The Academy's New Rules Regarding Internet Films
As I reported in last week's article, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences came out with its new rules for the 73rd Annual Academy Awards, and the most controversial new rule was a clarification of its policy that the only films that can be considered for Academy Awards are those that first screen theatrically.
They clarified a policy that had already been in effect (which ruled out television films for some time) to cover the new era of film broadcasting, the Internet. So now any films that make their debut on the internet first cannot qualify for Academy Award consideration. This week, I'd like to devote an article to discussing this issue and my opinion.
Of course a lot of discussion came about after this "clarification" that it was unfair for the Academy to not consider the wealth of new filmmakers who are having their films available to a wide audience via new distribution sites for short, independent films, a fairly new phenomenon on the World Wide Web. More and more sites are springing up which can broadcast a short film made by anyone to an audience hungry for independent films. And as someone who loves film and is himself an independent filmmaker, I am extremely excited about the opportunities that the internet is now providing, and especially all the new ramifications and eventual change with digital filmmaking and internet distribution. Every week or so, I check into two or three of the more well known of internet short film sites, and find some real gems from filmmakers who are the true heart of the independent film movement, making films on shoestring budgets with whatever hardware they can find, whatever actors they can find -- all because they have a passion for film and want to make something meaningful.
Ten years ago, I would have never discovered these films made by students, or by aspiring filmmakers. But now the internet has opened new doors, and now almost anyone with talent and persistence, can have their films distributed by this new medium, and seen by people around the world. Some are saying that this is the start of a radical new change in the way films are viewed and distributed. I think it may be a start for a part of that, but I don't think anything will take away the singular experience of sitting in a movie theatre with a crowd of other human beings, watching the big screen with incredible sound, and experiencing the true magic of watching a theatrical motion picture. And that's why I applaud and support the Academy's decision to clarify its policy, and only consider films released theatrically.
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