Whitaker has had a standout year, appearing in Lee Daniels’ The Butler and producing Fruitvale Station.
Whitaker took on the role of producer for Fruitvale Station. The film is about the story of Oscar Grant III, a Bay Area resident that encounters friends and family on the last day of 2008. According to the Associated Press, Whitaker said, "It was some great performances, and I think people did acknowledge my work. As far as nominations, you really just can't allow yourself to get caught up. You just have to see how it flows."
Whitaker is glad to reflect on the success of the year and look ahead to the next round. Lee Daniels’ The Butler also featured Oprah Winfrey and John Cusack. It is the story of a butler who worked in the White House, over eight presidential administrations.
According to the LA Times, Whitaker has been glad to take on the “social stories” that he can be proud of. Whitaker received the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film. He was also awarded the Chairman’s Award for public service at the NAACP Image Awards.
Image: Wikimedia Commons