RULES APPROVED FOR 85TH ACADEMY AWARDS®
The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has approved the rules for the upcoming 85th Academy Awards. The most significant changes affect the Music, Foreign Language Film, Makeup and Visual Effects categories.
In the Music (Original Song) category, the Executive Committee may recommend that a fourth songwriter for an individual song be considered in rare and extraordinary circumstances. This amends the rule that has been in effect since 2005, whereby up to two songwriters could be eligible per song, although a third songwriter could be added if he or she were found to be an essentially equal contributor.
In the Foreign Language Film category, films must be submitted to the Academy in 35mm or DCP*, but are no longer required to be exhibited in those formats in their countries of origin.
The award given in the Makeup category will now be known as the Makeup and Hairstyling Award. Additionally, during the nominations process, all branch members who have seen the seven shortlisted titles will receive ballots to list their top three choices.
In the Visual Effects category, nominees will be selected from a pool of ten films chosen by the Branch Executive Committee by secret ballot. Previously, the committee could put forward as many as ten productions or as few as seven.
Other adjustments to the rules include standard date changes and other "housekeeping" adjustments.
Rules are reviewed annually by individual branch and category committees. The Awards Rules Committee then reviews all proposed changes before presenting its recommendations to the Academy's Board of Governors for approval.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2013, in the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.
*A Digital Cinema Package (DCP) is a collection of digital files used to store and convey digital cinema (DC) audio, image, and data streams.
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| Dujardin and Uggie |
ACADEMY INVITES 176 TO MEMBERSHIP
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 176 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2012 to the Academy’s roster of members.
"These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “I’m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member."
Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003. Some of the 2012 actor invitees are:
Simon Baker – Margin Call, L.A. Confidential;
Bérénice Bejo – The Artist, OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies;
Jessica Chastain – The Help, The Tree of Life;
Jean Dujardin – Les infidèls, The Artist;
Jonah Hill – Moneyball, Superbad;
Ken Howard – J. Edgar, In Her Shoes;
Diego Luna – Milk, Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother, Too);
Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids, The Back-Up Plan;
Matthew McConaughey – The Lincoln Lawyer, A Time to Kill;
Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs, Tumbleweeds;
Andy Serkis – The Prestige, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King;
Octavia Spencer – The Help, The Soloist;
Michelle Yeoh – The Lady, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
But, where is Uggie's name? Fans of Uggie in the silent movie The Artist and Water for Elephants, were outraged when the Jack Russell Terrier didn't get an Oscar nomination last January. Now Uggie's owner tells a magazine that movie was Uggie's last. He is 10 now, and is officially retired. Uggie did win the Palm Chien Prix (Palm Dog Prize) after last year’s Cannes Film Festival.
