• 2016 Louisiana NVT Awards
    New Orleans, LA., Saturday November 19th 2016 (7pm-late) - Venue to be announced
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"In recognition of individual talent and commitment to the movie, theater, broadcasting, and voice-over industries in Louisiana"

"Oscars of Louisiana" -  2016 NVT/BAG Awards Gala
full of Hollywood South surprises
(and a touch of Hollywood, too)

A packed house as the best of the best of Hollywood South descended on Harrah's Hotel, New Orleans to celebrate the amazing people of this amazing industry at the NOLA Voice Talent and Background Actors Guild Awards, 2016 (November 19th, 2016).

And, oh what a night!

Organized and hosted by The NOLA Voice Talent Foundation Chief Executive and Founder, Stephen James, supported by BAG Founder Eric Price, and m/c'd by Los Angeles international radio show host Brian "The Hammer" Jackson, the evening was full of surprises. At the top of the tree was VELEKA GRAY who received the "NVT STAR PERFORMER AWARD" for her unstinting service to the Louisiana film industry as a prolific coach and actor, and for her talent and commitment to the movie, theater, broadcasting, and voice-over industries in Louisiana.

And the inaugural recipient of the NVT Movie Actor Award was LANCE NICHOLS, who was taken aback by the recognition from his peers in Hollywood South.

Louisiana broadcasting legends, Jan and Bob Carr were honored with a special award, the NVT LEGENDS AWARD for their service to the broadcasting industry in New Orleans over the past several decades.

Guest speakers for the event, the leading event for the film industry in Hollywood South, were New Orleans theater and movie actress LORRAINE LeBLANC, a former Board Member of SAG-AFTRA New Orleans, and eminent movie actor LANCE NICHOLS, whose many film appearances include the blockbuster movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and the HBO series "Tremé".

The audience was also treated to an amazing radio-play excerpt/preview from this year's 8th Annual Benefit production of "It's a Wonderful Life", starring WILLIAM "BILL" LEE (George Bailey) and ERYNNE ELKINS (Mary Hatch Bailey). (Gretna Cultural Center for the Arts, December 16th and 17th.)

The 2016 NVT Award Winners in full:

NVT Louisiana Star Performer Award: Veleka Gray
NVT Louisiana Movie Actor Award: Lance Nichols

NVT Legends Award: Jan and Bob Carr

NVT Junior Performer Award*: Patricia Corradi
NVT Voice Talent Award**: David Woodson
NVT Cast Award: Aeryn Dixon
NVT Most Valuable Performer (MVP) Award: Richard Louis

*Sponsored by Actors Choice Talent Agency. Denham Springs, LA.
**Sponsored by NOVA:The New Orleans Voice Agency, New Orleans, LA.

Background Actors Guild 2016 Award Winners:

Best BAG Actor, Male: Tony Beard
Best BAG Actor, Female: Phong Nguyen

Male Stand-in: David Litchenstein
Female Stand-in: Cynon Davis
Dynamic Duo: Don Mathews and Dixie Olsen
From BAG to SAG: Mary Steele Steiffel
Best Catering Company: Gala catering
Lifetime Achievement: Peaches Davis
Featured Female: Gwen Parker
Featured Male: Brad Calhoun
Helping Hand : Nick Blady
New to the biz: Christina Brandon
Best use of Body Part: Jack Lawson
Casting: Charlotte Gayle
BAG NINJA: Susan Mahaffey



Nominated charity for the 2016 NVT Awards and BAG Awards Ceremony, as well as of the NVT 2016 Benefit Production of "It's a Wonderful Life": The Louisiana chapter of The Children's Tumor Foundation, for Neurofibromatosis support (Baton Rouge, LA.)

www.ctf.org/Chapters-Affiliates/Louisiana/

Main event sponsor: Harrah's New Orleans Hotel.
 

This year's Annual NVT Awards and BAG Awards Ceremony and Industry Gala were organized by The NOLA Voice Talent Foundation, in conjunction with the Background Actors Guild, to promote and recognize individual talent and commitment to the movie, theater, broadcasting, and voice-over industries in Louisiana.

Above: Veleka Gray received the 2016 NVT Louisiana Star Performer Award - the top award at this year's Gala NVT/BAG Awards Ceremony at Harrah's Hotel, New Orleans.
The award is given to the person who has shown individual talent and commitment to the movie, theater, broadcasting, and voice-over industries in Louisiana.
The 2016 NVT Junior Performer Award went to Patricia Corradi.
Award sponsored by Actors Choice Talent Agency, Denham Springs.

Prolific New Orleans-based actor Lance Nichols received the inaugural NVT Louisiana Actor Award.


Click here to see and hear Lance Nichols' acceptance speech.

A packed house at the Harrah's Hotel New Orleans' Vieux Carré Ballroom enjoyed an amazing industry gala to celebrate the movie and related industries in Hollywood South.

All photos on this page: Viking Multimedia


See more photos of the 2016 NVT/BAG Awards and Industry Gala, taken by Gene Franques, by clicking here


DON'T MISS next year's event - re-named
"The NVT/BAG Hollywood South Awards" - provisionally scheduled for
Saturday November 4th 2017.
Mark your calendars NOW and watch this space for details!

And join the Gala's Event page at: www.facebook.com/events/148041835746947