Academy To Members: Dinner Bribes Are Over

I know I'm a little late to the party, but I want to take a moment to comment on the Academy's recent new rule that says once a film is nominated the studio can't throw any elaborate parties for Academy members.  Which means if the nominations aren't announced yet, you can throw a dinner party (or something to that effect) for Academy members to attend.  Once the films are nominated though, this will be against the rules.  The Academy's reasoning for doing this - they claim - is to encourage voting members to go to the theater to see movies.  A noble quote, but quite untrue.  If this were the case, then they would also put on a ban on "For Your Consideration" screeners, which gives members the biggest excuse to not go to the theater to see a nominated film.

No, this was done for a very simple reason: They want to try and eliminate bribery.  The fact of the matter is, these big parties are almost like hidden bribes.  The companies would invite members to a fancy dinner, social event, and maybe throw in some dancing.  Sometimes there would be a screening of the film that was up for Best Picture, but not always.  Big companies could afford to make these parties as big as they wanted to, giving the illusion of the event representing how good the movie is.  For a movie like "Winter's Bone," which was released as an independent film, the studio can't afford these big parties and dinners to sway the voting branch (and don't deny it, that's what these parties are for).

The Academy basically is getting tired of the over-the-top campaigning that involves events that have little to do with the actual movie itself.  The parties could still be thrown BEFORE the nominations are announced (so I guess the studios can still buy a nomination), but once nominated the parties have to come to a halt!  The studios can set up screenings of their movies with Q & A's with the film makers, but once dinner is provided for free its considered a bribe.  So while this may not be about getting voters back in the theaters, it IS a step to get excess campaigning under control and making the voting about the movies once more!  And despite all the grumblings from within, that's a GOOD thing!  Look Academy members, it only costs about $20 per person to eat at Olive Garden, so save your breath for a rule change that's worth complaining about.