Sunday, February 27 is the 83rd annual Academy Awards. The night of nights for the stars to shine, to honor their hard work and successes. I’m all for rewarding hard work and recognizing work well done and I don’t have a problem with the enormous wages the actors receive. They work hard and have crafted their skill and deserve what they can get. I also think there should be a night to celebrate their achievements.
Where I do have a problem is the actual Awards hoopla. The amount of money that is spilled out of pockets and purses to have “the look” is disturbing. The gowns, the shoes, the jewels, the waste.
There are gift bags given to the presenters. These gifts are given to people who can easily afford them any day of the week. A few of the items included this year are; a two weeks use of a Cadillac XLR worth $77,295.00, a catered dinner for a presenter and nine of their friends by Wolfgang Puck, a Blackberry worth $299.00, a two nights stay at Carlyle Hotel worth $500.00, four cups valued at $110.00, a day of boxing training with Joe Frazier, a Krupp Espresso Machine valued at $299.99, a mobile phone for your kids worth $99 and a Signature Days Experience Gift Card used for white water rafting, snowboarding or cooking lessons.
A commercial that is shown during the program will cost $1,500,000.00.
The cost of campaigning to convince the voters at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to back a film for Oscar consideration is $5,000,000.00
Each 13.5 inch Oscar costs $500.00
Following is some interesting facts concerning the Governors Ball which costs $750.00 per plate.
Ball Production by Cheryl Cecchetto / Sequoia Productions
Menu Created by Wolfgang Puck with Chef Partner Matt Bencivenga & Executive Pastry Chef Sherry Yard
Fun Facts
• 1500 Guests
• 900 Staff
• 250 Culinary Staff
• 10,000 Pieces of Cutlery
• 1200 Bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne
• 3 Musical Acts Performing on 2 Stages
• Cocktail waitress dresses, waiter uniforms, and 3 different entertainment ensemble costumes = 350 specialty costumes in total designed for the Ball
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• The room will sparkle with 250 strands of Swarovski crystal featuring more than 10,000 individual crystals of eight different shapes and sizes and weighing over 350 lbs.
• Mark’s Garden is incorporating other materials like succulents, feathers, unique tropical leaves combined with the flowers to create a fanciful look.
• 100 gallons of paint + 600 yards gold taffeta on railings and stage
• 200 ellipsoidal theatrical lighting fixtures
• 250 LED “Green” theatrical lighting fixtures
• 26 automated lighting fixtures
• 8.4 miles of cable
• 28,000 square feet of fabric on the ceiling
• 3,004 zip-ties used to attach fabric to the truss
• 3,000 lbs of 1/16 aluminum for custom scenic leaves
• 150 rigging points in the ceiling to suspend the leaves
• 4200 black screws
• 150 technicians
5000 Wood Fired Oscar Shaped Flat Bread
2000 Miso Cones
200 pounds Yellowtail
150 pounds Albacore
1200 Kumamoto Oysters
100 pounds Black Farm Raised Mussels
150 pounds Farm Raised Littleneck Clams
7200 Individual Shrimp
200 pounds Sticky Rice
25 gallons Housemade Cocktail Sauce
1000 Stone Crab Claws
20 gallons Spicy Mustard
1000 Spiny Lobsters
1500 Mini Burger Buns
600 Pizza Shells
500 pounds Smoked Salmon
1600 Whole Dover Sole
10 pounds Winter Black Truffles
300 Blood Oranges
300 Cara Cara Oranges
5000 Asparagus
500 pounds Heirloom Beets
500 pounds Haricot Vert
300 pounds Arborio Rice
50,000 Organic Heirloom Baby Vegetables
30 cases Frisee
4800 Cage Free Eggs
10 flats Pudwill Farms Blackberries
10 flats Pudwill Farms Golden Raspberries
10 flats Chino Farms Mara des Bois
100 pounds Valrhona Ivoire
100 quarts Heavy Cream
100 quarts Milk
120 pounds Organic Sugar
15 pounds Edible Gold Dust
4000 Mini Chocolate Oscars
All fish and seafood SeafoodWatch compliant
Now, I ask you. Is this really necessary? When there are hungry children perhaps right down the street, do they really need the room to sparkle with 250 strands of Swarovski crystal featuring more than 10,000 individual crystals of eight different shapes and sizes and weighing over 350 lbs.?
When people are sleeping in the streets and can’t afford medical care, couldn’t they leave the ceiling bare instead of having 28,000 square feet of fabric draping? What do they do with that fabric after the meal?
Like I said before, I am all for making good money, getting recognition and being rewarded. But, this, I believe crosses the line.
I’m not suggesting we boycott the program or cancel it. It’s a fun evening for everyone.
But, I do have a challenge to all the people involved with the Academy Awards for next year. How about if . . . each item, like your dress, your jewelry, your shoes, the meal or whatever would have a cap of $500.00. You would need to get creative. Find a great outfit for $500.00. I personally think you could spend less than the $500.00 and look smashing. Then take the difference in the price you paid this year and the $500.00 and donate the amount to your favorite charity.
Instead of Champaign and caviar, why not good old cheeseburgers and beer? Take the difference of the $20.00 on that meal and the $750.00 spent for each meal this year and donate that to a food kitchen.
Take a cab instead of a limo. Give the difference to an organization.
Oh, the possibilities are endless. Besides that, it would start a new type of competition – how about an Oscar for the best looking cheapest dress.
While we can all enjoy a night of celebration, couldn’t we celebrate on less? Couldn’t we take some of that money that is thrown around and help people with every day, life necessary needs?
What better way for the actors to give back to the very people who helped create their income, than by helping others with their day to day struggles. Any one up for the challenge? Just a thought.
