The first thing most people do when they win an award is they thank the people who helped them. And of course, you should think people, but there's a particular way of thanking people. What you should do if the people are there in the room, look at the people address them by name. And say, Jim, you were there for me when no one else was when I couldn't raise a penny to get this movie made. You wrote the first check. Thank them and tell them what you're thanking them for.

It's going to be so much more interesting to everyone, some more meaningful and it's going to come across as sincere. That's much more effective than just rattling off our long list of names. So thank people in as specifically as possible. tell people exactly what they did. Don't just say support support is generic, it's abstract, doesn't really mean anything. tell people exactly what you're thanking them for.

Look them in the eye if they're around, give specific examples. And this way your thanks will have real meaning.