Applauding Our Peers – The Oscars Fab Five Format
This year, the Oscars resurrected “The Fab Five” presenters format for each acting category.
Typically, a presenter reads the names of the five nominations and plays a movie clip showcasing each actor’s work.
With the Fab Five format, five former Oscar award winners presented the nominees in a heartfelt, human interaction. Each presenter spoke directly to one of the nominees in the audience, sharing a personal story and publicly acknowledging their distinction.
Some highlights from the Best Actor category:
Brendan Fraser: “Jeffrey [Wright], in American Fiction, you are funny and furious and flawed and empathetic for the way you elevate the craft, and we’re indebted to you.”
Nicholas Cage: “Paul Giamatti, you were brilliant [in the Holdovers]. Bravo!”
Matthew McConaughey: “A modern-day renaissance man. Nothing better describes Bradley Cooper, who wrote, directed, produced, and acted in his latest film, Maestro. Congratulations.”
Ben Kingsley: “[In Oppenheimer] Cillian Murphy’s performance is masterful, endowing his portrayal with layers of humanity. It’s riveting to watch. Congratulations.”
Forest Whitaker: “Colman [Domingo], when I first worked with you a decade ago, I saw that you were brilliant and bound for greatness. Your genius as an actor illuminates [in Rustin].”
The genuine respect, acknowledgment, and generosity borne out of honoring their colleagues’ efforts was nothing short of inspiring.
Recognizing our peers is extremely powerful. It validates their work, helps them feel valued and respected, reenergizes, and boosts their self-esteem.
Remarkably, praise even affects the “praise-er” – reinvigorating their passion and positively influencing their motivation. And the impact on bystanders is arguably as potent.
As evidenced by the irresistible reactions of the Oscar nominees in the audience last week and the presenters, recognition fuels a sense of belonging, profound connection, and renewed purpose. It satiates our deep-seated need to be seen, acknowledged, and valued by our colleagues.
But recognizing our peers doesn’t require an awards ceremony. It requires intentionality. It calls for a commitment to others. And it demands sincerity. In return, it rewards us with untold inspiration and solid relationships.
Whether you are in a 1:1 or a meeting, concluding a mentoring relationship or a project, making a presentation, or posting on LinkedIn, make the time to shift the spotlight.
Seeking opportunities to laud, applaud, commend, and celebrate makes a difference for everyone.