There are many ways that the Academy is still in the dark ages as far as the reality of modern filmmaking is concerned. Movies have to open in theaters to be eligible for the Oscar, at a time when online viewing is commonplace. Thus, in order to give voting members and audiences more time to see the nominated films, the Academy will announce the 85th Academy Awards nominations on January 10, five days earlier than it had planned, and three days ahead of the Golden Globes.
Key Academy dates are listed below.
Computer graphics are recognized as visual effects or via animated films, while the artists and talent who create great CG characters –from Gollum to Cesar–are not recognized as actors. But the Academy is slowly catching up, with a push or two from new chief Dawn Hudson. For the first time, electronic balloting will be available to voters in addition to standard-issue paper ballots. But voters will not be accessing their ballots from their home computer. They’ll have to go voting stations, created by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Everyone Counts, in LA, NY and London, equipped with a 24-hour telephone help line.
This year the pre-nominations phase will continue via paper ballot in eight categories that require screenings and/or presentations: Animated Feature Film, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, Foreign Language Film, Makeup and Hairstyling and Visual Effects.
The key dates are:
Friday, November 30, 2012: Official Screen Credits due
Saturday, December 1, 2012: Governors Awards presentation
Monday, December 17, 2012: Nominations voting begins
Thursday, January 3, 2013: Nominations voting ends 5 p.m. PT
Thursday, January 10, 2013: Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT, Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater
Monday, February 4, 2013: Nominees Luncheon
Friday, February 8, 2013: Final voting begins
Saturday, February 9, 2013: Scientific and Technical Awards presentation
Tuesday, February 19, 2013: Final voting ends 5 p.m. PT
Sunday, February 24, 2013: 85th Academy Awards presentation
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