...it would motivate studios to take more creative and interesting approaches to making a trailer. It might even go so far as to make film in general more appealing to people who'd normally blow a film off, and therefore increase box office. Maybe they shouldn't go as far as making an Oscar for it, but some big ceremony should have a category for trailers, or there should be a somewhat big ceremony MADE for trailers [aside from the cheap ones that currently exist].

Look at what using different trailer techniques did for films like "The Devil Wears Prada" and "300" at the box office. Why don't more films take this unique approach? If there was some kind of beautiful prize to be awarded to the best trailer of the year [an Oscar would be great IMO], it would really get studios more interested in making an intriguing, impression-leaving trailer than just putting in some crappy choir music and a list of the cast members, not to mention those annoying voice-over guys. Some trailers can be a little work of art themselves ["Little Children" or "There Will Be Blood," anyone?], and I think having some big award to motivate studios to make far more sophisticated/innovative trailers would be both more interesting for all of us and could even give box office a little nudge in the right direction. I mean, think of how much better a film like "The Golden Compass" or "Stardust" would have done if they didn't play them off as just another fantasy flick, but instead gave them identities of their own?

Does anyone else think something like this could be a good thing? Or are trailers not that big of a deal?

I think great trailers should be acknowledged and possibly awarded but an Oscar? No.

I dunno, I think a great trailer takes way more work than a great original song...

I think there is an award for best trailer (Not an Academy one, though)

I think people really do try to make the best trailers. It's their job. It's just that 1) Sometimes the tools to work with aren't ideal, and 2) Sometimes people can geneuinely want to do their best, and court awards, and still suck. Just ask Lasse Hallestrom.

I wouldn't necessarily argue against that even though it's an incredibly large generalization but Oscars deal with the actual film. Trailers have nothing to do with filmmaking. Some could argue their sole purpose is economic and not art.

meh, it's not like songs have anything to do with the actual film either, for the most part...usually, they're just played during the credits when everyone's gone.

While that's what the category has largely become, there are still songs worth awarding for what they bring to a film. A trailer doesn't bring anything to a film in terms of quality, which is what the Oscars are meant to award.

Besides, we already have the Golden Trailer Awards.

How would you judge it? Based on the economic success of the subsequent film? In that case, the much-maligned Alvin and the Chipmunks trailer would have to be considered a big success.

I see what billybob is saying, but they should add the stunt coordination category first, heh. Heck, even the Emmys have that, plus casting, separate makeup, prosthetic, and hairstyling awards, plus main titles.

I'd agree with billybob.

A great trailer is a black art that must people are unable to manage, its an expression of cinematic art seperate from an entire film. In short I'd love a catagory like that.

I wouldn't mind it myself. Maybe Golden Globes instead of Oscar though.

do you judge a film for Best Picture based on box office? No...these would be judged based on what is considered the best or most effective trailer.

The key word in there is effective. You may be thinking of effective as "making you want to see the movie" but the most objective way to judge "effectiveness" is to see how many people DID go see it. But I guess it doesn't have to be that objective. After all, what award is?

that's the thing though...what you're saying would be the same on voting for Best Picture based on what movie the most people liked. It seems like it could easily be the case, but luckily it isn't. It's a somewhat more advanced group of voters choosing what they think is the best. I mean, when I watch a trailer, I'm not going "Oh man, this is gonna score with the little kids demographic but isolate the teens," I just think "Heh, that looks enjoyable, I'll check it out..." that's what the voting would/should be based on for this. What trailer you thought was the best.

It would be interesting. But first they should add an Ensemble category.

the problem with Ensemble is that it would be viewed too closely to Best Picture. That's why I think they haven't added it.

Ugh, so adaptations (say Hairspray and Sweeney) aren't eligible. Seems that Once is eligible for it...
I wonder why they changed it from the past Comedy/Musical Score. Too much Disney? lol

there aren't enough Original Musicals for that to work...the only ones I can think of this year are Once, Enchanted, and Walk Hard...I guess you could extend that to include stuff like La Vie en Rose and I'm Not There and Control, in which case it would be much more interesting.

why couldn't this year have worked? There were a number of original musicals.

in that case, the award will likely never be given out...what's the minimum required?

hmm...there are only nine animated films currently slated for 2008 release. looks like next year won't change the nom count to five

not that it matters, with Wall-E in the race and all

honestly, they should pull a Michael Moore and take it out of the Best Animated Feature category to make it clear that they're shooting for Best Picture with this one. Ratatouille was a freakin' brilliant film, yet it's not even being considered for BP because of the category.