The 98th Academy Awards are soon upon us, and that centenary is drawing close...
The annual awards ceremony has changed over the years, and the past decade has seen the Oscars diversify the way they celebrate the best films of the year.
Since Parasite ’s 2020 sweep, international films have been nominated in an increasing number of categories, finally breaking free from being pigeonholded in the Best International Film category.
This year’s Oscars will introduce a new category: Best Casting. It’s a welcome addition, as recognizing the crucial role casting plays in making a movie feels long overdue. And more changes are coming... 2028 will see the introduction of the Achievement in Stunt Design prize, a widely requested category which will honour the valuable work of those who create some of cinema's best stunts and most breathtaking action sequences.
Since the Academy is keen on adding categories, Euronews Culture dares to suggest five other key aspects of filmmaking that could receive their very own nominations.
1) Popular Film Category
Should the Oscars follow the example set by the Golden Globes? For their 81st edition, the Globes introduced a new category titled Award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. The category honours films based on their financial performance at the box office. The introduction of the category was controversial, with some deriding it for being a cheap and unnecessary inclusion that doesn’t reward artistic merit. However, as Oscars viewership continues its steady decline (explaining the upcoming move to YouTube), the Academy may consider adding a similar category in order to generate buzz among younger viewers. It all boils down to desperation, really.
2) Best Voice Acting
Voice Acting as an Oscar category makes all the sense in the world. While actors may not be seen on screen, their technical and artistic skills play a key role in injecting personality into our favourite animated characters. Not only does voice acting require the same acting skills that on-screen actors get to boast, it's worth saying that voice performers have gone underappreciated for too long.
3) Best Graphic Design / Marketing
In today’s modern consumerist society the advertising of a movie is essential to getting audiences to watch a film. Movie posters, slickly edited trailers, and social media hashtags are vital for studios when making a film. An intricate cog in the moviemaking machine, if you will. More than that: an art. As such, it would make sense that the creative minds that help get bums on seats deserve some recognition at the Academy Awards.
4) Best Motion Capture
Some of the coolest films of the 21st century have featured Motion Capture. The whole Avatar series wouldn’t exist today if it wasn't for a bunch of actors in weird suits. Motion Capture as a tool for moviemaking also entails many different parts of production coming together to make the technical marvel happen. To relegate the craft to Special Effects feels insulting. The technology is only getting bigger and better, so the Academy should consider rewarding the work of the magicians using motion capture to complement and advance storytelling in cinema.
5) Best Craft Services
Laugh all you want, but nothing makes a decent day on set like a good meal from craft services. It’s no secret that actors and crew members have to spend countless hours on set, and the catering staff have hundreds of mouths to feed – on top of dealing with the picky eaters and diva taste buds. Let’s face it, if the backbone of the entire film industry didn’t exist then the whole industry would come crashing down. Time for the Academy to consider awarding the Best Craft Services Oscar.
The 98th Academy Awards take place on Sunday 15 March.
