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 “Your film can be seen by millions of viewers, you can make millions of dollars, but you will only be happy at that moment when you are given an Oscar for it”, the famous movie director, Steven Spielberg, has said. Yes, getting the golden statuette is quite simply the dream of everyone who hangs around films. Very few know that the small statues of a knight with a sword, standing on a spool of film, are made a year ahead of time and cost only 150 dollars each.
 | | Chicago at night |
It all begins in the Chicago workshops of the R. S. Owen Company. Oscar statuettes are always made here a year ahead. That is because in March 2000 a shipment of Oscars got lost during transport from Chicago to Los Angeles. A week later the Oscar statuettes were found in garbage can by a homeless man. The American Film Academy had to have more statuettes made very fast, and so that the blunder could never occur again, reserve statuettes are now made. Making each one starts by making a mould. Into that is poured a mix of tin, copper, antimony and secret additives. It all takes about two weeks, and the coast of each Oscar is about 150 dollars. He is 13.5 inches tall, and weighs 8.5 pounds.
  After casting, Oscar needs about an hour of sanding and polishing before he is perfect. Then he is covered in copper, tin, silver and finally a thick coat of 24 carat gold. The quality of the sculptures is under the supervision of controller. Just imagine if Jack Nicholson or Nicole Kidman were to get a rejects.
In inconspicuous, unmarked boxes, the Oscars are then flown to the seat of the American Film Academy in Beverly Hills, California. After the ceremony, they get a label with the name of the winner, and a warning that the statuette is not to be sold, handed over or passed on to anyone unless the American Film Academy is offered it first.
 And what happens with rejects and fake Oscars (there are many illegal copies in America)? They are throwing uncompromisingly into the grinder.
 The icon was created in 1927 in Los Angeles when the newly founded American Film Academy started giving prizes for the best film of the year. The prize was this sculpture of a knight, and designer Cedric Gibbons and sculptor George Stanley gave him a sword and reel of film as his birthright. Oscar hasn't changed since its initial design.
 | | Freeman with his Oscar |
Originally the statuette had no name. Oscar's official name is the Academy Award of Merit. In 1931, the librarian of the Film Academy, Margaret Herrick, thought that this little golden man looked a lot like her uncle Oscar. The comparison got into the papers, and the name was born.
Some movie stars are really not good to their Oscars, but then they have to pay a lot of money to repair them.  | | Bill Corso kisses his Oscar |
In the last year, the R. S. Owen Company has repaired over 150 Oscars. Sometimes Oscar rusts, because they store him in a dam place. Some polish him with abrasive cleansers and damage the fine polish and gold. If you do have an Oscar, then just polish the statuette with soft, dry cloth.
 | | Kodak Theatre in Hollywood |
The Academy Awards, commonly known as The Oscars, are the most prominent film awards in the United States and undeniable the world. The first Academy Award of Merit was awarded on May 16, 1929, in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Oscars are held in Kodak Theatre in Hollywood  since the 74th ceremony and will do so again for the upcoming ceremony. Previous Academy Awards have been held for example in the Biltmore Bowl of the Biltmore Hotel, the Fiesta Room of the Ambassador, or the Shrine Civic Auditorium.
 | | Paris Hilton |
The awards night itself is an elaborate extravaganza, with the invited guests and movie stars walking up the red carpet in the flamboyant creations of the most prominent fashion designers of the day. The ceremony and extravagant after parties, are televised around the world.
More information about Hollywood, Los Angeles:
Hotels in Los Angeles: http://www.accutravel.net/los-angeles/hotels
Weather forecast in Los Angeles: http://www.accutravel.net/los-angeles/weather Webcams in Hollywood, Los Angeles: http://www.accutravel.net/los-angeles/webcams
Guide and Books about Los Angeles: http://www.accutravel.net/los-angeles/bookshop  |  | | S. Poitier with his Oscar |
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After casting, Oscar needs about an hour of sanding and polishing before he is perfect. Then he is covered in copper, tin, silver and finally a thick coat of 24 carat gold. The quality of the sculptures is under the supervision of controller. Just imagine if Jack Nicholson or Nicole Kidman were to get a rejects.;)
And what happens with rejects and fake Oscars (there are many illegal copies in America)? They are throwing uncompromisingly into the grinder.;)
The icon was created in 1927 in Los Angeles when the newly founded American Film Academy started giving prizes for the best film of the year. The prize was this sculpture of a knight, and designer Cedric Gibbons and sculptor George Stanley gave him a sword and reel of film as his birthright. Oscar hasn't changed since its initial design.;)
since the 74th ceremony and will do so again for the upcoming ceremony. Previous Academy Awards have been held for example in the Biltmore Bowl of the Biltmore Hotel, the Fiesta Room of the Ambassador, or the Shrine Civic Auditorium.;)
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