Expanding Film History Through Research at the Academy oF Motion Picture Arts & Science

Abstract

Professor Amy Shore and student Sebastian Tauriello were awarded a Faculty-Student Challenge Grant to study the history of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences during the summer of 2024. This research included three elements: 1) review of existing literature; 2) research through the Academy’s online archives and library materials; 3) research in person at the Margaret Herrick Library’s Special Collections in Los Angeles. Through this research, the team identified three topics for further research and development: 1) The Academy’s role in establishing film education in the United States; 2) The opportunity to document and study the “life� of a film during the Studio Era of Hollywood--from script to screen, reception and conservation; 3) The Academy Awards’ role in shaping the production, marketing, and distribution of films on an annual calendar and the emergence and evolution of Oscar campaigns. These topics are outlined below, particularly as they relate to three key components of the contemporary Academy: the archive, the library, and the awards.