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After winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, Jordan Peele's press conference got off to an awkward start backstage.

Standing in front of a room of reporters with numbered cards in hand, the "Get Out" writer and director joked that he felt like he was "about to be auctioned off right now." Someone else in the room replied, "You absolutely are. Get used to it."

[rebelmouse-image 19534047 dam="1" original_size="450x253" caption="GIF from "Entertainment Tonight"/YouTube." expand=1]GIF from "Entertainment Tonight"/YouTube.


The room laughed at what was essentially an unintentional callback to a scene from Peele's award-winning film. "This is creepy," he said. The atmosphere was filled with a kind of enjoyable tension — the same feeling one might have when watching "Get Out" for the first time.

What made the whole experience even more surreal was the fact that Peele almost didn't make the movie, let alone win a top honor for it.

[rebelmouse-image 19534048 dam="1" original_size="450x186" caption="GIF from "Get Out."" expand=1]GIF from "Get Out."

The whole press conference was fascinating, but one question about the importance of awards stood out.

"As you continue to move forward telling stories about race and things that have affected us in our society, how important are Oscars and other awards essential to you for validation or to continue to move forward?" asked one reporter. Peele's response touched on his complicated feelings around awards as a sign of validation, discussing how his 12-year-old self helped him understand why they do matter.

"I didn't know how important this was. I always wanted this, but the campaign is grueling, and there are times when I questioned, what is it all about? You're watching your last jump shot for a year, and as an artist, that doesn't feel right. It doesn't feel right to be complacent and to feel like I've done anything too special to reward myself."

Once he was nominated, however, Peele says he understood how much awards helped inspire him at a young age.

"When the nominations for this came together — first of all, when the nominations came out, I had this amazing feeling of looking at the 12-year-old that had this burning in my guts for this type of validation, and I instantly realized that an award like this is much bigger than me."

All GIFs via Entertainment Tonight/YouTube.

It was Whoopi Goldberg's 1991 Best Supporting Actress Oscar win that helped fuel Peele's own curiosity and ambitions. He hopes his win can have the same effect on others.

"This is about paying it forward to the young people who might not believe that they could achieve the highest honor in whatever craft they want to push for. You're not a failure if you don't get this. But I almost didn't do it because I didn't believe that there was a place for me. Whoopi Goldberg, in her acceptance speech for best supporting actress for 'Ghost,' was a huge inspiration to me, and when I got nominated, one of the first things I did was reach out and call her and thank her for telling young people who maybe doubted themselves that they could do it. So I hope that this does the same and inspires more people to use their voices."

Peele has every reason to be inspired by Goldberg's speech. It was filled with a beautiful combination of honesty and joy.

"I want to thank everybody who makes movies," she said, beaming. "I come from New York. As a little kid, I lived in the projects, and you're the people I watched. You're the people wanted — made me want to be an actor. I'm so proud to be here. I'm proud to be an actor, and I'm gonna keep on acting. And thank you so much."

Peele tweeted that Goldberg's speech "practically reached through my TV and told young me to follow my dreams."

Maybe his speech could inspire another aspiring filmmaker the way hers inspired him.

You can watch Peele's backstage press conference below.

Wonderful, surprising, and happy things happened all over the world this week. No, really!

Take, for example a new migraine-preventing drug that could one day help millions of people. Then there's the town in Sweden that is considering paying its residents to have sex with their partner (of course it would be in Sweden). Oh, and don't forget that Nokia is bringing back the 3310, otherwise known as everyone's favorite, blocky, indestructible cellphone from the year 2000!

And that's not nearly all.


Here's a look at some wonderful things that will make you feel G-R-E-A-T about the world.

1. A video surfaced of the most friggin' enthusiastic kid ever during a sing-along at school.

I'd like to make a motion that we all begin each morning like this.

