Kevin Sorbo talks Grace Award: “So, when they said, ‘The winner is…'”
Kevin Sorbo recently received Movieguide’s coveted Grace Award for “Most Inspiring Performance in Movies in 2010” for his impressive portrayal of Ben Walker in the film, What If…, directed by Dallas Jenkins and produced by Jenkins Entertainment. The honors occurred Friday, February 18, at the 19th Annual Movieguide® Faith & Values Awards Gala, which he also hosted at the Hilton Universal City in Universal City, California.
Sorbo addressed that very special night in an earlier March interview with this writer:
SW: Congratulations for the Grace Award. We are all so excited about it. I’m sure you are.
KS: It was wonderful. It was a great evening. My mom and dad were there, which made it even more special. The week I left to play in the Frank Sinatra Golf Tournament, they were goin’, “Well, should we come to Frank?” And then they heard I was up for this award, and they said, “You know, we can come for this,” especially since I was hosting it. So they came in (that) Wednesday and hung around ‘til Saturday morning, and we just had a really nice weekend together. And the win on top of it was just a bonus.
I honestly had not prepared anything. I know people do. People say before (they win), “I didn’t think I’d win this.” It’s true. I didn’t think I would win it. I didn’t really… There were nine other people up for it. It was quite a slew of people. There’s a panel of five that vote on these things. They’re the secret panel; no one knows where they are (or) who they are. And I won, which is kinda cool.
SW: What went through your mind when they announced your name?
KS: Well, you know, I was backstage the whole time. They (Movieguide) wanted me not to join my family out there (in the audience) because I was the host. They said they didn’t know what the pace of the show was gonna be, so they’d rather have me back there so I could watch on the big screen. I didn’t even know the award was up.
It was halfway through and somebody (backstage) said, “Hey, there you are.” And I looked over at the screen ‘cause I was looking down at the notes for the next bit I was supposed to say when I went back on stage. I went, “Oh, this is up for the Grace Award. Cool.” So, when they said, “The winner is…” I wasn’t in my mind goin’, “Kevin Sorbo.” I didn’t know who they were gonna pick. All of a sudden they said my name, and it literally took me two or three seconds to go, “Wow!”
And they said (backstage), “Get up there.” And I went, “Oh, OK.” So, I went on stage, and I was certainly at a loss for words. What I do say will make the cut I’m sure, ‘cause it’s one of the bigger awards and they’re gonna cut it down to one hour when they air it on The Hallmark Channel next month. But, the show was well over two hours, so, they’re really gonna have to chop it down a lot.
SW: Did the whole experience of the film, especially after winning the award, change you in any way?
KS: I don’t think it changed me. I loved doing the film. I mean, I did the movie for absolutely nothing. I worked an Extra’s Rate when I shot this movie (laughs), so, you know there was no money in it. All the money was put into the travel and lodging, and the crew worked cut rate, and John Ratzenberger, all of us, worked for nothing ‘cause we just liked the film. We liked the story. We liked the character arcs and stuff. That’s why did I the movie.
Many, many heartfelt congratulations again, Kevin. We knew you could do it!
Here’s a link to more fantastic photos: http://movieguideawards.com/2011/photos_2011.html
Purchase What If... today! http://tinyurl.com/4dwuo7e
(Images courtesy of Movieguide®)