Lights, Camera, Oscars!
Posted by Patricia Colomy on
Yes! It’s that time of year, again. Just as the glitz of the New Year begins to wind down, the glamour of the Academy Awards starts to build. The ceremony has been honoring all aspects of film making for over ninety years, and there’s no doubt that the 2019 Oscars will be a night of top-billing celebrities, classy garb, fashion forwardness, paparazzi and awards galore. Here’s to celebrating all things Oscars!
This Year’s Nominees
This year marks the 91st Academy Awards ceremony and as usual, the competition is steep. The nominees were announced early on Tuesday, January 22, and there are some clear frontrunners in the mix.
Now, if we’re going by total number of nominations alone, leading the bunch is "Roma," written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and "The Favourite," directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Both films have reeled in 10 nominations apiece.
Following closely with 8 nominations apiece are "A Star is Born" and "Vice." Many other films are also being recognized with multiple nominations, including "Black Panther," "BlacKkKlansman," "Bohemian Rhapsody," and "Green Book."
This year’s Academy Awards also features two momentous Best Picture nominations, with "Black Panther" being the first superhero film to receive the nomination and "Roma" being the first Netflix film to receive the nomination.
With so many emotionally powerful and visually stunning films in the running, along with tremendously talented actors and filmmakers, it’s safe to say that the 91st Academy Awards will be an extraordinary night for nominees, winners and viewers.
Oscar Traditions: Both Classic and Contemporary
Just like the films they tribute, some Oscar traditions have withstood decades of change, and others have evolved with the times.
One of the most iconic images in the entertainment industry is the Oscar statuette. And although the award might seem small in stature, measuring in at 13 ½ inches, it bears with it a grand honor. Formally named the Academy Award of Merit, the statuette is a depiction of a knight carrying a sword and standing on a movie reel. The aptly designed Oscar also carries quite an interesting history, from playful nickname origin stories to surviving metal shortages during World War II. Since its creation in 1929, over 3,000 Oscars have been crafted and awarded to movie performers and creators, alike.
Another icon of the Oscars is the ever essential envelope. Each envelope holds the name of the winner of each category and is treated with the upmost importance. There are even two spare sets made for each event, just in case of a mishap. However, unlike Oscar, the envelope has received several make-overs throughout the years. These changes in design have been made to showcase the importance of the envelope, coordinate with Oscar, and to help streamline the reveal process.
Another of the more recent Academy Award traditions is the delivery of incredibly elaborate swag bags. These astonishingly pricey gift bags are given to nominees, win or lose. Now, when I say "astonishingly pricey," that’s exactly what I mean. These goodie bags have been known to reach total values of hundreds of thousands of dollars and include anything from gourmet snacks to all-inclusive vacations. Companies that choose to include their products amongst the swaggery must donate their items and pay a hefty promotional fee. But can you really put a price on the chance of this year’s hottest celebrities wearing, consuming or boasting your products? I think not.
Celebrating With the Stars
Now, there’s no guarantee that our favorites will pull an Oscar this year. But one thing we can count on is that people across the world will be hosting their own Oscars party to watch the broadcast and root for their favorite movies, actors and film creators.
Some of us will host swanky gatherings; sending out invitations, securely sealed in opulent envelopes. We’ll roll out the red carpet; giving our guests the star-treatment, with swag bags and champagne at the ready. Our guests will come dressed to the nines to make their long awaited entrance. And they’ll do their best to keep up the red carpet perfection, while trying their hand at predicting the night’s winners on their very own Academy Award ballot.
And some of us will choose to hold a more exclusive event: snuggled up with a blanket, popcorn and warm toddy for an intimate evening with the stars in a cozy ambiance.
However we chose to watch the 2019 Academy Awards, it usually comes with our own traditions and nuances. And we won’t be doing it alone. On average, nearly 38 million people watch the awards ceremony each year.
Why We Watch
There are numerous reasons why devoted cinephiles watch the Academy Awards each year. We tune in to see our favorite stars and film makers receive accolades for their accomplishments and talents. We watch to ogle jaw-dropping dresses and see who our favorite celebs bring to the special event; maybe we’ll even catch a red carpet romance reveal!
We sit eagerly, hoping for a tear-worthy acceptance speech or powerhouse musical performance. And truthfully, a handful of us watch hoping to witness a royal flub or faux pas of any kind.
No matter the reason for watching, the Oscars are a magical time where we find ourselves swept up in splendor and intertwined with the world of film fantasy, if only for a moment.