Oscar Is Only Part of the Mission of the Group Thanked So Often

As the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approaches its 75th anniversary, it has evolved into a much more mature and stately organization than founder Louis B. Mayer and the heads of the other studios envisioned in 1927. The academy hands out Oscars each year for everything from best picture to best makeup. But it also functions as a year-round booster for the art of motion pictures, and it boasts one of the best research libraries and archives in the world. Below are some commonly asked questions and the answers to some widely held misperceptions.

Who is the academy?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was originally founded by Mayer to help mediate industry labor disputes and promote the image of the motion picture industry. Over the years, the nonprofit organization has dedicated itself to the promotion of film as an art and the celebration and preservation of that art form. In addition to giving out Oscars every year, the academy maintains a year-round film and education programming schedule, and it has a growing archive and research library.

How many members does the academy have?

At present, there are 6,316 members, of whom 5,607 are voting members from the 13 academy branches--actors, producers, directors, writers, editors, cinematographers, art directors (production design and costume), special effects (the newest branch, which is 2 years old), sound, public relations, music, executive, and short films and feature animation. There are two other groups: members at large, who include such people as makeup artists, stunt coordinators and documentarians (they enjoy voting privileges); and associate members, who include agents and other members of service industries not directly involved in the making of films (they do not vote). There have been several efforts to bring agents into the fold as voting members, but the board has thus far rejected the overtures.

Once accepted, members retain their status for life--as long as they pay their dues (about $200 a year), and there is no cap on the number of members at any one time.

Certain movies are identified as “academy movies” based on the belief that academy members are largely older--average age 55--and therefore generally more conservative in their taste. Is there any truth to this?

The academy says it keeps no tally of members’ ages. There has been a slight increase in the number of members in recent years, because there are more branches, life expectancy for the population as a whole has increased, and membership is lifelong. With a net gain of members each year, the mean age is probably somewhat lower--but even new members tend to be older; that is, not right out of film school.

What is the largest branch of the academy and what is the smallest?

The acting branch is by far the largest, with 1,300 voting members. The next largest is the producers branch, with about 400 members. The smallest branch is cinematographers, with fewer than 200 members. The rest fall between 200 and 400 each.

How are members selected?

Applicants for membership are recommended to the main committees of the various branches (actors, directors, producers). To qualify, the applicant must have several screen credits (it varies according to the branch). And, the academy stresses, they must be “quality” credits. Starring or producing credits on “Blood Curdling Screams Parts I-XII” won’t necessarily do the trick. For the executive and public relations branches, qualifying factors include the number of years of service, and job titles at various studios or top production companies. Two members in each branch must propose a new member, whom the committee then votes on and recommends to the board of governors for final approval.

Contrary to popular belief, an Oscar nomination doesn’t automatically get you into the academy. And while winning an Oscar usually does result in membership, there have been exceptions for winners who are not career filmmakers. In some instances, the academy extends an invitation to membership in recognition of the person’s accomplishments.

Are there any surprises in the ranks of the membership?

You might be surprised to learn that 17-year-old Anna Paquin, who won an Oscar as supporting actress for “The Piano,” is a member of the academy, as is 26-year-old Neve Campbell, but Oscar-winning director and screenwriter (and frequent nominee) Woody Allen is not. Although the academy declined to comment about Allen, he probably ascribes to the philosophy of Groucho Marx that he delineated in “Annie Hall” to the effect that he wouldn’t want to belong to any organization that wants him as a member.

How does a movie qualify for an Oscar nomination in a given year?

To be considered in most categories, a feature film must be more than 40 minutes long and exhibited in 35 millimeter or 70 millimeter for paid admission at a commercial movie theater in Los Angeles County for at least seven consecutive days, beginning no later than Dec. 31. For example, “The Hurricane” was released on Dec. 30 but played for more than a week after that. Other films, such as “Topsy-Turvy,” were released in L.A. for a one-week qualifying period in December and then reopened in the new year for a regular run. Films that debut on cable or video and are later released in theaters are ineligible.

How are the nominees selected?

In most categories, the individual branches select the five nominees through a weighted point system (1 to 5). The order in which a potential nominee is selected can determine its fate. Only the nominees for best picture are selected by the entire voting membership. Some categories, like foreign language film and documentary, are selected by volunteer committees from the general membership. In the final balloting for Oscars, members may vote for only one nominee in each category.

How are the final votes cast?

For the majority of the categories--except for foreign language films, documentaries and shorts--every voting member selects one nominee. The one with the most votes wins.

Do members have to see every film that is nominated?

Technically, yes, although in most categories this is done through an honor system. There are five categories on which members can vote only if they can prove they’ve seen all the selections: The two documentary categories (feature-length and short), the two short subject categories (animated and live action) and the foreign language film category.

Due to past complaints, this year the academy changed the procedure for the nominating process for feature-length documentaries. Academy members who are working documentarians or feature filmmakers who have made documentaries in the past were asked to cull through the 70 or so documentary submissions and narrow them down to 12. The five nominees were decided by a committee from the general membership. The final selection is open to all members, provided that they’ve seen all five films.

In the foreign language film category, each country submits for consideration just one movie (this year, there were 47 submissions, including the first from Bhutan). The film submitted must have been released in the country of origin during the qualifying calendar year, but not necessarily in the U.S. (Only one of this year’s nominees was commercially released in the U.S. in 1999, the Spanish entry “All About My Mother.”) A committee of about 400 academy members then winnows the submissions down to five nominees. As with the documentary and shorts categories, members must see all five films to pick a winner.

What percentage of the academy’s annual budget comes from the Oscar telecast?

The academy’s operating budget as of June 30 was just over $30 million. More than 75% comes from licensing the Oscar show.

What are the academy’s rules regarding promotion and perks of nominees?

Five years ago, the academy established guidelines. Cassettes and DVDs of the nominated films can be sent to members, but they must contain no review quotes. Screenplays can be sent to the writers branch, and music to the music branch. But that’s it. No elaborate coffee-table books, or splashy four-color brochures (although studios can still mount elaborate campaigns in trade and consumer publications), and no “making-of” documentaries.