How to Win An Oscar or Academy Award

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By Desula
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They like her, they really like her!!!

This article is written for actors and actresses. Those beautiful people who are destined to star in movies.

To win an Academy Award, or the Oscar is the highest achievement an actor can be presented.

Other than high school drama club, I have not pursued a career in acting BUT I have watched a lot of Academy Award Winning movies and think there are some things that any movie star, serious actor/actress, or someone waiting on their big break can learn from.

Good luck in you endeavors. IF you do win an Oscar, don't forget to thank Desula in your acceptance speech.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Good agent
Good script
Good director
Superb talent
Studio backing

Step 1

PICK A MOVIE THAT IS OSCAR WORTHY

One thing to consider when choosing your Oscar winning film is - does the character you play overcome or deal with adversity or die? Are you playing a real person?

This is very important.

Oscars are rarely given to happy or cheerful films, so you need to look for a script that brings you to your core.

Over the past 30 years the "happiest films" that have garnered an Oscar are:

Best Actress Oscar are: 2005 Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, 1998 Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare In Love, 1997 Helen Hunt in As Good As It Gets, 1987 Cher in Moonstruck, 1980 Sissy Spacek playing Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter.

Best Actor, 1992 Al Pacino Scent of a Woman, 1994 Forrest Gump, 1997 Jack Nicholson As Good As It Gets.

In the Best Picture category I was going to list the movies in which people did not die. 2002 Chicago, 2001 A Beautiful Mind (strong adversity though), 1984 Amadeus (I don't remember someone dying).
Step 2

ADD YOUR UNIQUE STYLE TO THE CHARACTER YOU ARE PLAYING

Note above 2 women won Oscars for playing country music singers. They studied the women they played, but they made the role their own. Don't be afraid to add something to the role to make it specifically yours.

Heath Ledger played an excellent homosexual cowboy in Brokeback Mountain, talk about adversity - and his lover died, that sounds like an Academy Award winning formula. Instead, Phillip Seymour Hoffman won for his portrayal of the author Truman Capote. While I can't tell you what the Academy was thinking - I can say that Phillip Seymour Hoffman made the role his own = while Heath played the role so convincingly, it did not seem like acting.

Do not be afraid to make the role your own. Do that role so no one else will EVER want to play it. Like Orson Welles in Citizen Kane - he was nominated for the Oscar but lost to Gary Cooper.

***I have not seen "Milk" but I think this performance will be Sean Penn's chance to win the Oscar for Best Actor***
Step 3

YOU WON'T BE WINNING AN OSCAR IF...
* The studio pushes back your opening date for anything short of a major disaster
* Everything ends up well
* Everyone lives
* You push the envelope - Robert Downey, Jr gives specific instructions in Tropic Thunder about roles not to take and how you can lose the Oscar.
Step 4

BEING NOMINATED

There are always surprises. Do not plan on being nominated, even if it the performance of a lifetime, even if your studio has backed you, even if your movie has grossed billions.

I was SURE Clint Eastwood would win the Best Actor role this year for Gran Torino. I would have laid money down on that - he didn't even get nominated. Gran Torino had all the attributes of an Oscar winning film, but, it was overlooked.

You may be nominated for a Golden Globe, or SAG award - but again, don't count your chickens before they hatch. Hollywood is fickle and unpredictable.

This year Slumdog Millionaire has come out of nowhere for several nominations.
Step 5

LEADING UP TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS - EVEN FOR THOSE NOT NOMINATED

Get ready for your big night.
* Choose the right clothes. Get a stylist to help you, but all eyes in the world will be looking at you and you need to look GREAT.
* Get your hair and make up done by a professional. I have seen actresses looking like ghouls, or like they jumped out of the shower and tied their hair back. Look your best!!!
* Accessorize, but not overly.
* Practice your red carpet interviews. Get together with friends and ask some of the stupid questions you know reporters will be asking YOU. While you are an actor - unless you are an improv genius, this is an important step.

IF YOU ARE NOMINATED
* Look your best.
* Practice your acceptance speech - practice, practice, PRACTICE!!! Write down the names if you don't think you can remember this.
* Know the other nominees by name and see each of their films.
* It is always classy to thank the person you think gave you the encouragement to become an actor - parent, drama coach, Meryl Strep, Clint Eastwood.

IF YOU WIN
* Say "Thank you" to the Academy, your family, your agent, your fans.
Step 6

FEBRUARY 22, 2009 on ABC at 8pm EST The Oscars will be broadcast. Watch the Academy Awards and find out who wins - - - UNLESS you've followed my advice and you are there.

Best of luck!!!

Comments

LissaK said

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on 2/16/2009 I think because I'm a Gemini I have this kind of multifaceted talent going on where I'm good at so many things but don't spend long enough sticking to one thing. I love acting, but wish I could stick to either that or something else! hahaha.

slphilbrick said

on 2/5/2009 At first, I thought this advice was for us commoners. I soon learned it wasn't ! But, I am sufficiently impressed with your insights into the winning process ! I think actors and actresses better be paying attention.

1960texan said

on 2/1/2009 I love watching the Academy Awards! I've been a professional musician for over twenty years now, but I have to admit I've practiced my Oscar speech way more than my Grammy speech;)

ScarlettOHairy said

on 1/31/2009 Wonderful article on how to win an Oscar! I hope to win one for my role as an extra (yes, I wrote an eHow on the experience) but am not holding my breathe! LOL! Thanks, Des! 5*