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00:00Good evening, everyone. I'm Edwina Finley Dickerson, and I am so thrilled to celebrate two extraordinary souls tonight, whose work in TV, film and theater transcends entertainment and reaches into the very essence of humanity.
00:21Viola Davis and Julius Tenen.
00:28The heart and soul behind Juvie Productions.
00:32This remarkable couple are not only icons of stage and screen, but architects of change, passionate truth tellers of the highest order, committed to blazing trails for many others to follow.
00:48My very first memory of Viola Davis is during my time as a drama student at NYU, where her name was enshrined in nearly every play I studied.
01:00For each role I prepared, inevitably I'd flip to the front of the script and see her name forever etched as the originator of roles that will go on to inspire countless actors and audiences alike.
01:14In the vibrant tapestry of New York theater, Viola was a radiant star, captivating hearts and souls with her unparalleled performances.
01:25Then the summer of my sophomore year, it happened.
01:29I was ecstatic to receive a ticket to attend the Tony Awards at Rockefeller Center, and I was mesmerized watching Viola light up the stage, accepting her very first Tony for her role as Tanya in August Wilson's King Hedley II.
01:55I met both Julius and Viola for the first time that evening, and none of us knew how prophetic that moment would prove to be.
02:06An epic journey in both entertainment and faith was just on the horizon.
02:12These two trailblazing actors were soon bit by the producing bug, and what type of project did they begin with? An action film? A rom-com? A global espionage thriller? Nope.
02:26An intimate play adapted from a Christian short story, which spoke deeply to the human condition and spiritual experience.
02:36Freshly out of drama school, I was tapped to help bring this beautiful story to life, and our relationship blossomed, and the genesis of Juvie Productions began.
02:48We'd sit around the kitchen table for hours, dreaming together, praying together, and imagining a production company that could serve as a voice for the voiceless, a place where underrepresented stories and people and communities could find a home.
03:05And today, Juvie Productions stands as a global beacon of light, producing powerhouse movies like The Woman King,
03:15which honored untold stories and traditions of our past, and impactful documentaries such as Emmanuel and Silver Dollar Road, which bring light to human injustices while fostering space for healing and forgiveness.
03:35Their partnership with Ashe Ventures amplifies voices from Brazil through audio projects like Angola Janga, which tells the revolutionary story of the fight to end slavery.
03:49Their docuseries, The Last Defense, featuring individuals wrongly sentenced to death row, managed to get an inmate, Julius Jackson, sentence commuted.
04:02Julius, wonderful actor who I believe would be a preacher if he wasn't an actor and a producer, just throwing that out there.
04:20And Viola's unyielding commitment to truth and honesty, even in the face of great opposition, speaks volumes to the bravery, courage, and faith that they possess, not only in words, but in action.
04:39There's a beautiful scripture, Daniel 12.3, that says, those that are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those that lead others to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
04:52And I'm here to say that Julius and Viola are guiding lights in Hollywood.
04:59They are north stars in my life and surely in this room, showing us that true greatness is not measured by celebrity status, but by the heart, humility, generosity, and love, which they reflect so beautifully.
05:21Jesus often spoke in parables, weaving compelling and relatable stories and deep, profound truths to open-hearted, captive audiences, and the same is true of the two of them.
05:38As Viola often quotes, the two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.
05:50It is our God dream, our divine dream to live abundantly and to die empty, assured that when this life is done, we will have fulfilled the heights of our purpose and calling.
06:07Well, Julius and Viola, you embody this God dream.
06:12Both on screen and off, you are shining reflections of God in his very essence.
06:20And it is my honor to present you with these awards today.
06:25Viola Julius Compton.
06:56Oh, my God.
07:03I'm sorry, Julius.
07:07I mean, I was right here.
07:10Yeah, OK.
07:14I just had to say one thing, Medina.
07:18That was so moving.
07:19Thank you so much.
07:22Edwina lived with us for several months.
07:25We took you in.
07:31And I just want to say really, really briefly that, you know, they say that when the last person who has a memory of you dies, that's when you will truly be dead.
07:48And what's so moving about that, Edwina, is maybe this is my time in this life that I feel like we left something in you.
08:01Not just for you.
08:04That makes everything worthwhile.
08:11Almost 14 years ago, we planted a seed in Hollywood, and we just kept watering that seed.
08:19The roots got deeper and deeper.
08:21That seed produced a tree that produced fruit.
08:26And that fruit is Juvie Productions.
08:34Our little systems, they have their day.
08:44They have their day and cease to be.
08:48They are but broken lights of thee.
08:51And thou, oh, Lord, art more than they.
08:57We all live under the same sky.
09:04God is.
09:09Thank you, Variety, and all the sponsors and everyone who made this special night happen.
09:15We remain inspired.
09:19Thank you to the Juvie Table.
09:22Kaylin, Amanda, Jackie, Veronique.
09:28That's it.
09:29Yes, Theo, and our beautiful 14-year-old daughter.
09:34Our beautiful 14-year-old daughter, Genesis.
09:36Genesis, my heart, my love.
09:39And Andrew Wang, who couldn't be with us.
09:42Yes.
09:44Blessings to all.
09:46Long is short and sweet.
09:47Love you.
09:48Thank you so much.