BWW Blog: And the Oscar Goes to...

One great part of Northwestern is that it is a campus filled with people who have a plethora of stories to tell: lessons they've learned, tips and tricks they've found useful in surviving college, and crazy and exciting adventures they've been able to experience in their life. For some dorms and residential colleges, the sharing of these stories are done through a special event called "Fireside Chats," yes, very much like the series of radio broadcasts made by President Franklin Roosevelt to the United States. One thing these fireside chats do successfully is allow the listener to step inside the shoes of the storyteller, and listen in awe of what they have to share. This past Wednesday I was that listener in awe. Professor Nick Davis, Director of Gender & Sexuality Studies at Northwestern, and film extraordinaire shared the story of his trip to the 90th annual Academy Awards, pictures and souvenirs and all *cue my gasping*.

Nick told us that he had plans to watch the nonagintennial ceremony with his friend who happened to work with the accountant firm that tallies up the votes. After asking her husband if he wanted to go with her to the ceremony, he suggested Nick being her plus one, because, as I've mentioned, FILM EXTRAORDINAIRE. She reached out to him, and to his dismay wondered why she asked him if he was free on the BIGGEST night of the year, "don't you know what March 4th is ?!" Long story short, he found out he wouldn't be watching it from his home, or her office, or in pajamas, but in Los Angeles, in a theatre, wearing a dashing suit (that he wore for his class on Monday!). He drove to the red carpet in style, with a hummer limo that sat at least fifteen but only six were in the car. He got a text from Northwestern alum Jordan Horowitz, producer of "La La Land", wishing him a great night, much to the surprise of the accountants ;), and he knew the name of almost every celebrity on that carpet as if he was a giant encyclopedia, which he very well may be. From hearing tips and tricks about how to see the celebrities, or when to use the bathroom in order to not miss anything important, Nick told us how much he learned and absorbed from that glorious night.

One topic that arose in our conversation involves the less glamorous side of the Academy Awards, or truly, any awards show of that caliber. We discussed how many people in the world have very different views towards events such as this one, in which, to many, is nothing but a night of rich people patting themselves on the back and complimenting each other. In my own experience, that's what I have heard people say in regards to the Oscars, but also to the Tonys, Emmys, and Grammys.

In response to this I gave a bit of my own philosophy: the cinematic, theatrical, musical, and television arts are more than just the actors that the audiences see on that stage or screen or hear on the radio. As a matter of fact, the visible talent doesn't even encompass half of the talent that it takes to create a work of art. Projects require crews of hundreds of people: technicians, designers, engineers, and scientists, who are all the invisible talent. Creating a piece requires time, in many cases, years, to actualize the idea one has in their head. Yes it takes people to act out that script or sing those words, but who writes the script? Who writes the words? Who builds the set? Who directs the actors? Who creates the costumes? The sounds of a car driving on the street? The documentaries that make our hearts long to know more about our own world? These ceremonies are more than just pats on the back, but a celebration of the individualities that make art what it is, and the immense collaboration and teamwork behind some of the most fascinating works ever created.

With that, yes there has been controversy in that some actors or artists may win when another performance may have been better, but then this point arises: will we base our own talent and creativity in our art form on an award? Christopher Plummer didn't win his first Oscar until he was eighty years old, but he didn't keep that lack of not having that award keep him from pursuing his craft and carrying out his art. Yes there are many talented actors and actresses who haven't been nominated and have deserved to be, or have only been nominated once, or not at all, when much of their work should have been nominated. Yes an Oscar, or Tony, Emmy or Grammy is an honor, but it does not define artistic success. I believe only you can define what that success is to you, but I promise you, it doesn't have to come with an envelope.

From that extraordinary fireside I took away a hope of being there one day, watching the Oscars one day just like Nick. I'll have a dashing suit, ride a fifteen person hummer limo, and strut on that red carpet like nobody's watching.