What is it like to go to the Bafta Film Awards?

How do you normally feel when you go and see a movie at your local multiplex? Does it feel like a special experience for you? Or is it just dingy carpets, bright lights, overpriced tasteless popcorn and not much legroom?
 
Well, I had a very special movie experience on Sunday because one of my good friends happens to work for Bafta and decided to take me to the Bafta Awards! This was the experience of a lifetime and I’d love to share with you some of the inside story.
 
As I spent most of Sunday getting my hair, nails and make up done and got dressed in my vintage couture Odicini dress, I considered all the A-Listers getting ready in the Savoy for just another red carpet moment. As our taxi weaved through the closed streets around Covent Garden my excitement grew. We approached a barrier and our taxi driver showed his Bafta ‘golden ticket’ and I saw the red carpet, the lights, the fire and the crowd ahead. My heart started hammering as I got out of the car and I took a step onto the ‘longest stretch of red carpet in the world.’
 
Once I was there, it was a bit more normal. I walked up with Octavia Spencer, from The Help. She looked as shell-shocked as me and was complaining about the cold! We found a space and watched all the stars drifting by – James Corden, George Clooney, Fearne Cotton, Gillian Anderson, Richard E Grant, Zoe Ball, Nick Frost…some of them taking longer than others!
 
We eventually went through the doors of the Opera House and went to the top floor for a champagne reception where we were able to see the stars below in the lower hall. Then it was time to take our seats. We had a good view. It was great fun watching all the stars take their seats and have little chats – I wonder what George Clooney was saying to Meryll Streep and did Christina Hendricks lean over and talk to Gary Oldman, who was in front of her?
 
The lights dimmed and to my amazement, Tom Jones took to the stage and belted out Thunderball. The set was very interesting, at first I thought it was sponsoring Film 4, but then I realised it was a Union Jack when viewed at the right angle.
 
Well, you all watched the ceremony so you know what happened, but I was able to see extra things, such as Stephen Fry having little chats with the award presenters as the V-T ran; he gave Brad Pitt a little hug. I was shocked to see poor Meryll Streep lose her shoe on the stairs! I thought Stephen Fry was an excellent host and I really agree with his comment that film takes us away from our difficult austere times; making us laugh, cry or confronting us with issues we need to know about.
 
After the ceremony finished, all the guests exited the Opera House to board an endless chain of coaches to take us to the Grosvenor Hotel.  We were given little Bafta mask chocolates to keep us going, as it was now 10pm! We filed into the dining room and Christina Hendricks was right behind me, looking like a beautiful Renoir-esque muse in the flesh.
 
We sat down for dinner. We were on the upper level and we could see the stars below at their tables. From my viewpoint I saw Dame Judy Dench, Kenneth Branagh and Bonnie Wright. In between courses I encountered Fearne Cotton in the make-up room and Terry Gilliam walked right past our table, presumably taking a secret exit! We had a beautiful meal of goat's cheese tart, an exquisite lamb, followed by a delicious chocolate brownie with raspberry sorbet, coffee and special Hotel Chocolat petit-fours.
 
Once dinner had finished, both civilian and celebrity alike went hunting for tablemats as a souvenir. There were five different themed tables to mark the best film nominations and it appeared that ‘The Artist’ tablemats were the most covetable this year. I got one! We snuck down the stairs and mingled with the stars while we were ‘looking for table mats’. I brushed past Imelda Staunton, George Lamb and Chris O’ dowd.
 
Finally we headed for the after party at midnight. I passed Stephen Fry as I searched for a cloakroom and ended up holding a Bafta, belonging to the winner of best editor for Senna. For your information, it is heavy! We had delicious themed cocktails created by sponsors Diorissimo and watched Emilie Sandé sing live, alongside Zoe Ball, Claudia Winkleman and winner of best new actor, Adam Deacon, who was bouncing around with his crew, posing for pictures with his Bafta.
 
My little brush with a star was while I was queuing for a novelty photo machine. Alex Zane was right behind me and I enquired about his handkerchief in his breast pocket, was it material or paper? Apparently this was a post-modern type suit, with the hankie sewn in and a waistcoat with a pocket watch with just a chain and no watch! Alex, if you happen to be reading this, I wasn’t being rude!
 
We finally called it a day at 3.30am. It was such a wonderful evening and I was reminded of the true glamour and mystique of Hollywood and the movies. The film stars carried themselves with grace and behaved impeccably – I saw no ‘reality star’ type behaviour. These stars were famous for their talent. The venues were stunning, the food delicious, the service faultless.
 
I now have new resolve to make sure my movie experience does justice to all the hard work involved and brings the magic of film to life. I enjoy seeing films in venues such as Baker Street Everyman, the Coronet Cinema and Watermans because they have excellent sound, comfy seats, stylish bars and good staff. We must do the work of the writers, directors, actors, producers and creative teams justice. Anything less is not worth the tenner.

Author: Katie Moritz