The season of radical honours thinking

This seasons hopefuls funnel The Nobleman Speech for kudos inspiration. Variety's annual Honours Season Launch starts on-page 19 today, marking the condition start of kudos season (kinda/sorta/not always -- people happen to be planning campaigns for more than a year, but we just figured today was as good a period of time every to acknowledge it has began). To describe a Passover question: Why honours season different then other award seasons? The optimist inside me states this might be -- needs to be -- yearly of radical rethinking. Within the last few years, there's been many key changes round the kudos scene, as well as the mind of steam could keep building. The pessimist states it won't be easy to affect the DNA. Reasons for hope: Oscar has two occasions formerly three years broken its 66-year tradition of naming only five best picture nominees. Plus, the Governors Honours were spun off, the Oscarcast faster having a month, and will also be moved even earlier. Plans are afoot for electronic voting. Streaming of films is becoming an problem as companies are thinking about getting choices to screeners. Could this function as year that honours voters think outdoors el born area, retaining their "prestige" criteria but reinvigorating the "enjoyment" factor that has been dormant too extended? And could this function as year that AMPAS board people and ABC professionals finally consider major changes for the show? The current format was spectacular if the first demonstrated on tv in 1953. But, uh, occasions have changed. More will probably be mentioned on these subjects inside the several days ahead. The various, many several days ahead. And, yes, I've only been speaking in regards to the Oscars, while you will discover other honours occasions. Many, many, many other honours occasions. But Oscar might be the Alpha male in cuckoo kudosland, if the Academy of motion Picture Arts & Sciences makes changes, everyone else will too. However, a number of things stay: the passion for certain films, the hopes, the excitement which evolve into glassy-eyed numbness and verge-of-tears, wanting-it-will-finish-soon exhaustion. Reading through with the tea leaves Every year, strategists make an effort to develop a formula for fulfillment. Though secret ballots, experts is only able to make guesses, calculating the prior year's wins will be the Rosetta stone that opens all the methods of Academy voters' tastes. A year ago, "The Social MediaInch was winning everything until "King's Speech" won the SAG Honours and continuing its unbroken streak for the Oscar win. Consequently, many honours hopefuls this year works round the supposition that SAG is vital which any film with Kleenex-y uplift features a appealing factor. While not so quick. Indication No. 1: Experts aren't people in the Academy and the other way round. Around bloggers would rather proclaim bellwethers, this is often a very inexact art. Indication No. 2: Tastes change from year upon year. "LOTR: Return in the King" and "Slumdog Uniform" won top honours in the last decade without any single Oscar acting nomination. "Gladiator," "The Departed," "No Country for Old Males" and "The Hurt Locker" were not exactly heartwarmers. The acting in many of individuals was superb but not one of them was an "actors' movie." "The King's Speech" won because it was terrific. Plus it was terrific cuz it was not trying to mimic almost every other movie which is exactly what voters respond to. Rules of engagement There's another annual kudos tradition: Every season, the truly amazing old Academy tries to get tough on campaigning. (The topic is addressed in depth on-page 19 by Variety's new and socko honours editor Christy Grosz.) The Academy is trying to at the same time deal with reality and perception. Can we think people selected for "King's Speech" since they got a free of charge dinner at Chateau Marmont? AMPAS honchos understand that people election for faves, nonetheless they live in fear that authors and consumer-press bloggers might say Oscars might be "bought." Keep things in perspective Another annual tradition: The whole process of honours season will probably be overanalyzed and mocked as if it's another instance of Hollywood egos run amok. Basically, it comes down lower to creativity. But it's be also a period for marketing, networking and business, since some films the ones will increase earnings substantially. Ego stroke? This can be a bonus. As well as the season might be fun, if you're inside the right mood. Really the only real question is the best way to sustain that mood It is therefore official! Honours season has began! Permit the games begin! And let's make sure that for an additional handful of several days, most of us stop using lots of exclamation points! Column Calendar: Monday: Peter Bart Tuesday: Peter Caranicas/Cynthia Littleton wednesday: John Lowry Thursday: Andrew Barker/David S. Cohen Friday: Tim Gray/Ted Manley Contact Timothy M. Gray at tim.gray@variety.com