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Reel
World
by Jim Joplin
Every year around the end of February, for the
past 80+ years, the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences has come together to honor
Until recently, I wasn’t aware of how everything
worked with the Oscars. Before we jump into
all of this year’s nominations, I thought I’d bring
you some history and information on how things
work before the big show.
Louis B. Mayer (of M-G-M) and his three
dinner guests: Conrad Nagel, Fred Niblo and
Fred Beetson (an actor, director and producer
respectively) began discussing the idea of
meeting on January 11, 1927 with 36 people
in attendance. The “International” didn’t even
of incorporation in mid-March. A few of the
attendees were Mary Pickford, Cecil B. DeMille,
Douglas Fairbanks, and many more. In the
articles of incorporation, Douglas Fairbanks was
named as the president of the Academy.
banquet was held at the Biltmore Hotel. There
were 300 guest in attendance; 230 joined
the Academy (each paying $100). That very
membership…to Thomas Edison. In the
years since, the total number of members is
somewhere in the neighborhood of 6000.
Since I just learned how the process works,
I thought I’d give you an insider’s glimpse as
well. For the purposes of this adventure we’re
going to cover the Academy Award for best
Original Score. There are two other categories
under the Music awards umbrella (Best Original
Song, Best Original Musical), but to cover all
three would take more than the space that I’m
allowed.
governors. They decide which Scores are
eligible for the given year. In 2011, there were
96 original scores that were deemed eligible
for the Award. The eligible scores are listed
in alphabetical order according to Film Title,
and are listed with the composer(s). This list
is then mailed to the 6000 members of the
Academy. The members are given two weeks
to the Academy for tabulation. At the end of
on the primary voting ballot and sent back to
the members. At this point, they are given three
weeks to return the ballots to the Academy. The
votes are counted, and the winner is placed in
a sealed envelope, not to be opened until the
night of the Oscars.
As for the award…the gold-plated statuette
is given to the composer of the score. If there
are two composers who composed the score
equally, they will both receive a statuette.
Two awards is pretty commonplace, but very
rarely do you see three awards. In the 84 year
history there have never been more than three
statuettes given for one Best Music Score
Award.
Now that we’ve covered the when’s, how’s,
and why’s, let’s take a look at some of the
nominations for the 84th Annual Academy
Awards:
Actor in a Leading Role: Demián
Bichir (A Better Life), George Clooney (The
Descendants), Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Gary
Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), and Brad
Pitt (Moneyball) – my prediction: Gary Oldman
in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Actor in a Supporting Role: Kenneth
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