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New Academy Voters Take Roles Seriously

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By SANDY COHEN, The Associated Press

Published: December 25, 2007

HOLLYWOOD - Although the writers strike has created a swirl of uncertainty, Hollywood's awards season will be business as usual Wednesday, when the academy mails Oscar nomination ballots to its 5,829 voting members.

And strike or not, nobody will be more excited about helping bestow one of the world's most prestigious honors than Brett Morgen and the 114 other new academy members who are casting Oscar ballots for the very first time this year.

"It's great to be part of a democratic process where your vote actually matters," said the documentarian, who was up for an Oscar in 1999 and was invited to join the academy this year. "In a way, this is more exciting than getting nominated."

For weeks now, even as the Writers Guild of America strike started shutting down Hollywood, studios have been busy touting their Oscar contenders - placing "For Your Consideration" ads and sending promotional DVDs to academy voters, including new member Bryan Hirota.

"I'm getting all the screeners in the mail, which is pretty great," said the visual effects artist. "The academy is like a really good Netflix program."

Despite the strike, Hirota insists he's "still just as excited about voting," which he characterized as a responsibility and a privilege.

Joining the academy is "an honor beyond measure," said Lisa Beach, whose credits include "Wedding Crashers" and "Walk the Line." "I might take it voting more seriously than I take my presidential vote."

This year's Oscar nomination ballots must be returned by Jan. 12, with the nominations to be announced on Jan. 22. Final ballots go out on Jan. 30 and are due back by Feb. 19, less than a week before the Feb. 24 Academy Awards ceremony.

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