Elinor Burkett-Roger Ross Williams Video: A Kanye West Moment?

by Jon Azpiri | March 7, 2010 at 07:05 pm

20210 views | 15 Recommendations | 51 comments

Roger Ross Williams, Winner of Best Short Documentary Award for "Music By Prudence," Had a Kanye West Moment When Elinor Burkett Interrupted Williams' Speech

The Oscars 2010 had a bit of a 'Kanye West moment' when filmmaker Roger Ross Williams accepted his Oscar for Music By Prudence, which won for Best Documentary Short.

Williams started his Oscars acceptance speech when he was interrupted by producer Elinor Burkett. She went on to take up the rest of their allotted time. That is, until Roger Ross Williams interrupted her and tried to get a few words in edgewise.

Many viewers weren't too impressed by Elinor Burkett's manners, blatantly cutting off Roger Williams. Journalist Jennifer 8 Lee writes on Twitter that Williams worked hard on his acceptance speech.

"Roger Williams, winner for "Music by Prudence," struggled to write acceptance speech for 4 days. Barely got to say any of it, says friend."

Lee also added that Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett clashed during the making of Music by Prudence.

"Ppl here who know "Music by Prudence" winner Roger Williams says that he and woman in purple had problems making the film. Clearly."

After the ceremony, Williams reportedly referred to Elinor Burkett as "a crazy lady ."

The weird Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burket Oscar acceptance speech hopefully won't overshadow what appears to be a touching documentary about a 21-year-old singer from Zimbabwe who has a congenital disorder that crippled her arms and legs.

Here is the Roger Ross Williams-Elinor Burkett Oscar video

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jack- (not verified)

at 19:21 on March 7th, 2010

Wow she was rude. Not only in interrupting him, but the first words out of her mouth were "isn't that just like a man to not let a lady talk"...well first of all she is not a lady. Her true colors are now seen across America. Hopefully, Robin Robers and Good Morning America, with ABC the host network, or Oprah, who is broadcasting from there tomorrow, will give him a chance to talk on their shows.

Especially, since it looks like people contributed funds to allow Prudance to fly from Africa to California to be there for this awards show. She hopefully, will get more recognition now, due to Elinor "B"'s mis step.

Paulinab (not verified)

at 19:23 on March 7th, 2010

Seem most people are completely ignoring the fact that it was her oscar also. Very odd. He raced up on the stage and didn't wait for his co-winner. Kanye didn't co-win with taylor swift.

Bobdepis (not verified)

at 20:19 on March 7th, 2010

he didn't race up, she was late cuz she dickered around near her seat. Did you see her wander back and forth? Anyway that's not the point. Interrupting is rude and taking up the rest of the time is rude.

shaom222 (not verified)

at 21:22 on March 7th, 2010

You really need to watch it again.She was seated more to the center than he was so it took her longer to get out. That, combined with the fact that he ran--YES, RAN--down the aisle was what caused him to arrive so much earlier than her.And the fact the he started before she even arrived to the stage???? Inexcusable. Her name was read too. How did he not know this was going to happen?She was rude. But it was only because of his rudeness. He deserved what he got.

mike jones (not verified)

at 05:06 on March 8th, 2010

Don't let the facts get in the way of your little story. Witnesses say that his MOTHER blocked her with her cane, that's why she "dickered around". She was trying to pass that dinosaur waving her cane. The first words out of her mouth were beyond rude, but he was a little fay that wanted all of the attention for himself. They get either 30-45 seconds and he wastes his time repeating how exciting this was.

Chris Vautrin (not verified)

at 19:27 on March 7th, 2010

i noticed this right away

shalom222 (not verified)

at 20:13 on March 7th, 2010

yes, it's crazy to me that people are bashing her with no comments on what he did.he literally sprinted to the stage and started his speech without his co-winner. i don't care how long he took preparing the speech. if he doesn't have the decency to wait for the other winner, he doesn't deserve to say anything.

cabshiraz (not verified)

at 19:15 on March 10th, 2010

I totally agree. I saw the link from the Oscars and since both names were announced, he really should've waited til they both were present on that stage. He clearly was rude by bounding to the stage and started without his partner. In most films where they have multiple partners that win the oscar (ie: 2 directors/producers etc), they all wait til they are all there before each of them starts their speeches.

