Bringing the alt crowd to its knees

By Leslie Simmons

Who says indies don't cry?

At last night’s Film Independent Spirit Awards nominee reception in Santa Monica, it wasn’t the awards show host Rainn Wilson or “Juno” director Jason Reitman or the party’s host, the lovely Patricia Clarkson, who got everybody’s attention.

It was 15-year-old “I’m Not There” co-star Marcus Carl Franklin who turned attendees' hearts into warm gooey messes during the now-traditional part of the soiree where the nominees are invited to the stage to introduce themselves.

“I’m Marcus Carl Franklin and I’m nominated for best supporting actor for ‘I’m Not There,’” the New York actor started off. “I wanted to first give a shout out to my mom. She probably left because she knew I was going to do this.”

Franklin, (pictured), who plays young Woodie Guthrie in the film, talked about how his mom is with him all the time, has taken good care of him on the set and on the road and is “the best stage mom in the world,” drawing lots of sappy, fawning “aahs” from the usually jaded bunch.

But back to form.

Wilson was invited on stage to say a few words, and he took full advantage. The crowd, of course, loved it.

“I’m Rainn Wilson and I’m nominated for best f---ing awards show host ever!” he declared.

More of Wilson’s dry wit can be seen on the awards show Web site.

There, his “Rainn on Film” interviews with a few nominees include the actor sporting a way-too-small, crotch-hugging (and blurred in all the right places) Dancing Elk Track Team uniform from “Juno.”

Wilson made a brief appearance in the beginning of the film as a smart ass convenience store clerk. His package, thankfully, did not.