Jury discovering potential gaps in obligatory movie screenings for Oscars

The Dish on Oscar Vote Loopholes

Gossips abound that the Oscar jury's not playing fair with the new rule enforcement by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Back in April, the Academy tightened the screws, mandating jurors to watch every film from their respective categories on the Academy Screening Room to qualify for the final vote. But here's the trick - some smart cookies are merely flicking the 'play' button on the Academy's app, then muting the sound or browsing away. Insider sources spilled the beans to Variety, shedding light on this less-than-ideal situation.

Aside from this blatant shortcut, Variety also uncovered another loophole. You can stream films on the Academy's platform at 1.5x speed! The fresh rules don't mention any penalties if jurors take the easy route or turn a blind eye to their viewing assignments.

It seems like the Academy might be taking a long hard look at 2021's awards season, where "Brutalist," a film with 10 nominations and three wins, appeared to sweep the stage even though some voters admitted they hadn't seen the movie. The new rule is designed to prevent this exact situation by ensuring jurors get well-acquainted with all submissions in their category.

Wondering how to plug these leaks? Here are some strategies the Academy can employ:

Secure Verification on the Academy Screening Room: Beef up the tech on the platform to monitor viewership duration, engagement (like playback speed), and confirm substantial portions of each film are seen. A system requiring voters to take basic quizzes or provide feedback can boost verification efforts.
Stricter Attendee Verification for Off-Platform Viewings: Complement the current attendance report requirement by implementing robust checks at external screenings, possibly through digital ticketing or tracking systems.
Auditing Voters: Periodically review random voters to ensure compliance. Infractions uncovered need to be followed up with affirmative action, such as surveys, interviews, or additional checks.
Transparency and Education: Clearly spell out the rules and expectations to voting members, emphasizing the importance of genuine engagement with the films. Offering educational resources on effective film evaluation can strengthen the voting process.
Platform Improvements: Work with tech gurus to integrate AI tools that can spot unusual viewing behaviors and secure the platform against potential tampering.

By taking these steps, the Academy can uphold the integrity of its voting process and crackdown effectively on the handful of loopholes and unscrupulous activities.

Apart from these measures, monitoring usage patterns and establishing consequences for non-compliance can help tackle false or inattentive viewings. Regular feedback is essential to improve the platform and identify potential issues requiring resolution.

Security and industry standards are critical areas to reinforce, ensuring the Academy Screening Room remains reliable and uncompromised. By focusing on these aspects, the Academy can maintain the credibility and validity of its voting process while ensuring carefully considered decisions make their way to the coveted stage.

The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is facing criticism for lax enforcement of their new rule that mandates jurors to watch every film on the Academy Screening Room in their respective categories.
One loophole exploited by some jurors is simply playing the films on their app's platform and then muting them or switching to different applications, effectively avoiding engagement with the movies.
The Academy's urgency to tackle these issues became apparent during the 2021 awards season, when some voters admitted to not watching a film ("Brutalist") that received numerous nominations and awards.
To strengthen the integrity of their voting process, the Academy can implement measures such as verifying viewership duration and engagement on the Academy Screening Room, intensifying checks at external screenings, reviewing random voters, educating members about the rules, integrating AI tools to spot unusual behavior, and establishing consequences for non-compliance.