“I just love that guy, my entire family does,’’ said Sean, 40. “I just have this sense of pride about being from Washington. And its a different type of pride because I’m a third-generation Washingtonian.”
The Fines — Chevy Chase residents, husband and wife, parents, co-directors, Oscar winners. Their film, “Inocente,” an uplifting story about a homeless teenager who finds refuge in art, is based in San Diego, but the Fines edited it in their basement.
And ever since presenter Jamie Foxx laughed with Andrea about her tripping on the way up to the podium to receive her trophy (she Jennifer Lawrenced before Jennifer Lawrence), the couple has been tasting the ambrosia of newfound celebrity. Security let them into the uber-exclusive Vanity Fair party after a simple flash of the golden statues. They hung out with Steven Tyler from Aerosmith. Director Quentin Tarantino apparently loves them.
“Congratulations, man,’’ Sean recalls the “Django Unchained” director saying. “That was a great speech, man.”
This awards season, much has been made about Hollywood capturing stories of a Washington. The Fines’ story is of Washington capturing Hollywood.
“This world is very much a New York and L.A. world,’’ said Andrea, 41. “You don’t think about it as much until you get there that you’re based somewhere that’s very different.”
Added Sean, who grew up in the Palisades: “But you have to have a home. How do you stay grounded?”
They met in the District, while both worked on films for National Geographic. They started dating, soon fell in love and have been working together since getting married in 2003.
Their relationship is strikingly similar to that of Sean’s parents, Paul and Holly Fine, who met while working on broadcast news for what’s now WJLA. Paul, a producer, and Holly, an editor, worked together to create documentaries for “60 Minutes” and “Primetime,” winning four Peabody Awards.
Paul Fine, 67, was inspired by his dad: The late Nate Fine — Sean’s grandfather — served as the official photographer of the Washington Redskins for 51 years, and earned two Super Bowl rings with the team.
In fact, Sean was wearing his grandfather’s 1983 Super Bowl ring when he and his wife were nominated for their first Oscar, for “War/Dance,” a 2007 documentary about Ugandan refugees.
Wearing the ring to the ceremony five years ago just added to that night’s pressure. He was afraid he’d lose the heirloom. The couple ended up losing to a film about the killing of an Afghan cab driver, “Taxi to the Dark Side.”
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