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Every year we look forward to the glitz, glamour and gold statuettes of the Academy Awards. But what exactly is the Academy, and how did it become so prestigious?
The idea of the Academy was sparked in 1927 by Louis B. Mayer, head of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation (MGM). The ‘picture business’ was growing, but the industry was full of scandal – divorce, unwanted pregnancies and even murder. Mayer wanted to create an organisation that would improve the industry’s image and settle disputes without turning to unions. He met with actors, directors, and the head of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, and the notion of an annual formal event began to take shape. These men also established that membership into the Academy would only be open to people involved in one of the five branches of the industry – actors, directors, writers, technicians, and producers. It was an association for people in power. The first formal occasion was attended by 36 people, all of whom became the founding members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
The Academy Awards were first presented in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, with the purpose of recognising artistic and technical excellence in cinematic achievements in film. The winner’s statuette is officially called the Academy Award of Merit. However, when the Academy’s librarian Margaret Herrick saw one, all she noticed was that “it looks like my Uncle Oscar!” The awards ceremony was first broadcast on radio in 1930 and was televised for the first time in 1953. It is now seen live in more than 200 countries and can be streamed live online.
Today, the Academy has grown to include 17 industry branches, and is home to more than 7000 members, whose identities are kept as a “closely guarded secret”. Membership is open to qualified filmmakers around the world, however the great majority of its members are based in the U.S. In 2016, the Academy became the target of criticism for its failure to recognize the achievements of film professionals of minority groups, with #oscarssowhite becoming a trending topic. The Academy has since assured that by 2020 it will double its number of women and minority members.
Aside from the Oscars, the Academy also holds the Governors Awards for lifetime achievement in film, gives Student Academy Awards to upcoming filmmakers, awards up to five Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting annually, and operates two centres for film studies. The Academy also has plans to open a Museum of Motion Pictures in L.A. this year. With these assets, the Academy is investing in the future of the industry and its own value for decades to come.
