Comments on: Oscar Doc Shortlist Needs to Be Longer http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/20/oscar-doc-shortlist-needs-to-be-longer/ Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:53:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Paul Moore http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/20/oscar-doc-shortlist-needs-to-be-longer/#comment-27157 Paul Moore Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:12:49 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/20/oscar-doc-shortlist-needs-to-be-longer/#comment-27157 They just say that "advanced the genre" business to make the award selection sound "unbiased." But if Michael Moore can win an Oscar for advancing the genre, well, enough said. They just say that “advanced the genre” business to make the award selection sound “unbiased.” But if Michael Moore can win an Oscar for advancing the genre, well, enough said.

]]> By: Christopher Campbell http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/20/oscar-doc-shortlist-needs-to-be-longer/#comment-27089 Christopher Campbell Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:23:58 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/20/oscar-doc-shortlist-needs-to-be-longer/#comment-27089 That's interesting. I thought the Oscar went to the documentary that best advanced the genre. Oh well. At least film critics know the difference between reviewing the film and reviewing the message. Oh wait, no they don't. No wonder few people try new things with the medium. That’s interesting. I thought the Oscar went to the documentary that best advanced the genre. Oh well. At least film critics know the difference between reviewing the film and reviewing the message. Oh wait, no they don’t.

No wonder few people try new things with the medium.

]]> By: Paul Moore http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/20/oscar-doc-shortlist-needs-to-be-longer/#comment-26988 Paul Moore Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:38:02 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/20/oscar-doc-shortlist-needs-to-be-longer/#comment-26988 I will answer your questions on how the short list is created. The Academy still looks at the doc genre as an extended news story. The Acad's job--as they see it--is to raise awareness about one news story a year they feel everyone should know about. Hence, the Best Documentary Oscar. If it's not a hard hitting issue, it's not on the shortlist (regardless on innovation within the genre). In the case of The Devil Came on Horseback, that issue was "covered" by Darfur Now, according to the Academy. I will answer your questions on how the short list is created. The Academy still looks at the doc genre as an extended news story. The Acad’s job–as they see it–is to raise awareness about one news story a year they feel everyone should know about. Hence, the Best Documentary Oscar. If it’s not a hard hitting issue, it’s not on the shortlist (regardless on innovation within the genre). In the case of The Devil Came on Horseback, that issue was “covered” by Darfur Now, according to the Academy.

]]>