Seth MacFarlane Announces National Search for Oscar Presenters on mtvU

mtvU, MTV's 24-hour college network, today announced that comedian, writer, producer and this year's host of the Oscars®, Seth MacFarlane, is the newest guest professor on the network's ongoing, Emmy®-nominated "Stand In" series. mtvU followed MacFarlane as he travelled to the University of California Los Angeles campus to stun a class full of students during Professor Denise Mann's "Overview of Contemporary Film Industry" course.

During the class, MacFarlane announced "The Oscar Experience College Search" presented by The Academy and mtvU, a national search for the next generation of Oscar hopefuls. College students who are interested in pursuing careers in film – writing, directing, producing, acting and more – are encouraged to vie for an opportunity to appear live onstage to deliver Oscar statuettes to telecast presenters. In addition to appearing on the Oscar show, winners will be flown to Los Angeles and provided hotel accommodations.

"In re-imagining what we want the Oscar show to be, we wanted everyone appearing on that stage to feel a deep commitment to film and its legacy, and most importantly, its future," said telecast producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. "That was the impetus in creating this special honor for young film students who will inspire a new generation to create the films that will be honored in the future."

The Oscar Experience College Search will be featured on The Academy's Facebook page and will run through January 19, 2013. To enter, college students need to demonstrate they're destined for the Oscars by completing the Academy's entry form and uploading a video answering the question: How will you contribute to the future of movies? The producers of this year's Awards show will ultimately pick a minimum of six winners, who will be flown to Los Angeles to participate in the 85th Academy Awards on Oscar Sunday, February 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center.

"For a film student to go to the Oscars and be a part of presenting is a huge break," said MacFarlane.

MacFarlane's "Stand In" will premiere on mtvU to more than 750 college campuses nationwide and on-demand at mtvU.com beginning December 10 at 10 a.m. ET/PT.

MacFarlane is the latest cultural luminary to participate in mtvU's "Stand In" series. Each edition of the program features a guest professor teaching a class unique to his or her experience and background. Previous participants include Madonna, Nobel Laureate Shimon Peres, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, Kanye West, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, John Legend, Russell Simmons, author Tom Wolfe, Senator John McCain and Sting.

MacFarlane wrote, directed and provided the voice for the title character in the feature film "Ted," which has grossed over $500 million worldwide, making it the top-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time. He is an Emmy Award winner and all-around entertainer best known as the creative force behind the television series "Family Guy." MacFarlane also serves as executive producer, writer and voice actor on the animated series "American Dad!" which he co-created, and is currently executive producing "Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey," a 13-part series updating Carl Sagan's iconic exploration of the universe as revealed by science.

For more information on mtvU or "Stand In," please visit www.mtvU.com.

About mtvU
Broadcast to more than 750 college campuses, mtvU reaches upwards of 9 million U.S. college students – making it the largest, most comprehensive television network just for college students. mtvU is dedicated to every aspect of college life, reaching students everywhere they are: on-air, online and on campus. mtvU programs music videos from emerging artists that can't be seen anywhere else, news, student life features and initiatives that give college students the tools to advance positive social change. mtvU is always on campus, with more than 250 events per year, including exclusive concerts, giveaways, shooting mtvU series and more. For more information about mtvU, and a complete programming schedule, visit www.mtvU.com.

About The Academy
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.