| If you are a fan of the movies, you may be | | | | Prior to the actual voting |
| wondering about the process that's involved in | | | | process, a very active promotional campaign |
| selecting the best actors that are awarded | | | | takes part on behalf of the nominated actors |
| Oscars by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts | | | | from various movies. In recent years, significant |
| and Sciences. Indeed, the manner in which the | | | | advertising campaigns have been mounted in |
| best actors and actresses are chosen for Oscars | | | | support of the different actors, actresses and |
| is a rather complicated process on some level. | | | | other professionals involved in movies. Ads are |
| With that said, the nomination and election | | | | taken out in the trade publications. Banquets are |
| process for movies, actors, actresses and the like | | | | held promoting different movies. Thousands and |
| within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and | | | | thousands of dollars are spent promoting the |
| Sciences has been in place for years. The process | | | | nominated movies, the actors, the actresses and |
| seems to work well although some recent | | | | the nominees in a variety of other categories. |
| complaints have been voiced in regard to the | | | | Indeed, the campaigning for Oscars has become |
| advertising campaigns that now surround the | | | | one of the most competitive ventures in all of |
| awards process following the announcement of | | | | Hollywood -- even more competitive than the |
| nominees. | | | | scrapping and clawing for roles in movies. |
| The first step in selection the | | | | Once the voting deadline |
| best actors in movies as part of ultimate | | | | passes in regard to selecting the best actors in |
| awarding of the Academy Awards or Oscars is | | | | movies for the year, the ballots are tabulated by |
| the nomination process. The Academy of Motion | | | | an independent accounting firm. As each vote is |
| Picture Arts and Sciences is made up of men and | | | | cast for the movies and professionals under |
| women who are professionals in fields related to | | | | consideration, the ballots are sent to an accounting |
| the making and production of movies. A slate of | | | | firm that holds them in a secure location. The |
| nominators is appointed by the Academy to | | | | accounting firm tabulates the votes relating to the |
| come up with the names of the actors and | | | | various movies in secret. For years, the |
| actresses who will be put before the enrolled | | | | accounting firm that handled these magical movie |
| members of the Academy as nominees for | | | | awards was the venerable agency of |
| Academy Awards. The actors and actresses are | | | | Price-Waterhouse. Not even the men and women |
| nominated for their work in movies that were | | | | who serve as officers of the Academy know |
| produced and that were presented in theaters | | | | who the winners are in advance of the award |
| during the preceding year. Needless to say, a | | | | ceremony itself. |
| nomination for an Academy Award is one of the | | | | On the night of the televised |
| highest honors that a person who works in the | | | | awards, the winners from the various movies in |
| movies can receive at any time in their lives. | | | | the best actor, best actress and other categories |
| Following the nomination | | | | are announced. Essentially no one knows who the |
| process, voting by select members of the | | | | various winners are prior to the announcement of |
| Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | | | | the various awards during the award show |
| occurs. The voting process employed by the | | | | presentations for the various movies, |
| Academy when it comes to rewards for movies | | | | performances and the like. |
| is rather interesting and unique. For example, all of | | | | In conclusion, and as an interesting aside, the |
| the actors who are enrolled members of the | | | | Academy Award statuette was not always |
| Academy vote on the slates of best actors and | | | | known as "Oscar." In fact, it was screen legend |
| best supporting actors who have been nominated | | | | Bette Davis who dubbed the Academy Award |
| for Oscars for their roles in movies. Likewise, | | | | statuette "Oscar." During an Academy Awards |
| directors vote on the directors prize, | | | | ceremony some years back Bette Davis |
| screenwriters on the screenwriters prize and so | | | | remarked that the statuette looked exactly like |
| forth. All members of the Academy are able to | | | | her husband ... who was named "Oscar." Oscar |
| vote on those movies nominated for best picture. | | | | stuck. |