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How They Choose the Best Actors?

5 Steps to Awarding the Oscars

Are you a fan of the movies? Then you may be wondering about the process that’s involved in selecting the best actors that are awarded Oscars by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Indeed, the manner in which the best actors and actresses are chosen for Oscars is a rather complicated process on some level. With that said, the nomination and election process for movies, actors, actresses and the like within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been in place for years. The process seems to work well although some recent complaints have been voiced in regard to the advertising campaigns that now surround the awards process following the announcement of nominees.

1. The first step in selection the best actors in movies as part of ultimate awarding of the Academy Awards or Oscars is the nomination process. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is made up of men and women who are professionals in fields related to the making and production of movies. A slate of nominators is appointed by the Academy to come up with the names of the actors and actresses who will be put before the enrolled members of the Academy as nominees for Academy Awards. The actors and actresses are nominated for their work in movies that were produced and that were presented in theaters during the preceding year. Needless to say, a nomination for an Academy Award is one of the highest honors that a person who works in the movies can receive at any time in their lives.

2. Following the nomination process, voting by select members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences occurs. The voting process employed by the Academy when it comes to rewards for movies is rather interesting and unique. For example, all of the actors who are enrolled members of the Academy vote on the slates of best actors and best supporting actors who have been nominated for Oscars for their roles in movies. Likewise, directors vote on the directors prize, screenwriters on the screenwriters prize and so forth. All members of the Academy are able to vote on those movies nominated for best picture.

3. Prior to the actual voting process, a very active promotional campaign takes part on behalf of the nominated actors from various movies. In recent years, significant advertising campaigns have been mounted in support of the different actors, actresses and other professionals involved in movies. Ads are taken out in the trade publications. Banquets are held promoting different movies. Thousands and thousands of dollars are spent promoting the nominated movies, the actors, the actresses and the nominees in a variety of other categories. Indeed, the campaigning for Oscars has become one of the most competitive ventures in all of Hollywood -- even more competitive than the scrapping and clawing for roles in movies.

4. Once the voting deadline passes in regard to selecting the best actors in movies for the year, the ballots are tabulated by an independent accounting firm. As each vote is cast for the movies and professionals under consideration, the ballots are sent to an accounting firm that holds them in a secure location. The accounting firm tabulates the votes relating to the various movies in secret. For years, the accounting firm that handled these magical movie awards was the venerable agency of Price-Waterhouse. Not even the men and women who serve as officers of the Academy know who the winners are in advance of the award ceremony itself.

5. On the night of the televised awards, the winners from the various movies in the best actor, best actress and other categories are announced. Essentially no one knows who the various winners are prior to the announcement of the various awards during the award show presentations for the various movies, performances and the like.

In conclusion, and as an interesting aside, the Academy Award statuette was not always known as “Oscar.” In fact, it was screen legend Bette Davis who dubbed the Academy Award statuette “Oscar.” During an Academy Awards ceremony some years back Bette Davis remarked that the statuette looked exactly like her husband … who was named “Oscar.” Oscar stuck.

Roy Barker
17 Dec 2006
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Aaron Eyes New Goal

The euphoria has settled down for Aaron Kwok after winning the Golden Horse Best Actor Award for his performance in "After This Our Exile". The first thing he did when he returned to Hong Kong and saw director Patrick Tam was to give him a big embrace.

Aaron quoted, "He (Patrick) wasn't at the awards presentation and we have both put in a lot for this movie. I just wanted to share it with him."

Aaron said it was an honour to work with Patrick as not only is the latter well versed in directing, he is also very good at scripting, lighting, image, sound and many other areas.

"There are not many like him in Hong Kong," Aaron said. "Having the opportunity to work with him has allowed me to grow as an actor."

"After This Our Exile" - was shot entirely in the old towns of Ipoh and Teluk Intan, Perak - is about the downfall of a man whose gambling addiction costs him his wife, his job and ultimately his son.

The greatest challenge for Aaron was the role of a father. His character (Chow Cheong Shing) is from a poor background and he had to feel the character, the environment, etc. "A lot of the imagination was needed to create the character and fortunately, Patrick was there to give lots of opinions and help." Said Aaron.

As for Ian Gouw Iskandar, an eight-year-old, he was able to read what Aaron had wanted to convey and act which was excellent. Ian won the Golden Horse Best Supporting Actor Award, becoming the youngest actor to do so.

In the midst of all the acting there was the challenge of the local Malaysian slang. Today, he said that he became so used to it that he speaks like that when he's back in Hong Kong. When asked, "What is it about Malaysia that is unforgettable?" "Hot-lah," he said. Aaron also mention how fortunate he was to be able to portray this role and also get the opportunity to learn more about Malaysia's culture.

This Best Actor Award is the second in a row for Aaron, following his win in the movie "Divergence" last year, proving once and for all that it was no fluke but a winning strategy.

"I have always planned the stages of my life," he said. The next stage is after 40, during which I will be focussing on my acting and hope to film more diverse roles.

Aaron is now working on a new costumed movie titled "Pak Ngan Dei Kwok" roughly translated, it means "White Silver Nation". This character is a rich man who has plenty of complicating love ties which is a complete opposite of his previous roles and would pose a challenge.

Although he is focussing on acting. Aaron is by no means phasing out singing. In fact, he has just joined a new recording company and has plans to release a new Mandarin album. But his ultimate goal is to hold a stage musical. "That, however will have to wait until 2008 or 2009," he said.

Sharon Wong
Malaysia
19 Dec 2006

This article was written by Sharon Wong of Malaysia which was published in the New Straits Times, on Friday, December 15, 2006. The article is only an abstract of the actual article. Actual article permission had to be obtain from Sharon, sharonwkk@yahoo.com.