Books 02 Jun 2007 09:52 am
Amid gets Award
- Yesterday I went to the Theater Library Association Awards. Amid Amid was being presented with his award for “Outstanding Book in the Area of Film or Broadcasting.”
The award, of course, is for Amid’s excellent book Cartoon Modern. 
There were a number of excellent presenters giving awards to what, I presume, are excellent books. Noted critic, John Simon, gave an award to Birgitta Steene for her extensive biography on Ingmar Bergman.
Ex-film curator, Eileen Bowser, gave a Special Jury Prize to Steven Higgins (who replaced Eileen at the Museum of Modern Art) for his book Still Moving, a study of stills in MOMA’s collection. John Canemaker pre-sented the award to Amid.
(Click any image to enlarge.)
In all there were about half a dozen awards, and a dozen speeches. They were all gracious and polite, though, appropriately enough, John Simon turned the audience around with a couple of backhanded slaps. His was the most glowing and enormous praise for the book, but he admitted to not having read more than 1/4 of it as yet. (The book is a reference guide, almost 1200 pages long, so it would be hard reading.)
John’s speech offered a good introduction to Amid’s varied work and fine praise for the excellent book. Amid’s speech was short, with a funny anecdote, and polite thanks to those at TLA who supported him.
Howard Beckerman sat next to me, and it was good to see him again. It’s amazing how infrequently I meet up with many of the old friends I have in animation. This makes it even more special when I do.
John, Amid and I went to eat at a good Chinese Restaurant after the champagne toast the TLA offered.
L to R: John Simon, Birgitta Steene, John Canemaker listen to
the opening remarks by TLA Book Awards Chair, Richard Wall.
Amid gives his very eloquent speech.
Hearty Congratulations to Amid. It’s well deserved.
on 02 Jun 2007 at 11:28 am 1.Amid said …
It was good seeing you Mike. And thanks so much for the kind words and photos. What a surreal evening…though that may have been owing to the lack of sleep more than anything else.
on 02 Jun 2007 at 12:11 pm 2.Ward said …
Congratulations, Amid! It was very well deserved.
on 02 Jun 2007 at 1:01 pm 3.Stephen Worth said …
Amid, you look great in a suit! Congrats to you!
See ya
Steve
on 02 Jun 2007 at 1:47 pm 4.Jenny Lerew said …
He really deserves it–congratulations, Amid!
And it’s fantastic that the book is getting this recognition.
on 03 Jun 2007 at 6:17 am 5.Eddie Fitzgerald said …
Congratulations Amid! I hope you sell a ton of books then write a sequel!
on 04 Jun 2007 at 3:03 pm 6.massy sally amidi said …
We are proud . that is great . lots of congratulation to you