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The Movie & Story => News Coverage, Reviews & Awards => Oscars => Topic started by: Hurleycook on Mar 08, 2006, 01:08 PM

Title: AMPAS Regulations Concerning Promotion of Films
Post by: Hurleycook on Mar 08, 2006, 01:08 PM
Regulations Concerning the Promotion of Films
Eligible for the 78th Academy Awards®

Issued by the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

July 2005
PREAMBLE

In an effort to maintain a high degree of fairness and dignity in the process by which films eligible for Academy Awards® are promoted to the Academy membership, the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has developed a set of regulations for use by film studios, producers, distributors, marketers and others (collectively referred to below as "film companies") engaged in the annual rite commonly referred to as "campaigning."

The Awards competition is a process in which the voting members of the Academy make their choices based solely on the artistic and technical merits of the eligible films and achievements. It is the Academy’s goal to ensure that the Awards competition is conducted in a fair and ethical manner. Any campaign activity determined by the Board of Governors to work in opposition to that goal, whether or not anticipated by these regulations, will be subject to penalties. Furthermore, any Academy member who has authorized, approved or executed a campaign activity that is determined by the Board of Governors to have undermined the letter or spirit of these regulations will be subject to suspension of membership or expulsion from the Academy.
All penalties will be assessed at the discretion of the Board of Governors and in response to the seriousness of the violation. In addition to the membership-related penalties described above, other penalties might include the significant subtraction from a company’s standard allotment of tickets to the Awards Presentation. More serious violations could result in a film losing its eligibility for Awards consideration in one or more categories.

It should not be assumed that any tactics or activities not addressed by these regulations are acceptable. The Academy’s Executive Administrator will be happy to consult on any questions that arise. Marketers are also urged to familiarize themselves with the Academy’s regulations for using its intellectual properties.

REGULATIONS

1. Screenings.

The Academy encourages the screening of eligible films in a theatrical setting for its members. However, nothing may be given out to the Academy members at such screenings except for a simple listing of the film’s credits. Such screenings must not be accompanied by receptions, buffets or other refreshments, nor should such screenings be accompanied by any kind of live participation by anyone associated with the film. Screenings containing such additional components that are intended for the general public or other non-Academy audience must not be promoted to the Academy membership. Companies that sponsor screenings containing such live components that are held in a commercial theater and are open to the ticket-buying public may not permit Academy members to gain free admittance using their Academy membership cards.

After the nominations are announced, screenings intended for Academy members may not be "hosted" by any Academy member who is not directly connected with the film or the studio.

2. Passes to Commercial Theaters

Companies are permitted to distribute passes or coupons that allow the members to gain free entry to screenings in commercial theaters. These coupons may be for specific titles or for admission on a more general basis. These coupons must be simple in design and production. A film’s title and logo may be printed, along with studio name and logo. No photographs or other design elements specific to the film may be included. No additional text specific to the film may be included.

3. Screening Schedules.

Screening schedules or notices of upcoming screenings may be mailed to members, but only in letter format (8½" x 11" paper, no photographs, no glossy or card stock) or postcards (maximum size 4" x 6", logo and title only, no photographs, no key or other art, no glossy stock). Letters or mailings that extol the merits of a film, an achievement or an individual are not permitted. Letters containing quotes from reviews about a film or achievement are not permitted, nor should letters refer to other honors or awards, past or present, that have been received by either the film or the creative talent involved in the making of the film. Except as permitted in Regulation #6, letters may not include mention of any website that promotes any eligible film.

In addition to information about screenings, these letters and postcards may incorporate a logo, title and a basic "For your consideration" listing of the artists who worked on the film. They may include a brief synopsis of the film. Once the year’s crop of Oscar® nominees is announced, subsequent letters and screening schedules may refer to any current Academy nominations received by a film. Letters verifying a member’s address and announcing the shipment of screeners are allowed, and are not required to contain screening schedules.

4. Quote Ads

Any form of advertising that includes quotes or comments by Academy members is prohibited.

