By Emerald Green
“And the Oscar goes to…” Academy Award enthusiasts have all heard that phrase along with “I’d like to thank the Academy…” Although the “Oscars” are known and watched worldwide, for those who don’t know, “The Academy” is the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
This year will mark the 89th Academy Awards. Jimmy Kimmel will host the live Hollywood tradition at the Dolby Theater on Sunday, Feb 26. Available on ABC or for streaming, the Oscars is one of the biggest nights of the year for actors and avid movie watchers from over 200 countries. The movies and actors receiving the Oscars continue to influence society and pop culture years after their world premiere, like “Titanic” (1997) and “Gone With the Wind” (1939). The Academy Awards have been held annually for the past 89 years, but not all viewers are aware of the ceremony’s long and complicated history of struggling with its efforts of diversity.
It all started at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel of Los Angeles, California on May 16th,1929. Only 270 people spent $5 ($70 today) for their seats for the 15-minute-long ceremony.
That was the year renowned sculptor George Stanley presented the “Oscar,” a statuette 13.5 inches tall and a whopping 8.5 pounds, which was modeled after Mexican actor, Emilio “El Indio” Fernández. The nickname for the award is disputed between former president of the Academy, Bette Davis’ first husband, Oscar Davis, and former Executive Secretary, Margaret Herrick’s Uncle Oscar. However, its true origin isn’t known for certain.
“Oscar and I have something in common. Oscar first came to Hollywood scene in 1928. So did I. We’re both a little weather-beaten, but we’re still here and plan to be around for a whole lot longer” John Wayne, 30-year top box office draw and star of “True Grit,” said in 1979.
In 1936 the first supporting actor and actress nominees were presented. The Academy started to recognize documentaries in 1941. With the advancements in technology, The Academy decided to divide The Special Effects category into Sound and Visual effects in 1964. Screenwriters began receiving awards in 1986, which allowed for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to receive their first Oscars for their 1997 debut film, “Good Will Hunting.” With the rise of computer-animated movies, the Best Animated Feature category was added in 2002, allowing for movies like “Shrek” to be celebrated for their developments in that area.
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which recognizes people in the industry for lifetime actions benefitting society, made its first appearance in 1957. In 1968, Grants were awarded to film-related organizations and scholars for internships, festivals, and other opportunities. The Student Academy Awards Committee was established in 1973 to recognize and encourage young filmmakers, and in 2000, it began awarding two $25,000 grants annually.
Last year, the 88th Academy Awards was a target of boycott by critics, like Spike Lee and Will Smith, for their continued nominations of mostly Caucasian actors. A study by the LA times in 2012 found that a majority of The Academy was Caucasian, male, and over the age of 60. The Academy has taken measures to prevent this reaction from repeating itself by reorganizing its members to represent a more diverse population. Today, the qualities of the recipient are debated between character, talent or both. This is most noticed now with the public’s insistence that The Academy remove Casey Affleck’s best actor nomination because of his 2010 sexual assault allegations.
The nominations for this year’s Academy Awards have broken many records. Meryl Streep broke her own record when she gained her 20th Oscar nomination.
“When they called my name I had this feeling I could hear half of America going, “Oh no! Oh, c’mon why? Her? Again?” You know? But, whatever,” Streep said during her 2012 acceptance speech for Best Actress.
“La La Land,” directed by Damien Chazelle, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is tied with “All About Eve” and “Titanic” for the most nominees in Oscar history, a total of 14 nominations.
For the first time in ten years, all four acting categories feature a minority. Viola Davis made history with her supporting actress nominee in “Fences” by being the first and only African-American actress to have ever been nominated for three Academy Awards. Denzel Washington would be the first black actor to win three Oscars in acting categories if he wins Best Actor for his role alongside Davis in “Fences.” Joi McMillon pioneers as the first African-American woman to earn a nomination in film editing for her work in “Moonlight.” Barry Jenkins could start the reign of African-American winnings for Best Director.
Two animated films also stand to break records. “Kubo and the Two Strings” is the second animated film in history to be nominated for Best Visual Effects. If Lin-Manuel Miranda wins an Academy Award for his Best Original song “How Far I’ll Go” in “Moana,” he will not only be the youngest person ever to reach EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony winner) status, but one of the first 13, joining legends like Audrey Hepburn, Mel Brooks, Richard Rogers, and Whoopi Goldberg.
Times have changed since the first Academy Awards. The organization and ceremony have faced backlash over the years, but they have also made the effort to acknowledge more people for their talent with new categories and more diverse nominees. This year’s Oscars is predicted to be the most exciting and most inclusive one yet.
