The Oscars

We've talked a lot in class lately about creativity and how it impacts our lives, and today, we spent some time talking about the Academy Awards, specifically the basis on which winning films are chosen. In an attempt to tie these two ideas together, I am going to relay a question I found on the New York Times website today, one that I think relates perfectly to what we were talking about in class and also made me think about the film industry itself in a new light. Do you think that "the Oscars promote artistry and experimentation in filmmaking or do they undermine innovation by rewarding tried-and-true approaches?"

Personally, I think that any individual in the entertainment industry has to have passion to make a good film. This being said, this passion could be driven by the need of being recognized-- more specifically the need to win an award. In any industry there is a pressure to be the best, as well as to be recognized as being the best. It's a goal, and it shouldn't be the only reason to be a part of an industry, but part of me thinks it becomes the reason that some are. I would like to believe that people partake in movies for no reason besides their love for acting, directing, screenwriting, etc. But I think that for some people, this love, whatever it may be, is lost among the necessity of being noticed in an industry where many people are lost and remain invisible throughout their entire careers. I do think that the Oscars have changed the film industry, and the yearning to become a part of the Academy has unfortunately made some people forget why they chose to become part of the industry in the first place. This being said, I think the idea of the Oscars undermines filmmaking because it defines what a "good movie" is. It rates movies against each other in an attempt to define a clear winner that is better than the rest, and the goal shifts from creating a movie you're proud of to creating one that will be recognized by the Academy as a "good movie."