Oscars 2024: Here’s what's inside the $178,000 goodie bag!

The 96th Academy Awards, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), will be held tomorrow, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

The statuette's name holds a touch of Hollywood mystery. While officially called the Academy Award of Merit, it's universally known as Oscar. The most popular story claims Margaret Herrick, upon seeing the award for the first time, remarked it resembled her Uncle Oscar. Another theory credits columnist Sidney Skolsky for coining the nickname. Regardless of its origin, "Oscar" became synonymous with excellence in filmmaking.

The Oscar we know today wasn't always set in stone (or rather, bronze). Sculptor George Stanley, drawing inspiration from art director Cedric Gibbons' concept, brought the statuette to life. Initially, the design featured a knight holding a laurel wreath. However, this was nixed, and the final design – a knight holding a sword standing on a film reel – was chosen. This powerful image perfectly embodied the spirit of Hollywood.

Every detail of the Oscar statuette is imbued with meaning. The knight signifies excellence and accomplishment in filmmaking. The sword he holds represents the power of movies to move hearts, minds, and society. The film reel at the base, with its five spokes, originally represented the five founding branches of the Academy: Actors, Directors, Writers, Producers, and Technicians.

While the Oscar exudes an aura of gold, it's actually made of bronze, meticulously plated in 24-karat gold for that unmistakable shine. Each statuette is a testament to human craftsmanship, painstakingly created by a team of skilled artisans at a Chicago foundry. Standing at 13.5 inches tall and weighing a hefty 8.5 pounds, the Oscar is a substantial symbol of recognition.

The Academy Awards were established in the late 1920s to promote professional standards and foster cooperation among various filmmaking branches (actors, directors, etc.). The first ceremony in 1929 was a private dinner with around 270 attendees. Early awards recognized silent films alongside the new "talkies."

During World War II, the statuettes were briefly made of plaster due to metal shortages. The 1953 ceremony marked the first televised broadcast, bringing the Oscars to a wider audience. New categories were introduced, like Best Foreign Language Film (now Best International Feature Film).

Before 1950, Oscar winners received the statuette with their names already engraved at the bottom, taking it home after the ceremony. However, officials discovered that nominees sometimes abused this privilege. They would sneak backstage before the announcements to check the baseplates for their names. If found, they might leak the information to the press before the ceremony or even keep the award. To address this issue, authorities decided to introduce blank nameplates to maintain confidentiality in the process.

The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of blockbuster films, which challenged the traditional dominance of smaller, critically acclaimed films. The Academy has been criticised for its lack of diversity and representation in nominations and awards. The modern Oscars continue to evolve, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of film.

The 96th Academy Awards, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), will be held tomorrow, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

The statuette's name holds a touch of Hollywood mystery. While officially called the Academy Award of Merit, it's universally known as Oscar. The most popular story claims Margaret Herrick, upon seeing the award for the first time, remarked it resembled her Uncle Oscar. Another theory credits columnist Sidney Skolsky for coining the nickname. Regardless of its origin, "Oscar" became synonymous with excellence in filmmaking.

The Oscar we know today wasn't always set in stone (or rather, bronze). Sculptor George Stanley, drawing inspiration from art director Cedric Gibbons' concept, brought the statuette to life. Initially, the design featured a knight holding a laurel wreath. However, this was nixed, and the final design – a knight holding a sword standing on a film reel – was chosen. This powerful image perfectly embodied the spirit of Hollywood.

Every detail of the Oscar statuette is imbued with meaning. The knight signifies excellence and accomplishment in filmmaking. The sword he holds represents the power of movies to move hearts, minds, and society. The film reel at the base, with its five spokes, originally represented the five founding branches of the Academy: Actors, Directors, Writers, Producers, and Technicians.

While the Oscar exudes an aura of gold, it's actually made of bronze, meticulously plated in 24-karat gold for that unmistakable shine. Each statuette is a testament to human craftsmanship, painstakingly created by a team of skilled artisans at a Chicago foundry. Standing at 13.5 inches tall and weighing a hefty 8.5 pounds, the Oscar is a substantial symbol of recognition.

The Academy Awards were established in the late 1920s to promote professional standards and foster cooperation among various filmmaking branches (actors, directors, etc.). The first ceremony in 1929 was a private dinner with around 270 attendees. Early awards recognized silent films alongside the new "talkies."

During World War II, the statuettes were briefly made of plaster due to metal shortages. The 1953 ceremony marked the first televised broadcast, bringing the Oscars to a wider audience. New categories were introduced, like Best Foreign Language Film (now Best International Feature Film).

Before 1950, Oscar winners received the statuette with their names already engraved at the bottom, taking it home after the ceremony. However, officials discovered that nominees sometimes abused this privilege. They would sneak backstage before the announcements to check the baseplates for their names. If found, they might leak the information to the press before the ceremony or even keep the award. To address this issue, authorities decided to introduce blank nameplates to maintain confidentiality in the process.

The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of blockbuster films, which challenged the traditional dominance of smaller, critically acclaimed films. The Academy has been criticised for its lack of diversity and representation in nominations and awards. The modern Oscars continue to evolve, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of film.