Revamping the Academy Awards: New Categories for a More Diverse and Exciting Oscars
The annual Academy Awards (Oscars) are one of the most highly anticipated events in the film industry. However, the structure of the awards has remained largely unchanged for decades, leading to potential flaws that could be addressed with some thoughtful reforms. This article will explore new award categories that could enhance the Oscars, making them more exciting and reflective of the industry's growth and diversity.
Consolidating Categories for Greater Brevity and Stimulation
The Oscars are often criticized for their bloated category system, with numerous divisions that can make the awards predictably stagnant year after year. Acts of merging various categories could significantly change the dynamic of the show, making it more engaging and fair for both audiences and industry professionals.
Merging Acting Categories by Gender
One significant reform would be to merge the Best Performance in a Leading Role and the Best Performance in a Supporting Role into a single performance category. Currently, actors often predict these winners months in advance, rendering the predictions non-surprising. By merging the male and female acting categories, the Oscars could introduce more unpredictability and excitement.
The category would allow for seven nominees, providing a broader range of talent and performance. This change would ensure that the most outstanding single performances, regardless of gender, are recognized, fostering a more diverse and inclusive award ceremony.
Unifying Screenplay and Music
Another improvement would be to combine the Best Original and Adapted Screenplay into a single category. Similarly, the Best Original Score and Best Song could be merged into a single Best Music category. This unification reduces redundancy and gives a more comprehensive overview of the film's creative elements.
Consolidating Visual Effects and Sound
Sound Mixing and Sound Editing are also ripe for consolidation into a single category. By doing so, the visual and auditory elements of the film would be honored as a cohesive unit, reflecting the collaborative nature of these integral processes.
Integrating Makeup and Hairstyling with Costume Design
The categories for Makeup and Hairstyling and Costume Design could merge into a single, more inclusive category. This combined category would acknowledge the integration and complexity of visual storytelling across these areas, highlighting the diverse talents involved in transforming characters into believable personas.
Adding New Exciting Awards: Best Ensemble Acting and Best Debut Feature
Beyond the category consolidation, the Academy could introduce new awards that both acknowledge and celebrate specific aspects of filmmaking that often get overlooked in the current system.
Best Ensemble Acting
The introduction of a Best Ensemble Acting award would recognize the collaborative effort and true team spirit that goes into a film. This award would focus on films where each actor gives a standout performance without any single lead taking all the limelight. Such films often highlight the interconnectedness of the narrative and the contributions of multiple performances.
Examples like Parasite, Bridesmaids, or The Return of the King would be perfect for this category, honoring the collective brilliance of the actors involved rather than a single standout performance. This award would be an exciting addition, refreshing the focus of the Oscars to acknowledge the ensemble's collective impact.
Outstanding First-Time Feature Award from DGA
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has already recognized the invaluable work of first-time directors with their Outstanding First-Time Feature award. Bringing this accolade to the Oscars would provide a significant boost to emerging filmmakers, bringing them the recognition they deserve on a grander scale.
By making the Oscars more inclusive of up-and-coming talent, this category would serve dual purposes: promoting diversity in the film industry and adding unique categories that keep the Oscars fresh and exciting for audiences and critics alike.
Such changes would not only enrich the ceremony itself but also drive the industry towards more diverse and innovative storytelling. The Oscars are a celebration of film and the vision of multiple talents, and by making these adjustments, more films and filmmakers can be celebrated for all their hard work and creative brilliance.