The Oscars have come and gone which was very delightful and
memorable for many Africans as one of their own Lupita N’yongo broke the
ceiling with her win as the best actress in a supporting role. That was beside
the many side attractions.
Lupita N'yongo
This weekend Africans will be celebrating their own film
stars at the African Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) but unlike the Oscars
where the nominee’s fate is solely in the hands of the voting members of The
Academy who are very knowledgeable film people, the winners for the AMVCA will
be decided by the voting public which I think may obstruct transparency in the
awarding of the most deserving of the lot.
The criteria used in awarding a best actor or actress in a film/movie
awards is usually based but not restricted to the actors understanding
of and commitment to the script, embodying the character both physically
and use of vocal traits, believability of the character, overall effectiveness
of the performance and many more technical jargons which cannot be listed here
for paucity of space. But does the voting public know about these yardsticks,
and if they are, will they be willing to abide by them since they are not under
any obligation to stand by them. It’s simply who appeals most to the voting
public, and who the public fancies the most may not be strongest in terms of
performance.
Leonardo Dicaprio
Leonardo and Matthew Mcconaughey
Take for instance, the recent Oscars that saw Leonardo Dicaprio losing the
Best Actor Award to Matthew McConaughey which met with public outcry as many
took to twitter to register their displeasure. From the various comments I read
online, Leonardo simply deserved the statuette more than the other contenders because
he has never won any Oscars for the duration of his career. Their argument wasn’t
even on the basis of a superior performance than the other nominees.
Imagine if The Academy Awards had been thrown open to the voting public?
The tables would have been turned; Leonardo would have been the one given the
gong and Matthew hugging him in congratulations.
For the list of the nominees click on this link: AMVCA 2014
I totally tow ur line of thought. Opening voting to the public, sort of brings it down from high to popular culture. And I am sorry but with time, it may not be taken seriously. Art is serious and should be judged on certain yardsticks and not by the public who may pick one over another because they like their dress sense or accent.
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