Glory, impact and recognition. That is what, a priori, most filmmakers, actors and rest of the technical team when intends to compete for an Oscar. If any award on the circuit usually already carries a good letter of introduction for future projects and collaborations, the golden statuettes are the greatest showcase on earth, remaining for almost a century as the most valued award, both by the industry itself cinematographic as well as popular culture. But Is there money for winning the Oscar? Could the winners sell their weight in gold? Is there a benefit beyond moving into the film industry? Next, let's unravel some lucrative myths that exists around the most recognizable silhouette in the world of awards.
with his origin in 1929the prestigious golden trophies arose as an initiative of Louis B. Mayer, who at that time was founder of MGM (Metro Goldwyn Mayer). We already know that the most likely origin of his name refers to the moment in which Margaret Herrickthe librarian of the Academy, said that the statuette with the sword looked like “his uncle Oscar”. However, as such the benefit is not accompanied by financial remuneration, but rather by gifts.
Is there money after winning the Oscar?
Well it depends on how you understand the term. The figure of Uncle Oscar is not accompanied by an envelope with 1,000 dollars, however year after year the company Distinctive Assets Gives the winners a bag with approximately 50 gift items and these can add up to a price of approximately $100,000. This year that average is even well below the value of the products you will find in this 96th editionbecause according to what has been learned, the lot will be worth close to $175,000.
The bag includes many men's and women's cosmetic products, but also experiences. There is a trip to Switzerland, the stay in a private villa from a select island in the Caribbean and a whole series of gifts as exclusive as they are extravagant. A batch with the most exclusive gins on the market, handmade vegan chocolate, personalized 3D figures and a collector's edition of the Rubick's cube for its 50th anniversary. Lash Fray himself, founder of Distinctive Assetsdownplayed the content of the coveted and, for many, mysterious bag:
“These gifts are awarded based on the invaluable stardust these nominees can bring to a brand. Of course, they can afford to buy them; They are also in an exceptionally favorable marketing position. “This is a simple, win-win transaction.”
Unfortunately for the majority of nominees, this bag is not given to all the winners of the candidatures. The only ones who are offered this “eccentric chest” are the winners of what are considered the most relevant individual prizes: Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. So possibly this year, the bulk of the products could reach the hands of, for example, Cillian Murphy. And we already know how little these things usually matter to the protagonist of Oppenheimer.
Can it be sold?
It is said that the literal price of the Oscar as an object is about 400 dollars. But that doesn't mean that the winners can sell it as if it were a Wallapop article. Nor could its price increase with an auction or depending on who it was awarded to. The lucrative business of buying and selling these awards is impossible, since when the winners triumph over the rest of their competitors, they sign an agreement with which they can only resell the award to the institution for the mere amount of 1 dollar.
If we think about the material with which the statuettes are made, the most classic film buffs could refer to the famous phrase by Humbrey Bogart in the Halcón Maltés: “The stuff dreams are made of” as Sam Spade would say. Poetry and dramaturgy aside, the Oscars measure just over 33 centimeters tall and they weigh around 4 kilos. Every year the Academy orders new pieces to be built that are covered with a 24-karat gold plating. Unfortunately, this luxurious coating also does not serve as something motivational, so that the victorious names can make money from the Oscars. The ceremony will take place at the early morning of next March 10when the broadcast begins at 00:00 (Spanish time).