SCREENERS
There are two kinds of movies being viewed by academy
members. One is in the theater and the other is “the screener” to be watched at home or on any number of
other devices. While the screener makes it vastly more convenient for members
to view more films and have a more comprehensive overview of the films up for
consideration it takes away virtually every element of the film that was
created, at considerable expense, by a team of creative artists with the sole
purpose of emotionally moving their audience. Screeners can’t do that.
In the theater all distractions are removed. Announcements
are made to mute or disconnect cell phones to avoid distracting others there to
get lost in the film. The room is dark, everyone is facing the same direction
so we are unable to see others tear up, hold their breadth, clutch the hand of
their seatmates or just let their emotions out for 100 minute holiday. There
are no pauses, rewinds, bathroom breaks, and changes in lighting, heating or
food choices. People are in their
seats and presumably will not move for the entire film.
That is what the filmmakers had in mind when they made the
film and that is what the audience is entitled to if they are willing to pay
the admission price or are legitimately considering the performances and/ or
the film for the industry’s top honor.
The single most significant element to a film’s success is
how well it does in a theater. Marketers spend enormous sums of money to
promote the in theater experience.
Success in the theater virtually guarantees success in video, cable,
broadcast and countless overseas markets.
Add to the success in the theater, a number of marketable Oscars and the
film is on to levels of income and profit unimaginable in most other
industries.
In the foreign language category the voters have to see ALL
the entries. I have academy friends who literally camp out at the Academy
viewing as many as 50 or more films in order to cast their vote.
It is unfair for film makers to have their films which can
be truly life altering, judged on TV sets, of questionable quality, an airline,
a phone or a laptop.
If the intended feelings are not connected with the films
audience the results in all down stream revenue will be negatively impacted and
that hurts everyone.
I say it is time for the Academy to rethink its voting
mechanism. Get more people seeing more films in the theater.
