SAG Awards putting spotlight on women amid #MeToo, Time's Up movements

It's easy to dismiss Sunday'sScreen Actors Guild Awards as just another Hollywood accolade, but this year's show could carry some hefty messages when it comes to women's empowerment,gender equality and sexual harassment.

"I think it's difficult," Canadian actress Amanda Brugel told CBC News in Los Angeles."I think there are some grey areas but I also think that it's time that we have these discussions and it's so important that when you do have a platform like the Golden Globes or the SAG Awards, that you speak."

Brugel is nominatedfor outstanding ensemble in a drama series for The Handmaid's Tale alongside her cast members.

Canadian Amanda Brugel discusses the SAG awards with CBC's Zulekha Nathoo

7 years ago

Duration 0:56

The actress, who is nominated with her cast for The Handmaid's Tale, explains the importance of speaking about women's empowerment

'Celebrating and honouring women'

The SAG Awards, which are given to actors and voted on by their peers, honour both film and television. For the first time, all 13 statues will be handed out by an all-women slate of presenters,includingHalle Berry, Lupita Nyong'o,Emma Stone andBrie Larson. Frozen's Kristen Bell will host.

SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris will attend with Canadian actress-turned-activist Chantal Cousineau. Cousineau was among the dozensof women who came forward withcomplaints about filmmaker James Toback and continues to lobby for policy changes.

• How a social media sisterhood unleashed a storm of allegations against James Toback

"We're going to be celebrating and honouring women this year," saidElizabeth McLaughlin, a SAG Awards committee member. "I think it's very telling that the Time's Up movement and the MeToo movement are so timely with our show."

MeToo, which was initiated by activist Tarana Burke andexploded as a hashtag on social media following allegations against Harvey Weinstein, became an avenue for people to share their experiences.

Time's Up,geared towardbattling sexualharassment in the workplace, has raised millions for a legal fund benefiting victims. Both featured prominently at the Golden Globe Awards two weeks ago, with most men and women wearingblack in solidarity with victims of sexual assault and harassment.

LauraGomez, who's nominated for a SAG award as part of theOrange Is The New Blackensemble, says more women behind the camera can help take the movement forward in the entertainment industry.

"Because there's a level of equality and balance of power," she told CBCNews."And that's kind of what the fight is about."

Reaction toAnsari, Franco unpredictable

It's a fight that has also seen some divisions, and Sunday's ceremony leaves room for varied reactionsto situations whicharen't so black-and-white.

• Margaret Atwood faces backlash for #MeToo op-ed
• Can #MeToo movement do harm? Aziz Ansari story raises question

Aziz Ansari, who's nominated for the comedy Master of None and took home a Golden Globe this year for the role,apologizedafter being recently accused by an anonymous woman of improper behaviour during a date.The storyraised several ethical questionsabout its news value after it was initially reported.

James Franco, who also won a Golden Globe and is nominated for his film,The Disaster Artist, was accused by several women of sexual misconduct after he was spotted wearing a Time's Up pin. He has disputed the allegations as being "not accurate."

Both are front-runners in their respective categories and the audience's reception remains unpredictable should either win.

Soapbox or platform?

Until now, theSAG awards' biggest claim to fame is usually its ability to foresee Academy Award outcomes in the acting categories. Over the lastfive years, theshow hascorrectly predicted the best actress Oscar winner each time and the best actor winner, four times out of five.

But this year isabout much more.

"So often, actors get put into a specific bubble of feeling like they can or cannot say or talk about what they're passionate about," McLaughlin said. "I think the SAG Awards are a unique exception to that."

Brugelsays this year in particular is bound to include some interesting commentary.

"Awards are lovely," Brugel said. "But if you can usea couple seconds to sort of talk about issues thatare on everyone's mind, especially when it's coming into their living room,I think that people really appreciate it."