 |
|
 |
| |
Oscar Night America 2002. Wahington D.C., from
the gallery.
|
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences' Oscar Night America program. It will
also mark the year that more than ten million dollars will have
been generated for local charities by the Oscar viewing parties.
Last year, Oscar Night America parties raised over $1.6 million
for local charities in 37 cities. All money raised stays in each
community; none of it goes to the Academy.
This year, 40 cities from Sacramento to Atlanta will attempt to
re-create the glamour and excitement of the Academy Awards ceremony,
a nice distance from its humble beginnings in 1994 with parties
in just two cities, Minneapolis and San Francisco.
The 40 cities hosting Oscar Night America parties in 2003 are Atlanta,
Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland,
Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Greenville-Spartanburg, Honolulu,
Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Louisville, Memphis,
Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma
City, Omaha, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh-Durham,
Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis,
Tampa, Tucson and Washington, D.C. All of the parties will feature
a live broadcast of the 75th Anniversary Academy Awards? Presentation,
which is being televised by the ABC Television Network.
"Oscar Night has always been a night for friends and families
to gather to root and cheer for their favorite films and stars,"
said Ric Robertson, executive administrator of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences. "This nationwide network of fundraising
parties is a natural extension of that shared experience."
The Academy provides official Oscar Night America parties with
the same printed Academy Award show programs as those handed out
at the ceremonies in Los Angeles. The Academy also provides the
official commemorative poster and permits the party organizers to
use the image of the Academy's copyrighted Oscar statuette on invitations
and other materials.
Most of the parties are black-tie affairs, though some are less
formal, with varied and distinctive touches. Some events, for example,
ask partygoers to dress up as famous couples, and some feature limousine
arrivals, walks down red carpets, celebrities, photographers or
"paparazzi" and press interviews with arriving guests.
Only one charity party in a given city may participate in Oscar
Night America. Events are completely produced by local non-profit
organizations, with the active participation of the local ABC-TV
affiliate station. Charities presenting parties this year are the
Arthritis Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Cobb Family Resources,
American Red Cross, Capital City Aids Fund, Alzheimer's Association,
Volunteers of America, Variety Club, Minnesota AIDS Project, The
Ellie Fund, Chicago Academy of the Arts, USA Film Festival and other
local arts foundations and film festivals.
Concept Marketing Development of Camarillo, California, will assist
the Academy in coordination of the program for the tenth consecutive
year.
|