Janea (not verified)

at 20:20 on March 7th, 2010

I get the impression that her primary contribution to the documentary was referring Williams to the subject.

no class (not verified)

at 21:45 on March 7th, 2010

This was the low point of the Oscars. What an obnoxious woman. Prudence, Roger, the school, the band...such a class act. Then you have the Kanya West ego repeat. You gotta lot of class lady, but it's all low.

OscarViewer (not verified)

at 21:47 on March 7th, 2010

The plot thickens. Williams claims Burkett isn't really a producer and was actually removed from the film project: www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1268024736219040.xml&coll=3

no class (not verified)

at 21:52 on March 7th, 2010

For the record, he is the writer, director, producer. Her name doesn't even show up on the website. She's a pushy reporter and author but I suspect she's about to find out what it's like to be on the wrong side of the news.This film brought grown men to tears. I saw it this past week and it is the single most moving documentary I've ever seen. No egos, just the most incredible strength. And then this woman has to take it all away. Unforgiveable.

shalom222 (not verified)

at 22:21 on March 7th, 2010

her name doesn't appear on the website but somehow appears on the oscar website as a nominee, in the envelope as the winners were announced, on the screen as the winners came forward...look, it's obvious they had some problems while filming. the director knew she was nominated and knew her name would be read if they won. she's in the audience. you actually think she wasn't going to go up? for him to run down the aisle and start with out her is what is unforgivable. she didn't handle it well (certainly not the way i would have handled it) but he asked for it. all he had to do was walk down with her like a gentleman. he chose not to. he got what he deserved. to argue otherwise is asinine.

Alaina555 (not verified)

at 23:06 on March 7th, 2010

He barely got two words out before she literally shoved him out of the way. Nobody 'deserves' that.

justyouraveragejoe (not verified)

at 23:07 on March 7th, 2010

If the situation of which you described were true, then Williams would indeed be in the wrong. However, it has been revealed that Elinor Burkett had not only been removed from the project, but also was not the appointed one to speak. Blame the academy for its rules but only one person was allowed to speak for the award and she was not chosen to do so. Thus, her behavior is clearly inexcusable. I appreciate your perspective but it is very unfair of you to say that Williams "got what he deserved." Please read the following interview conducted shortly after the fiasco and reconsider your argument.www.salon.com/ent/movies/2010/03/07/music_by_prudence_burkett/index.html

shalom222 (not verified)

at 23:32 on March 7th, 2010

thanks for the link. i just read the article and it solidifies my opinion even more. she tried to talk to him about what would happen if they won and he refused. and it's absolutely not true that only one person was able to accept the award. thus, the two names being read. and it's pretty clear after reading his thoughts that he purposefully raced down the aisle just to try to keep her from accepting the award. and his mom trying to block her with her cane??? unreal!look, i'm sure this woman was a nightmare to work with. she gives me that vibe. but he handled this the wrong way. my problem with it, and i guess why i'm being so vocal about it, is that she has been absolutely crucified online tonight. and no one is seeming to call him out on what he did. she was definitely rude. but so was he. that's all i'm saying.

luvsthecity (not verified)

at 20:53 on March 8th, 2010

Actually, he has no obligation to speak to her. If she was legitimate, she could have spoken directly to the Oscar committee and gotten the same information as Rogers got. She acts as if he was supposed to give his invitations to her. If she was legitimate, she would have gotten her invitations and information directly from the Academy and would not need to rely upon Rogers for information. She was rude and did not deserve to be on the podium. She admits that the documentary was not her vision. It was Rogers vision which won, she should be happy to have gotten the award and stayed in the background.

JonnyQ123 (not verified)

at 05:29 on March 8th, 2010

There is not a "rule" that only one person is allowed to speak -- that's just what he said, and it sounds like he may have been cutting her off right and left before this ceremony. In 2008, both Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth, "the filmmakers" named as winners, accepted on stage -- and there are many other examples that there isn't a "one person to accept" rule.

luvsthecity (not verified)

at 20:55 on March 8th, 2010

Just because two people spoke at an acceptance does not mean that there is no rule that only one person can speak. It is very possible that there is a rule and those people just ignored it. More often than not, one person speaks for the group.

