Two-time Academy Award winner and House of Cards star Kevin Spacey was an astounding success with the media and fans at the IIFA Weekend and Awards in Tampa, Florida on Saturday 26th April 2014.
Spacey showcased shared his knowledge with the indian film industry at the Masterclass and gave Indian culture a chance with Bollywood dance moves at the 15th annual IIFA Awards.
Acting Masterclass with Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey wowed audiences in Tampa at the IIFA Masterclass panel alongside international Indian actress and singer Priyanka Chopra. The two actors exchanged notes on acting, piracy, films and even reviving the theatre scene.
When asked about his thought of the two worlds (Bollywood & Hollywood) meeting to open the IIFA Masterclass panel Kevin responded, "Well, it’s about (expletive) time" much to the delight of the audience on hand and was welcomed with applause and cheers from the large gathering of Indian film fraternity in the audience.
Among his many entertaining moments, Spacey imitated Al Pacino as well as Bill Clinton and his views on having seen "House of Cards".
Because of the popularity of the event, it participation was by invitation only.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Spacey shared the following insights about his craft:
"That camera doesn't know it's a TV camera, doesn't know it's a film camera, it's just a camera," he said. "You can do good work, great work in front of it. It's about what you do, how you prepare to get there.
"I've had a little problem over many years, (hearing) there's something called film acting and something called theater acting. I actually think there's just acting and it's either good or it's bad.
"There's a lot of people who make a whole lot of money teaching film acting, and most of them are full of (expletive) … The way you learn is to actually look at yourself on film. It takes a while to learn what you can do, and what's required of you."
"Theater is the actor's medium. Film is the director's medium, and the editor's medium. I don't think it's an actor's medium at all. And no matter how good I might be in a movie, it will never get better. Whereas in the theater, I can be better tomorrow than I was tonight.
"It's no different than if you went out and played eight nights of tennis. Yes, it's the same game. Yes, it's the same rules. But it's a different game every time you're on that court."
It was clear that both Spacey and the Indian film fraternity appreciated the time spent together during the IIFA Masterclass.
Here is a selfie with one and only @KevinSpacey at the Masterclass.:) @IIFA @actorprepares pic.twitter.com/MM94iJb4Hh
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) April 26, 2014
#Bollywood meets #Hollywood when @AnupamPKher snaps a selfie with #KevinSpacey at @IIFA in #Tampa @TB_Times pic.twitter.com/Cm2yuDsTWV
— Steve Persall (@StevePersall) April 26, 2014
TATA Motors IIFA Awards
Later that evening as he made his way down the IIFA Green Carpet ahead of the 15th Tata Motors IIFA Awards ceremony, Spacey provided a photo opportunity as he posed with Indian Cinema’s top billed actress Deepika Padukone.
Credit: IIFA.
Held in the open air Raymond James Stadium, Spacey joined in the fun spirit of the event as he participated in the awards ceremony. One of the most memorable moments 0f the evening was when Spacey joined Deepika Padukone and the two IIFA Awards hosts, actors Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akthar for an impromptu dance performance. Together the actors donned lungi’s (Indian sarongs) and matched steps to the 2013 global hit, "Lungi Dance" made famous by Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in the film Chennai Express.
The 25,000 strong crowd went wild in appreciation and acknowledgement of the moment. The Awards night also saw several selfie moments in front of the live audience, orchestrated by Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar.
Another selfie moment featured the IIFA hosts with Spacey and several Indian stars which was a response to the Ellen Degeneres Oscar selfie photo which also included Kevin Spacey.
Kevin spacey's lungi annnnd Kevin spacey in one pic .... What an awesome moment @FarOutAkhtar @sonakshisinha pic.twitter.com/cTyzdhfmJ1
— Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) April 27, 2014
Andre Timmins, Director of IIFA and Wizcraft said,
"It was an absolute honour for us to have been able to host and welcome Mr. Kevin Spacey at the IIFA Weekend & Awards this year. Since the inception of IIFA in 2000 it has been my dream to use the platform and stage of IIFA to bring together the two world's greatest Indian film industry's 'Bollywood & Hollywood' and this year for our 15th Annual edition of the IIFA Awards this dream was realised with the participation of Kevin Spacey through his sporting and entertaining personality in participating at the Awards. He gave us one of the most entertaining and memorable IIFA Awards ever and brought major worldwide success to the event. He was welcomed and loved by the Indian film industry present who were all great fans of the actor. We hope to have him join us again and would love to work more closely with him to develop even more participation and great entertainment for our audiences next time."
IIFA 2014 will be watched by millions in June, when the Awards play out on global television.
If you liked this, check out our other IIFA posts.