"Let`s Make Fair Competition for Academy Award"

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hosts the Academy Awards, took a dramatic measure against the excessive promotion war among producers. It has come up with strong regulations to prevent the chronic disease of lobbying and promotion by movie studios.

Therefore, the Academy will enforce its code of conduct as regulation, not just as guideline, against those who engage in any conduct that may disgrace the reputation and spirits of the Awards.

Under the new "regulations," no studio or producer can invite its members to dinner or reception, or are allowed to promote their films, quoting the remarks made by its members. The producer of Gangs of New York, for example, put his recommendation in the newspapers, and made many people raise their eyebrows. This type of conduct, however, will no longer be allowed.

Forfeiture of Membership is one of strongest measures

So far, deprivation of the privilege to attend the ceremony was all that the Academy could do against the members or producers that committed misconduct. "But it had no substantial meaning at all," said former Cannes chairman. "It was purely symbolic. Nothing more."

To shorten the lobbying time, the organization has decided to hold the Oscars in February from 2004.

The measure will expectedly prevent the dirty lobbying by producers, targeting the Academy members. According to The New York Times, a total of $1 - $10 million was spent to buy the favor of the members.

Frank Pierson, the head of the Academy, said that the money poured in to buy the favors of the members were skyrocketing, and that the conduct would severely damage the authority and trust of the Awards.

Soo-Kyung Kim skkim@donga.com