justyouraveragejoe (not verified)

at 23:12 on March 7th, 2010

If the situation of which you described were true, then Williams would indeed be in the wrong. However, it has been revealed that Elinor Burkett had not only been removed from the project, but also was not the appointed one to speak. Blame the academy for its rules but only one person was allowed to speak for the award and she was not chosen to do so. Thus, her behavior is clearly inexcusable. I appreciate your perspective but it is very unfair of you to say that Williams "got what he deserved." Please read the Salon.com interview conducted shortly after the fiasco and reconsider your argument.

luvsthecity (not verified)

at 20:49 on March 8th, 2010

The reason why her name appeared on the oscar materials and not on the website is solely because of timing. When the nominations were submitted, she was involved in the project. Later, she was removed from the project over what SHE describes as a difference in artistic direction. She is a "poser" an "interloper" and should not have even gotten an award. She did not get the materials to attend the Oscar events because they were prepared AFTER she dropped off of the project. Here is the BOTTOM LINE: The film was based upon Rogers' vision, not Burkett's vision. Burkett left the production over a year ago and the production belongs solely to Rogers. If they had followed Burkett's vision, it is not assured that they would have gotten the Oscar. But we do know that Roger's vision is what WON the Oscar. Burkett was out of line and didn't deserve to be on the stage at all. She just lucked out in getting that Oscar.

hedur222 (not verified)

at 16:40 on March 9th, 2010

1) If she was a "poser" and a "interloper" her name would not have been among the nominees. Period.2) If Roger was the Lord, God, and King of this project he could have, at any time, had the "poser" and "interloper's" name removed from the list of Oscar nominees. Period.3)Roger would never have known about Prudence and Liyana if it weren't for Elinor. Period.4) Whatever is involved in their personal drama, it was rude, inexcusable, and unforgivable for him to run to the stage and pretend he was the only winner, when he CLEARLY wasn't. Period.

zimbabwe (not verified)

at 23:51 on March 7th, 2010

Her name does show up on the website but you have to search for it because he put that site together. She had no input. She was locked out. A lawsuit followed and was settled. But she conceived it, produced it and funded the production in Zimbabwe.

bloody_mary (not verified)

at 22:51 on March 7th, 2010

He was the one who was rude. He should not have started speaking before she (also a winner) had made it up to the stage and accepted her award. I think she had an absolute right to be mad.

Both display low class (not verified)

at 22:55 on March 7th, 2010

Clearly there is no love between the two. That being said, He should have acted more reserved and walked slowly to the stage, perhaps even allowing time for her too...I'm sure they both were thinking about this situation prior to winning...Meh, who really cares about either

Zimbabwe (not verified)

at 23:02 on March 7th, 2010

No one seemed to notice that Roger's mother put her cane out to block his co-winner from entering the aisle. She conceived the movie, she produced the movie and she lives in Zimbabwe and she is a winner. He doesn't deserve to speak when he didnt even wait for her.

rudyblues13 (not verified)

at 23:18 on March 7th, 2010

she was just upset that her name wasn't called .I would have slapped her in the head and gave my speech .She owes him an apology and someone should give him the chance to giveis acceptance speech ... OPRAH !!!!

shalom222 (not verified)

at 23:43 on March 7th, 2010

her name was read as a nominee and then called out as a winner. watch it again. oscar.go.com/video/index?playlistId=253172&clipId=253218

zany (not verified)

at 23:24 on March 7th, 2010

As a Zimbabwean I applaud Eli Burkett's bold stance. Roger Williams is no spokesperson for the children of Zimbabwe. Burkett saw the band playing in Zimbabwe some two years ago. She developed the idea, paid for Williams to come out, did all the ground work, brought in at her expense the cinematographers, fought and continues to fight for the rights of the band and remains a true friend to all of the band members. Williams behaved like the true boor he is, dashing to the stage like a deranged maniac, not having the grace to wait for his co-producer and then gibbered his way through the opening. She did the right thing, she made sure that every member of the band Liyana was thanked for allowing the world to see the raw state of their predicament. Prudence Mabhena, the lead character of the film, is but one small fragment of the greater picture. Google Burkett and read how she has championed the rights of the downtrodden the world over, Google Williams and you will discover he is a crass opportunist incapable of sharing anything but his ego.

Ms Anonymous (not verified)

at 00:47 on March 8th, 2010

I've read the interview and I'm sorry, I'm not seeing any justification for her doing what she did. She keeps going on and on about how mistreated she was, yet calls the final project "not that bad." If that truly was the way she felt, why would she have been so hot to accept an award for it?