5. E-mail.

E-mail that is sent to Academy members must adhere to the same regulations concerning content and appearance as mail delivered by the post office or other delivery methods: i.e., it must include information about screenings and it may include a film’s logo, title, a basic "for your consideration" listing of artists and achievement, and a brief synopsis. It may not extol the merits of a film, an achievement or an individual. It may not contain quotes from reviews about a film or an achievement, nor should it refer to other honors or awards, past or present, that have been received by either the film or the creative talent involved in the making of the film. Except as permitted in Regulation #6, it may not include mention of, or links to, any website that promotes any eligible film.

6. Websites.

References or links to a website that promotes an eligible film are permitted in mailings, emails and other communications to members only under certain conditions. If such a website does not contain photographs, audio, video, graphical and other multimedia elements normally found in websites, then links or other references to the site in communications to members are permitted. In other words, referring to a website is permissible only if the website contains the same type of basic screening information and synopses that would otherwise be allowed in direct mailings, presented in a similar format.

All websites, whether of the allowable type described above or of the more conventional multimedia variety, must adhere to the Academy’s other rules concerning eligibility and use of the Academy’s intellectual properties. Additional information concerning those rules can be obtained by contacting the Academy or accessing the Academy’s website at www.oscars.org/legal/preamble.html.

7. Videotapes and DVDs.

Videocassettes or DVD copies of eligible films may be sent to Academy members. A member may not be sent both a DVD and a videotape of the same motion picture. A videotape or DVD sent to a member may not include any additional print or moving image material, such as information about the making of the movie.

8. Videotape/DVD Packaging.

The packaging of videotapes and DVDs should be limited to simple sleeves or boxes. Outer packaging on boxes containing multiple tapes or DVDs must likewise be simple in design. A film’s logo and title may appear on the packaging. Individual tape or DVD packaging may carry on it a list of "for your consideration" credits. Whether housing single or multiple tapes, elaborate or promotional packaging will not be permitted.

A box housing multiple tapes or DVDs may include simple typographic mention of the tapes inside, but the graphics may not refer to any specific titles. Generic studio logos or studio photos are O.K.

An empty tape or DVD box may not be sent to members as a "placeholder" or reminder that the actual tape or DVD will be sent at some future date.

Whether or not a videotape or DVD has already been placed in general distribution to the home video market at the time of its mailing to the Academy membership, the packaging must adhere to the regulations above. Use of the same packaging as used in the commercial release is no longer permitted.

9. Music.

Recordings of eligible songs and scores may be sent only to Music Branch members prior to the announcement of nominations. Sheet music of songs may also be sent at this time. After nominations are announced, recordings of nominated material may be sent to all members (sheet music may not be sent during the post-nomination period). The recordings must be identical to renditions used in the film, and must contain only the eligible music or songs. Soundtracks containing licensed or other ineligible material may not be sent. Video excerpts are not permitted.


10. Music Packaging.

The packaging of recordings and sheet music must follow the same format as those described in regulation #8 for videocassette/DVD packaging. Packaging used in commercial/consumer distribution may not be used in mailings to Academy members. Neither the packaging nor the item itself, such as the cover of the sheet music, may refer to other awards or achievements.

11. Inserts.

Information about upcoming screenings also may be inserted into the packaging of videocassettes, DVDs and music recordings. The size of these schedules may be tailored to fit the packaging; however, slightly heavier paper or card stock may not be used. Graphics should be limited to the use of logo and title. All other relevant restrictions concerning screening schedules contained in Regulation #3 also apply.

12. Screenplays.

Screenplays may be sent only to members of the Writers Branch prior to the announcement of nominations. Screenplays nominated in either of the two writing categories may be sent to all members after the nominations are announced. Screenplays sent should accurately reflect the film as released and should be in standard studio form, i.e., plain paper or card stock covers with only title and writer information (no graphics), containing no review excerpts or other promotional materials. The Academy recommends that screenplays be duplicated in a double-sided format. Screenplays reproduced in smaller formats (8-1/2" x 5-1/2", for example) are also permitted.

