After picking up their biggest triumph yet in an awards season packed with them, a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble to hit three of their four SAG Awards for individual films, the Everything Everywhere at the Same Time cast was destined to head backstage. A group will be led through the kitchen at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles and into the area as a crowd of cameras awaits the winners.
But like the film’s multiple versions of multiverse characters have become Academy Awards Best Picture favorites, cast members including Best Female Actress winner Michelle Yeoh, Best Supporting Actor Ke Huy Quan, and Best Supporting Actress Jamie Lee Curtis are scattered. All around, some back to the audience, some to the bathroom, and some who knows where.
Among the best in the cast, 94-year-old James Hong appeared backstage, as an Associated Press reporter was waiting to include him on their victory lap. The Associated Press reported that Hung, as the leading member, gave the final speech of the night and took full advantage, speaking at length about his 70 years as a member of the acting guild.
“I hope to be back when I’m 100!” Hong said to close his speech.
Andy Lee and Brian Lee, who play small but menacing martial artists in the film, were nothing but kind as they each held one of Hung’s arms and helped him down the makeshift stairs at the back of the stage and into the foyer.
Mark Wahlberg, who had just been awarded the best prize of the night, greeted Hong.
“I just wanted to say hello,” Wahlberg said, smiling. “You really are a legend. You demolished the house.”
Hong, Le, and Le slowly made their way through the kitchen and back into the spotlight in the media room, where classmate Tallie Medel was waiting for them.
Curtis, the surprise winner over Angela Bassett in her category, appeared holding one of SAG’s blue stone figurines and wearing a red gown.
“Well, here I am sorry, sorry, I had to pee!” She said.
Jenny Slate, who plays Debbie the Dog mom, Yeoh’s laundry-turned-fighting nemesis in the film, exited another entrance, as did Harry Shum Jr.
Then Yeoh bursts out the door from the dance floor like a dressed-up version of one of the many action heroes she’s played over the decades.
She was followed soon after by Quan, who played several incarnations of her husband on film.
“Everyone come!” Chuan exclaimed as he gleefully cut through his colleagues.
The paparazzi started snapping pictures, but Curtis wasn’t going to have them until the whole group was assembled. Stephanie Hsu, who plays Yeoh’s daughter and antagonist in the film and is also nominated in the Curtis category, is not among them yet.
“Wait, wait, wait, wait, Stephanie, come over here!” Curtis said. Pointing to everyone taking pictures, she said, “Hey, put down the camera, put the camera down. Not without Stephanie.”
While they are waiting, they notice Brendan Fraser, Best Actor winner for “The Whale”, standing nearby with his trophy, looking confused. Many walked to celebrate it.
“I’m so glad I witnessed this beautiful moment,” Slate told him.
Quan arrived and gave the much older Frasier an excited hug.
“You made me cry again!” Fraser said to Quan, who gave a tearful speech about becoming the first Asian actor to win his award.
Quan, who like Fraser, is making a dramatic comeback after a long hiatus in Hollywood, will likely get another chance at the Academy Awards on March 12.
Having also taken home top honors at the Directors Guild and Producers Guild Awards, it would be amazing if any film other than Everything Everywhere would win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
When Hsu finally shows up, Curtis tells the paparazzi to shoot away.
The cast shouted asking Frasier to join them for pictures. He hesitated at first, gave up and joined them, his eyes beaming. “We did it!” He said while smiling for the cameras.
The group has won so many awards, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of it.
“I left one and got lost,” Curtis said.
“Wait, Michelle has two!” Someone shouted.
Then Quan, Yeoh, and Curtis all stood up individually while holding a prize in each hand. Curtis hands one to Hung, who pretends he can’t bear its weight before cradling the statue like a baby.
Daniel Scheinert, co-director of the film with Daniel Kwan, watched it from the side and stayed out of the pictures, allowing his cast to be on stage tonight.
When she saw Yue Chennert, she hurried over and hugged him. Several paparazzi descended on the duo. Scheinert didn’t stop them, pointing out that he was an actor of sorts in his movie.
He said, “I had a veil.” “It counts, that counts.”
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