If you are a member of the film industry, you know there is one major goal. Sure, a film you worked on could earn $100 million and stay at the top of the box office for weeks, and that is fantastic. But, did your film win an Oscar? Was your name in that fancy little envelope? Did you go home with a golden statue? Everyone in the film industry dreams of the day when there name is said after the words Academy Award Winner.
And on February 26th, the 84th Annual Academy Awards will air and many actors, directors, producers, and music writers will achieve the goal of being an Oscar winner. As for everyone else, we get to watch at home on TV and stare wide-eyed at the fashion, critique acceptance speeches, and get royally pissed off when our favorite film doesnt win when we want it to.
But did you know that the first ever Academy Awards wasnt even on TV? It was held May 16, 1929, at a private brunch at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with an audience of about 270 people. The cost of guest tickets for that nights ceremony was a mere $5. Fifteen statuettes were awarded, honoring artists, directors and other personalities of the filmmaking industry of the time for their works during the 1927–1928 period.
At the time, the winners were announced three months prior to the actual ceremony, but that changed the following year. Since then and during the first decade, the results were given to newspapers for publication at 11 pm on the night of the awards. However, in 1941 The Los Angeles Times released the winners before the actual ceremony. From then one, the Academy has used seal envelopes.
The first person to win the award for Best Actor was Emil Jannings, who won for his work in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh. Jannings was in Europe at the time of the awards, so the Academy gave him his Oscar early, making him the first person ever to win an Oscar. At this time, the honored professionals were awarded for all the work done in a certain category for the qualifying period, which is why he was awarded for two films.
As far as hosts go, Douglas Fairbanks and William C. deMille were the first people to ever host the Oscars. Bob Hope is the most recognized host, after performing the job 17 times. Other notable hosts include Fred Astaire (1951), Jerry Lewis (1956, 1957,1959), Frank Sinatra (1963, 1975), Sammy Davis Jr. (1972, 1975), Jane Fonda (1986), and Chevy Chase (1987, 1988). Billy Crystal is right on Hopes heels since he has hosted a total of nine times, including this years telecast.
We know everyone is dying to hear who wins for Best Actor and Best Actress, and what film wins for Best Picture, but did you know that there are a bunch of preposed categories that have been rejected? Some include Best Casting (rejected in 1999), Best Stunt Coordination (rejected in 1999 and 2005) as well as Best Title Design (rejected in 1999). There have also been categories that once were used and are now retired. Some include Best Original Story (1928-1956), Best Title Writing (1928 only), Best Dance Direction (1935-1937) and Best Assistant Director (1933-1937).
As for this year, the 84th Annual Academy Awards will air February 26th, on ABC. They will take place at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California, will honor the films of 2011, and be hosted by Billy Crystal. Check out the nominations below!
Best Picture The Artist The Descendants Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Hugo Midnight in Paris The Help Moneyball War Horse The Tree of Life
Best Actor Demian Bichir, A Better Life George Clooney, The Descendants Jean Dujardin, The Artist Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Best Actress Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs Viola Davis, The Help Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Best Supporting Actor Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn Jonah Hill, Moneyball Nick Nolte, Warrior Christopher Plummer, Beginners Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Best Supporting Actress Berenice Bejo, The Artist Jessica Chastain, The Help Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Director Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life Alexander Payne, The Descendants Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Original Screenplay Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris JC Chandor, Margin Call Asghar Farhadi, A Separation Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, Bridesmaids
Best Animated Feature A Cat In Paris Chico & Rita Kung Fu Panda 2 Puss in Boots Rango
Best Foreign Feature Bullhead Footnote In Darkness Monsier Lazhar A Separation
Best Art Direction The Artist Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Hugo Midnight in Paris War Horse
Best Cinematography The Artist The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Hugo The Tree of Life War Horse
Best Makeup Albert Nobbs Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 The Iron Lady
Best Music Original Score The Adventures of Tintin The Artist Hugo Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy War Horse
Best Music Original Song Man or Muppet from The Muppets Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie Real in Rio from Rio Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett
Best Visual Effects Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Hugo Real Steel Rise of the Planet of the Apes Transformers: Dark of the Moon
What are your predictions?
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