Article by Mark Smith
The world looks forward to the Academy Awards night. Held in the Kodak Theater in Hollywood each year, the Academy Awards night is a judgment day of sorts for the entire film making fraternity of the United States of America and indeed a major part of the world. The ABC Television Network will telecast the 80th Annual Academy Awards 2008 event live. The Academy Awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are also popularly known as Oscars. Several filmmakers and celebrities from all over the world hop on to flights to USA and flights to Los Angeles to be a part of this fiesta.
Many people also land at the Los Angeles International Airport to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars outside the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. However, only a lucky few get tickets to catch the event going on inside the theater. Most people who take flights to Los Angeles especially to attend the award ceremony complete their trip with Hollywood tours and visit several tourist attractions in Hollywood.
The Academy Awards is one of the oldest and most popular film awards in the world and is held usually towards the end of February. The excitement begins way in advance with pre-Oscar events. There are screenings of films, exhibitions of paintings and costumes from films, nomination announcement parties, and other such events. Each year a different set of exciting pre-Oscar events are organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Academy gives away several awards every year. These awards are presented to talented individuals involved in various aspects of filmmaking. The most popular awards at the Oscars are those for Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Film. Awards for best performance in supporting roles also raise a lot of curiosity and speculation. Awards are also presented for best soundtrack, make-up, costumes, adapted screenplay, original screenplay, animated film, and many more. In addition, there are Scientific and Technical awards also. These are presented to animators, graphic designers, sound engineers and other professionals who add finishing touches to a film.
Another coveted award presented at the Academy Awards is the Foreign Language Film award. The competition is intense, as films from over 60 countries in different languages and on diverse subjects compete to be selected among the final five short listed films.
During the Oscar Fever phase it has been observed that number of people taking flights to USA and flights to Los Angeles increase and Los Angeles International Airport greets swarms of fans and celebrities. Hollywood is located in the city of Los Angeles in California. Hollywood is home to some of the most advanced studios and theaters in the world. Some of the most lavish and luxurious residences of top-notch celebrities are located nearby in Beverly Hills. Many, especially film buffs, prefer Hollywood tours while on a visit to California. Tourist attractions in Hollywood include Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Hollywood Sign, Griffith Park Observatory, Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and more. Most of these tourist attractions are located in Hollywood Boulevard, a must visit while enjoying Hollywood tours.