Behind the Scenes: A Look at the Academy Awards Ceremony
The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, is an annual award ceremony renowned for recognizing excellence in the film industry. The show celebrates the tremendous efforts of artists, engineers and other professionals in bringing entertainment to the screen. But what goes on behind the scenes of this star-studded event? In this article, we take a closer look at the Academy Awards ceremony and discover the inner workings of the show.
History of the Awards
The Academy Awards began in 1929 with the intention of honoring only the people behind the films. As time went on, the awards expanded to include performers, cinematographers, costume designers, and filmmakers. The first Academy Award was presented on May 16, 1929, to actress Janet Gaynor for her leading roles in three films: 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise. The award presented was a 15-inch-tall statuette of a knight standing on a reel of film, which has since become the iconic symbol of excellence in motion pictures.
Over the years, the awards have developed into the star-studded event it is today, gaining many more attention, nominations, and categories. In 1953, the first color televised broadcast of the Academy Awards was hosted by Bob Hope, and since then the event has been televised internationally, becoming one of the most watched live events in the world.
Organization of the Awards
The Academy Awards ceremony is put together by a large team of professionals, with the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the helm. The board is comprised of representatives from each of the twenty-one branches, including acting, art direction, and music. The organization of the show is further divided among five distinct committees: Administrative, Awards Presentations, Finance, Show Production, and Public Relations.
The 81st Academy Awards, for example, was produced by Laurence Mark, directed by Bill Condon, and hosted by the delightful Hugh Jackman. In addition, the production team includes more than one hundred professionals and over two thousand volunteers.
Award Categories
The Academy Awards present twenty-four awards, spanning acting, directing, writing, sound, cinematography and other miscellaneous fields. For each individual award, two contenders and a winner are chosen by a vote, to be presented onstage at the ceremony.
The most prestigious award of the night is, of course, the Best Picture of the year. The award is the culmination of several months of campaigning by production teams to gain votes. When the winner is eventually revealed, all tension and anticipation of the audience is electrified and brought to life.
Getting a Nod
For most nominees, the experience of getting an unexpected nod is filled with a mix of excitement and emotion. Once selected, nominees are required to fill out a form and return it to the Academy. If a nominee wins an award, the form is kept and delivered on stage in order to have the recipient accept their trophy and give their acceptance speech. As the recipient’s name is called, the rest of the nominees and the audience reflect on their success and appreciate the hard work and dedication put into creating some of the best films of the year.
The Red Carpet
The night before the awards ceremony, stars and filmmakers gather for a night filled with glamour, fun and anticipation. The red carpet is often filled with celebrities in designer duds, championing their best looks and walking side by side into the show. For many, this is their first ever experience of walking the red carpet, and the event is an exciting moment of their career.
The Show
The real show of the night is, of course, the ceremony itself, which honors the best achievements in film over the past year. As the show opens and stars walk onto the stage, the excitement and noise from the audience fills the theater. Throughout the night, awards are presented, and winners give their heartfelt speeches of gratitude and thanks. The audience cheers and applauds for truly remarkable achievements and humbly celebrates the diversity of talent in the film industry.
The Biggest Night in Film
The Academy Awards ceremony is a night for celebrating incredible accomplishments in the film industry. It is the event of the year, a chance for us to witness the best film talent of the moment, shine. Behind the scenes, a large production crew works tirelessly to make it all happen, bringing to life many months of hard work, dedication, and love.
Now that you have a closer look at the Academy Awards ceremony, we hope that you will be able to appreciate it even more the next time you watch the show.
