What kind of meeting was the first Oscar ceremony?

A grand gathering of global film artists

Oscar is the highest honor award in the history of world movies. It has been 64 years since its birth, and it has produced the winner of the 63rd Academy Awards. Its predecessor was Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences's "Oscar Award".

The era after World War I is a rare year for American film industry: 10. A group of avant-garde folk artists and cultural agents established the American film base-Hollywood near Los Angeles. After 10 years' efforts, European films have "quietly withdrawn" from more than 20,000 theaters in the United States, while films produced by Hollywood in the United States have been released in more than 70% countries around the world. In the early 1920s, the United States invested nearly $200 million to make 800 films every year, and the total annual film expenditure was as high as $65.438+0.5 billion, including film promotion and copy production. All these make Hollywood appear in front of people as the "fifth largest enterprise group" in China. Hollywood producers are becoming more and more ambitious. They are eager for greater fame and fortune!

At that time, filmmakers lacked supreme authority in the hearts of the audience. Movie stars are the most respected and favored in movies and life. The star system has almost become a bridge between Hollywood and the world. The audience's worship of movie stars is maintained by millions of signatures, and countless advertisements and propaganda have created a legendary atmosphere around these idols. Many fans in the world worship Hollywood. This growing fanaticism even threatens the dignity of the Pope. At the end of 1926, the sound film came out in the United States: Warner Bros. Film Company ventured to produce an opera film Don Juan starring Barrymore under the gloomy economic situation. The film was an unexpected success, with a total box office of $3.5 million! This record was quickly set by "Song Insanity" and earned $5 million. Obviously, the patent right of talking movies has fallen into the hands of Hollywood, which is excited and conceited.

During the period from 1927 to 1928, the number of American movie audiences increased by leaps and bounds, reaching 1 100 million people per week! Hollywood has become a "movie capital" for people to stay in the mountains. The rapid progress of art and science inspires and spurs the "younger generation" among producers and publishers. They are full of ideas and ambitions. Does it include Mary? Bi Ke Fu, a famous Hollywood movie star. Some far-sighted artists and entrepreneurs believe that in order to keep the increasingly fierce competition in the film industry prosperous, it is necessary to have an academic institution that truly understands art and science, make an inspiring judgment on the annual film equally and calmly as an authority, and record the last thing of justice in the film history books.

1927 65438+1October 4th, at the seaside dinner hosted by Meyer, the head of MGM Film Company, Meyer raised a question with great interest for the first time: Should the first film academic institution be established as soon as possible? So someone suggested that this academic institution could be called The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences（AMPAS）!

A week later, 36 authoritative figures from the American film industry gathered at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Meyer and other four people's proposals received a warm response! When they raised their whisky glasses at the same time, they became the official founders of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences!

In mid-March, the leadership of this college matured: Chairman Douglas, Vice Chairman Foucher, Chief Financial Officer Levi and Secretary Frank. On May 4th, the California government officially awarded the College the certificate of non-profit company. One night seven days later, the celebration party was held in the lobby of Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. According to statistics, 23 1 guests joined the college with enthusiasm and expectation. Undoubtedly, 1927 May 1 1 is a day that cannot be ignored in the film history of the United States and the world: the first film academic institution of mankind was grandly born! She will undertake the great historical mission of caring for, guiding and promoting the film art, as stated in the first statement 1926 issued by the Academy on June 20th: The Academy will face all kinds of improper attacks from outside with a fair attitude, and will try to adjust the differences and problems existing in the arrangement, so as to properly promote and protect the film reputation and the welfare of filmmakers; The college will encourage the improvement and development of professional film art and science and technology by exchanging constructive ideas and a series of measures to reward outstanding achievements; Will play a greater role in promoting and improving the role of the screen; All the positive actions of the college are for the professional films of all schools, for the films and other arts of all countries in the world, and for the developing human culture. ...

From the end of 1927 to the autumn of 1928, the labor relations in the American film industry showed a rather tense state. The film companies on the West Coast, including MGM, Warner Bros., Fosberry and co-branded artists, are under relentless pressure from the new york consortium and Manhattan Bank, and are prepared to forcibly cut the wages of Hollywood film workers by 10%, while workers and many Hollywood creators are.

During this period, the head of the college has searched for the group office center many times, because the original site can only barely hold a small meeting, which can not meet the gathering of hundreds of members of the whole college. Someone made a generous statement: build a building at once. But the idea was rejected by the Committee for lack of funds. After many consultations, the college decided to use the middle building of Roosevelt Hotel as the office space. There, the college began to make unremitting efforts to collect professional journals from all over the world, establish art archives, and consider establishing a permanent film library.

The college is faced with countless tasks, but the most important thing is the award-winning activities held every year for contributing film creators.

