What I find so unenthralling about this nonissue is that this is all about Academy members who want the convenience of not straying from their cribs to view movies that are constructed to be witnessed in theatres. It would be nice if these people could manage to witness movies the way everyone else does.

I remember when I was a teenager someone in front of me in line in Westwood dropped her Academy pass. I bent over to pick it up for her and glanced at the pass: it belonged to Olivia de Havilland. Yeah, Olivia de Havilland, late in life, actually braving the elements to see a movie.

I remember also the author of the great book Final Cut beginning his last chapter with something like: "Then I did something completely out of character for a Hollywood motion picture executive--I actually went to a movie." How refreshing! An Academy member--mixing wit' da hoi polleau! Maybe watching a film in the right ratio once in a while, amidst the distractions and laughtrack of a live audience, could actually help a few screenwriters and directors how to pace their scripts a little better. Maybe if they saw enough movies in theatrical release they could even actually think of some ways to captivate an audience without making something go boom every seven minutes.

Wrong, joseph. As an Academy member I can tell you we have a lot of movies to see. If you want to vote with any fairness, you need the screeners to see even a fair amount of them -- unless you're unemployed. The independent movies (often the best) also are not readily available for viewing except in LA or NY, ergo out of town members are simply out of luck without the screeners (and the films too!).

Joe--if you go to theatres, the Academy members talk thru the whole film--who they know, how many points he got, what the backend was--and why they coulda/woulda/shoulda done better. Count your blessings.

As a friend of a staff member, I attended Academy screenings at the Academy's Wilshire Boulevard theater from 1991 to 1998, generally about once a month. (Hey, free movies, y'know ....) The audience members were quiet through every screening I ever attended there. They even spoke quietly and discreetly as they were sitting down and waiting for the show to start. They sat through the credits before getting up -- again, quietly and respectfully. I don't think I heard any industry talk even once during all the screenings I attended there. I also attended screenings there for studio personnel. Same thing.

raven--there's a big difference between going to the private Academy-only screenings and the movies on Sat. night. Every winter, all the DGA/SAG/WGA folks go to the movies and talk and talk. Check out the Beverly Center if you don't believe me.

Kate -- In your first post, you spoke about Academy members, not guild members -- so I responded with my observations about Academy members. You are now talking about guild members. I have no reason not to believe your comments about guild members. I have about seven years of experience on which I can base my rebuttal to your original contention -- which was about Academy members.

I'm sorry, but I lose all respect for any industry person who continues to patronize the Beverly Center theater. Encouraging that place to stay in business in any way is a crime against moviegoing. My TV set is better than their screens, and as all my friends will tell you, my TV sucks.

I know they sometimes have exclusives these days, but usually not on award-qualifying films.

I concur with what Roger said -- Academy members have day jobs (and night jobs, sometimes). Most critics do not, so they/we don't have the same excuse.

Oh, gee, Guild members who aren't Academy members and vice versa aren't all that much different. But hey, anything to prove your tiny little point.