82nd Oscars – Things Are A-Changin’

AMPAS is at it again with more new rules and changes.

A  significant change was made in the Music – Original Song category.

The governors approved the Music Branch Executive Committee recommendation that if no song achieves a minimum average score of 8.25 in the nominations voting, there be no original song nominees and thus no Oscar presented for the category. If only one song achieves the required minimum, it and the song with the next highest score will be deemed the nominees. If two or more songs achieve the minimum score, they will be the nominees though no more than five nominees can be selected. Previously, the rules dictated that there be no more than five but no fewer than three nominees in the category.

In addition and as previously announced, the Best Picture category will have ten nominees instead of five.

Other modifications of the rules include normal date changes and minor “housekeeping” changes.

Secondly,

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted to establish a new annual event at which it will present its testimonial awards – the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and the Honorary Award. Honorees will be selected and announced in September and presented their awards at a celebratory dinner event in November. They will also be acknowledged at the year’s Academy Awards ceremony.

“Acknowledged,” huh. More like they’re clearing out room already. Sounds like it’ll be mentioned, but the recipient won’t come up on stage to give an acceptance speech.  I know…lets give the statues out in the audience again, while we’re at it. AMPAS President Sid Ganis gave this explanation:

For some years now, the Board has struggled to balance the desire to truly honor worthy individuals with the time limitations that the Oscar ® telecast imposes on these honors,” said Academy President Sid Ganis. “By creating a separate event for recognizing these outstanding people in the movie industry, we’re insuring that each honoree will be given his or her full due, without compromise.

Sigh! What other changes can we expect from the Board of Governors of the Academy?

Academy Award nominations in all categories will be announced on February 2, 2010. The 82nd Academy Awards presentation will be telecast live by the ABC Television Network on Sunday, March 7, 2010.

Source: Oscars.org