13. Third Party Distribution

Film companies are prohibited from doing indirectly that which these regulations prohibit them from doing directly and are prohibited from using subscriber-based publications to distribute promotional materials to Academy members who are not subscribers to those publications. The Academy defines "subscriber" as a member who has taken the intentional step of requesting that a publication be sent to him or her on a regular basis. The member does not necessarily have to pay for that subscription.

Any Academy member who has not made such a request, however, will not be considered a subscriber and any company that uses a publication to send the promotional materials anticipated by this regulation to such a member will be in violation of the regulation.

14. Telephone Lobbying.

Any organized effort to contact Academy members by telephone on behalf of a film or achievement is expressly forbidden, even if such contact is in the guise of checking to make sure a screener was received. Telephone calls to verify a member’s address are permitted, as long as no eligible films are discussed.

15. Events.

Receptions, dinners or other events to which Academy members are invited and which are specifically designed to promote a film or achievement for Academy Awards consideration are expressly forbidden.

16. References to Other Nominees

Ads, mailings, websites or any other forms of campaign communication that attempt to promote a particular film or achievement by casting a negative or derogatory light on a competing film or achievement are not permitted. In particular, any campaign tactic that singles out "the competition" by name or title is expressly forbidden.

17. The "Academy" Office.

Some film companies still refer to their "campaign" offices, in print and on the telephone, as "the Academy office." That’s confusing to some Academy members and incorrect. If a name is needed for those special tactical units designed to campaign for the various organizational awards that are presented during the first quarter of the year, the Academy suggests the more accurate "Awards Office."

The Board of Governors of the Academy reserves the right to review any activity that may or may not be described in these regulations and to assess any penalties it considers appropriate, as allowed under these regulations and the bylaws of the Academy.


Printable Version
PDF Format

For further information contact:
Ric Robertson, Executive Administrator
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211
310-247-3000 - telephone
310-859-9351 - fax
Contact via Online

To Distributors, Filmmakers and Marketers in the Foreign Language Film, Documentary Film and Short Film categories:

In general, the Academy’s Regulations Concerning the Promotion of Films are designed to apply to films entered in those feature-length film categories that require a seven-day qualifying run in Los Angeles (Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Screenplay, and so on). Since entries in the Foreign Language Film, Documentary Film and Short Film categories are judged by special screening committees – and since members of those committees must view the films at Academy screenings in order to be able to vote – any regulations having to do with video screeners in particular do not apply.

Other regulations, such as those having to do with mailings, websites, screenings and receptions, are relevant and applicable to contenders in all categories.

Please feel free to direct questions about the Academy’s Regulations to the above contact information.









 
 
Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences
Academy Foundation
8949 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90211
Phone: 310-247-3000
Legal Notices 
 

Title: Re: AMPAS Regulations Concerning Promotion of Films
Post by: hidesert on Mar 11, 2006, 11:49 AM


Thanks Hurleycook!

The problem with regulation as with any law is who is going to enforce it.  The Academy is really a step child of the studios - like a trade association. Is the Academy really going to go after a studio?   I think it's very doubtful.  They see their regs as giving them legitimacy. 

   
Title: Re: AMPAS Regulations Concerning Promotion of Films
Post by: ethan on Mar 11, 2006, 11:57 PM
I read today Entertainment Weekly and saw this quote which I think help explain what is going on at AMPAS and BBM's loss.

Ernest Borgnine, who won Best Actor 50 years agaon for Marty, responded "I didn't see it and I don't care to see it. I know they say it's a good picture but I don't care to see it. If John Wayne were alive, he'd be rolling over in his grave"

No oscar for me forever.

Title: Re: AMPAS Regulations Concerning Promotion of Films
Post by: frenchcda on Mar 12, 2006, 12:03 AM
I read today Entertainment Weekly and saw this quote which I think help explain what is going on at AMPAS and BBM's loss.

Ernest Borgnine, who won Best Actor 50 years again for Marty, responded "I didn't see it and I don't care to see it. I know they say it's a good picture but I don't care to see it. If John Wayne were alive, he'd be rolling over in his grave"

No Oscar for me forever.


did he come out of his comatose state juts to say such idiocy