Melissa would show up at random readings throughout the country; at little hole-in-the-wall readings of mine, in the front row, smiling and listening. She touched a lot of us. I adore her and mourn her death. But I understand the need to curb the list.
I grew up going to a movie twice a week and watching the Oscars, and every year, I looked forward to the moment when the lights went down and they showed photos and/or clips of the people in the industry who had passed. It was a great way to memorialize them. When I die, I don't expect them to put me in the montage, even though I have always supported the scene.
Producers, choreographers, writers, directors, actors, stunt doubles...anyone with a SAG card gets recognition, which is why I offered up keeping the list to those who are PSI members (although I should have specified - past and present PSI members.) Finals are a PSI event, period. We can't recognize every audience member, entourage, boyfriends, mothers, etc. A line has to be drawn somewhere.
