Oscar Prize

Oscar Trophy, the honor given in the Hollywood industry, which every filmmaker and actor dreams to achieve.  People work hard to get this golden trophy.  But there are only a lucky few who get a chance to get this trophy and hold it in hand.  But do you know whose statue is in the Oscar trophy?

These awards are given by a not-for-profit organization called Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (EMPAS). Which was founded in 1927 by 36 of the most eminent people of the then motion picture industry. In early 1927, Louis B. Meyer, head of MGM Studios, Meyer, and three of their guests—actor Conrad Nagel, director Fred Niblow and producer Faid Beatson—planned to form an organization that would benefit the entire film industry. He planned to place this offer in front of people from all creative genres of the film industry.

On January 11, 1927, 36 people met for dinner at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles and discussed a proposal to establish the International Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Invites included many prominent figures of the time, such as Mayer, Mary Pickford, Sid Grauman, Jesse Lasky, George Cohen, Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Kedarick Gibbons and Irving Thalberg.  Everyone supported the proposal, and in mid-March, officers of the organization were elected, headed by Douglas Fairbanks.

On May 11, 1927, after the state granted a charter permitting the Academy as a not-for-profit organization, the organization's ceremonial feast was held at the Biltmore Hotel.  Of the 300 guests, 230 took formal membership of the Academy by paying $100. That same night Thomas Edison was awarded the first honorary membership of the Academy.

The First Prize ceremony

The Oscar Award was started by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of America.  The first Oscar award event was held on 16 May 1929. It took place at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, On 16 May 1929, 270 people attended the dinner held in the Blossom Room of the hotel. The ticket rate for guests was $5. At that time the general public did not know anything about it. The purpose of starting this was to honor the participating artists of the motion picture industry. There were 12 categories in the first Oscar Award, in which there were 2 special honours. This award was given to those people who did special work in Hollywood in 1927-28. The names of the winners of this awards function were revealed to everyone 3 months before the ceremony. Trophies were given to the winners in the main event, it was just a 15 min ceremony. The first President of the Academy Award was 'Douglas Fairbanks'.

Design of the Trophy

The design of the trophy was discussed for the first time in 1927 at a meeting of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. During this, many artists from Los Angeles were asked to put forward their designs. During this, the sculpture made by sculptor George Stanley was liked.  

The first Oscar Award for Best Actor went to 'Emil Janning' for the films 'The Last Command' and 'The Way of All Flash'. The Best Actress award went to 'Janet Gaynor' for the films '7 Heaven', 'Street Angel' and 'Sunrise'. Two awards were given for direction, a drama starring Frank Borzage and a comedy picture for which Lewis Milestone won the award.

Mexican filmmaker statue

The trophy that is given at the Oscar Awards is said to be inspired by Mexican filmmaker and actor Emilio Fernandez. Born in 1904 in Coahuila, Mexico, Emilio grew up during the Mexican Revolution. Fernandez, a high school drop out, becomes an officer of the Hurrista rebels. In 1925, Fernandez was captured and sentenced to 20 years in prison. But he fled from here and crossed the border of Los Angeles and reached here. He spent the next decade in exile.

Fernandez started doing extra work in Hollywood. Here he was named El Indio by the silent film star Dolores Del Rio. He had become a good friend of actress Rio. Rio Metro Goldwyn was the wife of Cadrick Gibbons, Art Director of the Mayer Studio and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Del Rio introduced Fernandez to Gibbons, who was working on the design of the statue at the time.

But Fernandez did not get a single Oscar

Gibbons asked Fernandez to pose for a sketch that was the basis for the 8.5-pound trophy.  Fernandez posed bemanly and that became the iconic pose. George Stanley prepared it and this trophy was handed over at the first Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles in 1929. This design continues to this day. Fernandez is still considered one of the greatest directors of the heyday of Mexican cinema. But it is also true that Emilio could never even get an Oscar in his 50-year career.

Since 1929, more than two thousand Oscar trophies have been given. These are manufactured by the RS Eyes Company of Chicago. It takes about three to four weeks for the company to produce 50 trophies. Earlier the trophy was made of copper because of the shortage of the metal during World War I. But now it is made of Britannium plated in 24-carat pure gold. The trophy is about 13 inches long. 

Read more : - Pulitzer Prize