An Oscar Statue is displayed at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards Governors Ball press preview at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center, in Hollywood, California, on January 31, 2020.
VALERIE MACON / AFPThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has relaxed a rule in the best original score category for next year’s Oscars. To be eligible, the rules used to require a score to comprise a minimum of 60% of the total music in the film. (The rest of the music could consist of new or old songs that were not part of the original score.) Going forward, the score need only comprise 35% of the total music in the film.
That was one of several rule changes for the upcoming 94th annual Academy Awards that were announced Wednesday (June 30). The changes were voted on by the Academy’s board of governors.
In the best original song category, going forward, no more than five songs from any film may be submitted. Previously, there was no limit on the number of songs that could be submitted from a film. No more than two songs from any film may be nominated, same as before.
The board also approved rules and campaign regulations for the 94th Academy Awards.
As previously announced, the eligibility period for Academy Awards consideration will return to the standard Dec. 31 deadline. A feature film must have a qualifying release date between March 1 and Dec. 31 of this year to qualify.
With theatrical exhibition still impacted by the pandemic, eligibility requirements for the 94th Academy Awards will be consistent with the addendums made for the 93rd awards season. They can be found here.
For films that open in theaters, the six qualifying U.S. metropolitan areas are Los Angeles County, the city of New York, the Bay Area, Chicago, Miami and Atlanta. Following this year, the Academy intends to expand the qualifying requirements for the 95th awards.
Additionally, beginning with the 94th Academy Awards, the best picture category will be set at 10 nominees, rather than a fluctuating number of nominations from year to year. This change was first announced a year ago.
Here’s a summary of changes in other categories:
In the documentary short subject, animated short film and live action short film categories, the shortlist will expand from 10 to 15 films.
In the sound category, there will now be a preliminary round of voting for the sound award to determine a shortlist of 10 films. Prior to nominations voting, sound branch members will be invited to a presentation of the shortlisted achievements, similar to the process in the visual effects and makeup & hairstyling categories. The entire sound branch will vote to select the shortlist as well as nominations.
In the international feature film category, key rule amendments made in the preliminary round of voting for the 93rd Awards and approved in January 2021 remain unchanged. This includes an expanded shortlist of 15 films and members from all Academy branches being invited to opt in and participate in the preliminary and nominations rounds of voting. Members must meet a minimum viewing requirement to be eligible to vote in the category.
Submission deadlines are as follows:
Documentary short subject – Oct. 15
Animated short film – Oct. 15
Live action short film – Oct. 15
Animated feature film – Nov. 1
Documentary feature – Nov. 1
International feature film – Nov. 1
Original score – Nov. 1
Original song – Nov. 1
General entry categories – Nov. 15
Campaign regulations, which specify how companies and individuals may market to Academy members, were also updated. The mailings of DVDs, CDs and physical screenplays are discontinued starting this year. Access to the Academy Screening Room will continue to be made available for all eligible releases. Digital links to materials will be permitted.
For the complete 94th Academy Awards rules, visit oscars.org/rules.
Taylor Swift believes Nashville has a music scene that stands apart from anywhere else.
The 36 year old singer moved to Nashville, Tennessee, when she was young to chase her dream of becoming a country music star. After being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on Monday (26.10.26), Taylor took the opportunity to recognise the city and the talented writers who have helped shape its music scene.
In her acceptance speech, Taylor said: "I believe you really get to master a craft by doing it again and again. That's exactly what the incredible songwriters in this wonderful town do every day."
Taylor also spoke about what makes Nashville such a special place for musicians.
The award winning singer, who ranks among the best selling music artists of all time, said: "You won't find another music community quite like this one. Trust me, I've checked them all."
Taylor also shared how being part of Nashville's songwriting scene had taught her valuable lessons about life and working with others.
She joked: "I've learned to be flexible when your co writer turns up with a hangover, or when they need to spend ages talking about their divorce before we can even get started on a song."
Taylor previously spoke about how Faith Hill and Shania Twain inspired her decision to move to Nashville.
Speaking to Time magazine, the singer said: "I couldn't get enough of watching TV biographies about Faith Hill and Shania Twain, and I realised they had both moved to Nashville to get their careers started. After that, I kept asking, pleading and begging my parents to take me there.
"When I was 11, my mum took my brother and me to Nashville during spring break, and we spent the trip driving around Music Row. She stayed in the car while I rushed into record companies one after another, giving my demo CD to the receptionists. I found it fascinating that so many major record labels were gathered along a single street, often inside little buildings and old houses.
"What really stayed with me was how welcoming people were to newcomers and complete strangers like us. We started visiting Nashville more often, and when I was 13, I received an offer for a development deal from a major record label. That was when my parents finally agreed to leave Pennsylvania and move with me."