The little guy in blue will change your mood

I challenge you not to smile Credit: ViralHog

Posted by Viral Thread on Tuesday, February 21, 2017

2. More and more people are adopting senior dogs. They're cute, and they won't eat your shoes!

We all know most everyone wants an adorable puppy, but gray-muzzles need good homes, too. One organization that specializes in rehoming senior pets happily reports they're seeing more interest from people in bringing an older dog into their home. Let's keep it up!

3. India's Ministry of Health just said it's OK to be gay (and some other cool things). That's a huge deal.

Official laws in India are a bit behind the times on issues like homosexuality and consent, but the education community at least is making a push to change that. New guidelines encourage educators to tell young people it's OK to be attracted to the same sex and that consent is important in any sexual encounter.

4. Scientists say sea snails might one day save us from pain. Yippee!

Opioid addiction and overdose is a major problem in America, but the drugs are super important and effective in mitigating pain. Early testing shows that venom from sea snails (though the snails themselves aren't all that easy on the eyes) could one day be a safe and effective alternative.

5. People are already banding together to hide and shelter undocumented immigrants.

CNN reports that people all over the country are already working together, forming a network to help house immigrants who may be wanted by ICE for deportation.

I don't know about you, but watching people stand up for their neighbors, documented or not, makes me swell with pride for our country.

6. A small-town hero gave a stranger his own car so he could make it to a funeral on time.

Todd Steinkamp's car gave out on him during a long drive to a funeral, stranding him in unfamiliar Wild Rose, Wisconsin. A mechanic there said he could fix it, but it'd take a couple of days, and the town was fresh out of rental cars.

So the kind mechanic gave Todd the keys to his own truck and told him to get going.

Let me tell you the story of Glenn. I had to go to a funeral yesterday up by Green Bay, Wisconsin. As it was a long...

Posted by Todd Steinkamp on Wednesday, February 22, 2017

7. New trials for an HIV vaccine are extremely promising.

A new study out of the IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute in Barcelona reports that a hybrid of existing vaccines helped curb or eliminate HIV in a number of participants. If the drug progresses successfully, it could one day eliminate the need for expensive, daily treatments for HIV patients.

8. This baby hugging a cat.

This is the best.

9. A trope-busting horror movie about racism scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Director Jordan Peele. Photo by Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images.

We all know the ancient trope about the black guy dying first in horror movies, but in Jordan Peele's "Get Out," the black guy is the main character, and the film isn't afraid to tackle the racial issues of today's America head-on.

Oh, and apparently the movie is good. Like really good.

It's awesome to see a smart filmmaker of color pushing forward in a genre in desperate need of change.

10. Fashion FTW. A report just claimed Fashion Week in New York was as inclusive as it's ever been.

A model for Marc Jacobs during Fashion Week. Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images.

The Fashion Spot reports that the recent mega-fashion event in New York City held earlier this month featured at least one model of color on every runway, which hasn't happened since anyone has been keeping track.

11. And finally, a woman in a wheelchair broke major barriers in the Miss World Australia competition.

There's no such thing as too many stories about inclusivity. Beauty comes in every shape, size, color, and ability, as Justine Clark proved by advancing farther than anyone using a wheelchair had in the competition before.

I love my job. The impact I'm able to make just by being a part of other people's lives in whatever makes them feel whole. This year I decided to help people do more of what makes people happy. In case you missed it, over the weekend I hosted the Adelaide @missworldaustralia preliminary with contestant; Justine. @fitalicous_vegan_barbie Being in a wheelchair does not define her or limit her abilities to represent our country with the #missworld #crown and I congratulate my boss @pageantqueenaus for always supporting and empowering us women in more ways than our exterior beauty. Love, serve and nurture. I was in tears when I presented this group of girls. They make me proud to be a part of a social and emotional revolution which is changing history in the way beauty is being viewed. #lovemyjob #wellnesscoach #mc #presenter #Adelaide #author #healthyliving #wheelchair #eveningwear #beauty #beautywithapurpose #beautiful #model #rolemodel @dailymail

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There's bound to be great news next week, too. You might have to look a little harder for it these days, but I promise you, it's worth it!