New Academy rule makes it much harder for docs to be considered for an Oscar.

[refocusedmedia]

http://www.indiewire.com/article/ne...cs-with-lat-or-nyt-reviews-qualify-for-oscars

The New York Times broke the story today that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is preparing to institute a new rule for documentary features: To qualify, a film must have a review from the New York Times or the Los Angeles Times.

 

[refocusedmedia]

Michael Moore and some others weigh in on the new changes, if anyone cares:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/michael-moore-best-documentary-oscar-will-be-chosen-by-the-full-academy

[URL]http://www.indiewire.com/article/exclusive-the-interrupters-director-steve-james-weighs-in-on-the-new-doc-rules[/URL]

 

[David Jimerson]

Michael Moore is a taboo subject (can never, ever be discussed without a massive flamefest which gets deeply political).

However, the Oscars rule change is fair game.

 

[refocusedmedia]

True, and I don't much care for him myself, but at the very least he is a well-known and influential documentary filmmaker which is the sole reason I mentioned him.

Here is a counter to the rule change, claiming that they really don't make that much difference at all:

http://www.movieline.com/2012/01/09/5-reasons-why-the-academys-new-documentary-rules-mean-nothing/

 

[Darren Levine]

eh, my bet is that if your doc ACTUALLY has academy merit, it will already have steam and merit enough that either of those papers would want to review it anyways.

it's not like an unknown doc with no steam would magically get in the running for the academy.

an odd thought occurs... i wonder how many oscars have been shoved up either a ____ or a ____

 

[gonzo_entertainment]

Michael Moore is a taboo subject (can never, ever be discussed without a massive flamefest which gets deeply political).

However, the Oscars rule change is fair game.

Hahahaha!
I was going to say, they SHOULD make a rule that docs can't contain staged and scripted scenes, but then some other doc makers who shall remain nameless would have all their films disqualified.

 

[Lkorver]

FWIW, i think IDA or another organization offers a package, something like $4,000 (I could be way off) that gets your project screened and reviewed in LA and NY and is supposed to get you access to Oscar consideration.