Richard is the initiator of the prize-winning activity? Clifford, Kim? Kloumann, meredith? Blake and Chipos. The resourceful Chibos was elected as the chairman of this working committee. They believe that the award will help the audience communicate with the film and enhance people's interest in the film. As early as 1927, the Committee held its first meeting and put forward the selection items. However, due to other urgent matters, this plan was put on hold. It was not until May 1928 that this proposal was reconsidered and approved, and 12 was determined as the award project, and 1 was the best producer. 2. Best actor; 3. Best actress; 4. Best drama director; 5. Best comedy director; 6. Best photography; 7. Best art direction; 8, the best effect production; 9. Best originality; 10, the best adaptation; 1 1, the best title writing; 12, the best prop making.

The college adopted a very cautious attitude in the first selection. First, the directors, producers, actors, screenwriters and technicians are selected, and then the Central Committee selects the nominees. The selection result was produced on February 5 1929, but it was not announced until several months later.

1929 May 16, the first "Academy Awards" was presented at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, the American film capital. Dazzling glass lamps reflect the hall into a crystal palace. The crimson Persian carpet is filled with colorful flower baskets, and the atmosphere is extremely grand. Most of the guests present at the meeting wore traditional evening dresses. Douglas, the president of the college, was well dressed and wore a black tie with gold thread. Other college leaders also wear elegant and dignified black ties. This unconventional large-scale film awards event was praised by the press and film critics as "black tie dinner". This dinner is full of friendship, trust and understanding, and has a feeling of "movie family". For many years, stars, filmmakers and technicians in the film industry can only talk or greet in a small salon, and the large-scale dinner held by the college with hundreds of people gathered is really exciting. This "black tie dinner" is not only a novel creation, but also of epoch-making significance. Since then, the college has never stopped her sacred and arduous awarding activities. Later, the awards ceremony developed into a grand scene that attracted hundreds of millions of viewers around the world.

Amid people's smiles and applause, 1 1 winners of the first "Oscar Award" stood in the center of the hall with smiles. Only the winner of the best actor award-Emile? Jennings didn't get such an unforgettable honor.

It stands to reason that at that time, audio films had taken the lead, but from the excellent films from 1927 to 1928, silent films were the best, so almost all the winners this year were silent films. Wings of the Film was unanimously elected as the best film award by the judges. Jenny? In seventh heaven, Street Angel and Sunrise, Gino showed excellent artistic level and won the glorious title of best actress.

Amid the cheerful music, the dean of the college presented Frank with two gold statues? Bao Caiqi and Lewis? Mequez Dong, because they directed seventh heaven and Beauty in the Deep Palace respectively. This is the first and last time that the Academy has given an award to a drama director.

The outstanding Oscar was won by Warner Bros. Film Company, because they skillfully produced and distributed a highly acclaimed film "The King of Jazz". Many journalists and observers believe that the academy's praise for "The King of Jazz" is insightful, and it has dual reform significance: the film was silent at that time, but the producer of "The King of Jazz" boldly inserted a lot of narration and vocals into the film, which was refreshing! Secondly, the film is an extraordinary work performed by a real black singer, while in previous American movies, blacks can only play a small role as a walk-on.

Among the award-winning members, there is also a comedy master who drives the audience crazy. He is a screenwriter, director, actor and producer of Circus. Chaplin! 100% of the judges raised their hands and passed a proposal to give Chaplin a special prize.

That night, Joseph seemed to be the most excited? Farnham. He won an Academy Award for completing the subtitle of the film Tell the World. He kissed the golden statue again and again with warm applause and cheers, and couldn't help crying. He kept mumbling, "Thank you … thank you for telling me the world."

Farnham's words were prescient. A week later, newspapers all over Europe reported the award ceremony. Obviously, the first award-winning activity of the academy not only communicated the exchanges between filmmakers and all walks of life, but also made an enterprising gesture to the world.

Undoubtedly, since the film 1895 was born in February, the college has taken the lead in nationwide selection under the principle of science and art, and it has spread its value orientation and broad spirit to the world year after year.

The "Oscar Award" gold statue was carefully designed by the artistic director of MGM Film Company, Derek Chibos. That is a handsome, burly and attractive young man, with a height of 13.5 inches and a weight of 8.54 pounds. Holding a sword in both hands, standing on an art film tape is full of heroic and vigorous momentum. This character design really has a unique skill. The first three-dimensional gold statue was completed by a sculptor who was only 24 years old. His name is George? Stanley.

193 1 year, at the fourth award ceremony held in Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, it was purely accidental that Margaret, the librarian of the college? Harry took the golden statue symbolizing honor and happiness from the winner. She studied it carefully and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, it looks like my uncle Oscar!" " Too many, my Oscar! "

Oscar! What a beautiful, wonderful and resounding name! Since then, the "Oscar Award" has been gradually forgotten and replaced by the "Oscar Award". Just as the appearance of any kind of honor will attract various "actions" of many competitors, there are different opinions about the origin of the name "Oscar".

John, a writer who writes stories about award-winning actors? Sandic solemnly claimed that the name "Oscar" was first called by him. Because he once played a joke on the lovely golden figure in front of many friends: "Oscar, do you have a cigar?"