Ben Lock Week 3: Face to Face With A Giant BAFTA Mask

25 November 09

Chop Socky Chooks - Animation Ah, the bright lights of Trafalgar once more... It had been a while since visiting London, so an invite to the Nominees Reception at BAFTA in Piccadilly wasn’t going to be missed!

Walking through their big doors with humungous Gold Faces staring down at you is both slightly intimidating and bizarrely elevating. It’s like you’re entering the inner circle of all that is weird and wonderful about the entertainment industry. I mean, real legends are to be found here make no mistake.

I donned my sticky name badge and sought out a bunch of new people to swap production gossip with (often referred to as ‘networking’ to make it sound all professional). I discovered that it was all a cleverly crafted scheme by which the judges could check us out, or perhaps we could win them over (?). In any case I spent much of the night having a laugh with my competitors and convincing each other it didn’t matter who wins or who doesn’t. I can’t bring myself to use the ‘L’ word, as after all, a nomination is an honour unto itself!

It was good catching up with Daniel Lennard of Cartoon Network as he was a great champion of Chop Socky Chooks and completely ‘got’ what we were doing. Howard Litton from my Purple and Brown days was there too and on excellent form. Time indeed flew by but I was driving back to Bristol that night so passed on the waterfalls of champagne that seemed to be flowing at every turn, although I think that was just how it seemed because I couldn’t have any...

The evening was actually a very relaxed event with some very cool people and a couple of speeches that made us all feel rather special. In fact it made me a little nervous about the slightly larger event fast approaching and yes I really need to get a suit organised. Up until now it’s been a blur of something happening to someone else, but being surrounded by fellow nominees and coming face to face with giant BAFTA masks on the wall brought it all home somehow. It’s going to be an interesting week – can’t wait.