of the mighty Live For Films for the exclusive and very prestigious 16th Jameson Empire Awards held at the Grosvenor House Hotel. The Jameson Empire Awards are fairly unique in that the nomination as well as winners are voted for entirely by film fans. So really they reflect what viewers think rather than the industry itself.

The brief I laid out for myself was simple: Tweet live from the Awards, take some photos and try chat to as many people as possible. The reality is that, and despite a couple of people mentioning that my tweets were great. My tweeting was really shockingly abysmal mainly because there was way too much happening – we were watching the awards on a telly, talent was coming in from every angle and I was chatting with some blogger types that I had cozied up with. Blink or put your head down to tweet for a second and you miss an opportunity. So imagine you are reading this last night on Twitter rather than here as a fleshed out blog post.

Jameson Empire Awards Arrivals

The sun was out when I made my way to The Grosvenor House Hotel by all accounts it was a beautiful day in London and Jameson Empire couldn’t have asked for better weather for their landmark event. I rolled up to the gates to be greeted by a growing throng of fans hoping to get a peek or even an autograph from their favourite star.

I wandered up to the high gate and let the guardian know that I had a valid reason to be allowed entry through the golden gates. Seriously there is a good chance they were actually made of gold. Once in I got the got the lay of the land. On the left stretching up the side Grosvenor House was the red Carpet, in front of the carpet on the bottom, Jameson Empire had been kind enough to allow fans into the grounds and had crated an area where talent could stop and sign if they wished.

Further up where journalists spanning; Radio, TV, Online and right at the top at the entrance to the building itself an area had been set up for photographers. This is where they take most of the pre ceremony photos you see take place.

Comedian Ian Hislop and his wife arrive. I think I see writer Stuart Hazeldine chatting with Chris Hewitt, but I can’t be sure.

Jameson had been kind enough to get me a prime spot right next to the photographers’ area. It became clear very quickly that this wasn’t going to work and rather than waste energy I opted for a bit of roving. This was OK! As I got to take some good pictures but meant that I couldn’t really chat with anyone.

Composer David Arnold arrives and makes his way up the carpet before I get a chance to chat with him. Reece Ritchie from Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and The Lovely Bones arrives. John Boyega soon to be seen in Joe Cornish‘s eagerly anticipated Attack The Block is strutting on the carpet.

A stroke of luck as the guys from BBC 1 Radio are kind enough to allow me to camp on their part of the carpet. Thanks you guys I really did appreciate it.

Arrivals are coming in literally 3 at a time now – Jeremy Irvine, soon to be seen as Albert the lead in Steven Spielberg’s War Horse arrives, crowd favourites The Inbetweeners arrive (Blake Harrison, Joe Thomas & Simon Bird) to cheering they’ll be presenting Chloe Moretz’s Best Newcomer Award to Dexter Fletcher a little later on.

Jeremy Irvine

Inbetweeners Simon Bird

Inbetweeners Blake Harrison, Joe Thomas

Will Poulter

Joanne Froggatt

Georgia King

Will Poulter looking more grown up than the last time we saw him in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is on the carpet after an extended fan session, Joanne Froggatt who will be presenting the Best Thriller Award arrives, an absolutely breathtaking Georgia King is on the carpet, Turkish stars Ozge Ozpirincci and Engin Altan Duzyatan are getting their picture taken, Preeya Kalidas from the brilliant Four Lions arrives, she’ll be much happier later on when Four Lions wins the Best Comedy Award, Daisy from Spaced I mean Jessica Hynes arrives, along with Jonathan Ross she’ll present Edgar Wright with his Empire Inspiration Award.

Preeya Kalidas

Jessica Hynes

I realise that I had better start chatting people otherwise this is going to be a photo essay and a blog post.

Talullah Riley

Kate Magowan

Adrian Lester arrives, followed by Talullah Riley they’ll be presenting the Best British Film Award later to Jane Goldman and Mark Strong for Kick Ass, Kate Magowan arrives without hubby John Sims, the crowd goes absolutely wild – turns out Loki from Thor or as he is locally known as Tom Hiddleston has arrived, along with Joanne Froggatt they’ll be presenting the Best Thriller Award to Noomi Rapace and Producer Soren Staermose for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Cool as a cucumber Noel Clarke strolls up the carpet, I’m not his biggest fan but I have to say this guy knows how to work it like a pimp. Noel will be presenting the much deserved Best Actress Award to Noomi Rapace for her performance in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. By the way it is pronounced Noo-mi Rup-ass. I chat Thor with Tom Hiddleston later.

Tom Hiddleston

Noel Clarke

Literally as you are reading this, is how fast the arrivals were coming in. For an idea of how it was all happening here is a video provided by Empire.

Georgie Henley of the Narnia trilogy breezes past. Next up legendary British horror Director Neil Marshall and Axelle Carolyn arrive, they stop for a photo but I’m literally kicking myself for not having a chat with them. Fortunately I managed to catch up with Neil Marshall a little later on in the Press Room and you can read about is exclusive announcement here! Neil Marshall & Chris O’Dowd will be presenting Maeve Stram with her Done in 60 Seconds winners award for her 60 Second version of 127 Hours. By the way it’s pronounced Axle

Georgie Henley

Neil Marshall & Axelle Carolyn

A huge commotion breaks out and fans are going crazy.

Chris O'Dowd

Lilly Cole

Dawn Porter and Chris O’Dowd make their way up the carpet, lovely, lovely man and genuinely huge success couldn’t happen upon a better person. Lilly Cole arrives she’ll be presenting Tom Felton with the Best Sci-Fi / Fantasy Film Award for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part One. She heads straight up the carpet after stopping for a photo.

Turns out that huge commotion was for Keira Knightley arriving, stunning in what looks like a vintage dress. She also makes her way up the carpet quite quickly. Later on Keira Knightley picks up her Empire Hero Award.

Keira Knightley

The crowd are going absolutely wild now there is cheering and shouting.

Sam Claflin

Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and Laura Haddock arrive.

Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman

While I’m still reeling from being so close to the pure awesomess of Mr. Gary Oldman.

Eli Roth

Next up Mr. Edgar Wright.

Edgar Wright showing Dermot O'Leary how to shoop

Edgar Wright