While others are enjoying the holidays, employees at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles work furiously to get ready for the pre-Oscar season that begins in January. According to their timeline, official screen credit ballots submitted at the beginning of December turn into nominations ballots that must be mailed by the end of the month. In between, red carpet events and special appearances by the cast and crew of eligible movies take place all around town, according to Deadline Hollywood. Welcome to the pre-pre-Oscar Season!
From Official Screen Credit forms to Nominations ballots
The pre-pre-Oscar season began on the first day of December, 2011, when Academy employees started compiling information from official screen credits and music submission forms turned in before the 5 p.m. deadline. The forms consist of all the film information submitted by filmmakers and studios for consideration by Academy voters in multiple categories. According to AMPAS regulations each form must be reviewed to be sure the information is accurate and complete and the film is eligible. From the screen credit forms, the Academy creates nominations ballots that must be mailed to members by the end of the month.
Before the beginning of the year, each eligible feature film must be screened for the public in a Los Angeles County movie theater. Hollywood came alive in December as the studios and distributors stepped up promotions and screenings for the public. Stars walked the red carpets and filmmakers appeared for Q & As around town. Meanwhile gossip magazines closely follow other awards ceremonies including the L.A. Film Critics Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Golden Globes and others, to help gain attention for contenders in the Oscar race.
Relaxed rules result in more Hollywood events
This year the Academy relaxed its rules for pre-nominations promotions by the studios. As a result, screening parties increased accordingly. For the first time, the studios invited Academy members directly to see films with them and attend discussions with cast and crew. Steven Spielberg and Meryl Streep reached out beyond the city limits to broadcast their entries — “War Horse” and “The Iron Lady” respectively — over the internet. Stars of the movies, directors and others mingled with Academy members at post-screening parties in Los Angeles where food and wine flowed.
The pre-pre-Oscar Season ends on Jan. 24, 2012
The nominations polls close on Friday the 13th in January, 2012. After that, more stringent rules will apply once the nominations are revealed to encourage Academy voters to base their selections on the merits of films and achievements. To that end, no food or beverages will be allowed at screenings and hosts of events must be directly associated with the film and may only appear twice at live events.
On Jan. 24, the Academy Award Nominations will be announced at 5:30 a.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills and the pre-Oscar Season will begin. The Awards ceremony takes place on Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre and airs on ABC-TV. After that, the AMPAS ballots will be cleared for the year and the hard work and preparation for the next year’s Academy Awards will begin anew.
Sources:
“Academy Awards Timeline,” “Regulations Concerning the Promotion of Films Eligible for the 84th Academy Awards,” The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Pete Hammond, “From ‘Tinker, Tailor’ to Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt, Oscar Talk is Everywhere,” Deadline Hollywood.
Emily Exton, “Awards Season Calendar 2011: See it here!” Entertainment Weekly.
“War Horse,” “The Iron Lady,” Yahoo! Movies.