Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Academy Goes off the Deep End

Bruce Broughton defends actions after rescinded Academy Award nomination - CBS News



Composer Bruce Broughton has been stripped of his Academy Award Nomination for a song he composed for a small Christian based film. The song was a surprise nominee because big time music figures who made contributions to other films did not get nominated and this did. There is not a clear statement concerning a rule violation, instead the implication is that because Broughton is a former governor of the Academy, that a personal e-mail carries with it some extra onus and maybe even intimidation. Having read the e-mail in question, I have to call BS on that. His tentative outreach was not to the entire music branch, and it is the mildest form of promotion you can imagine. The idea that he is using his position in the Academy as a way of gaining a nomination is preposterous. If this were true, no one actively serving on the board could ever hope their work in the industry could be nominated  at the same time they are volunteering to administer Academy business.



These people are shooting themselves in the foot and doing so in a way that is embarrassing and humiliating to a working professional who has given his time to the very institution that is now stepping on him. Unless there is some other issue that remains in the background, this is an incredibly unfair act and probably completely unnecessary. The chance of this piece of music winning the award is zero. There is more pressure in the guilds and production centers to vote for any nominee than this little film could ever muster. If I were a member of the music branch, I would be writing to the Academy at this very moment, protesting this decision. I would also be worried that any time a famous big time musician got bypassed, that someone is going to suffer the consequences of a political hissy fit.







Listen to this beautiful piece of music and know that the people who worked on this still have something to be proud of.



I had never heard of this movie before but I am now going to look for it and try to watch and post on it. I hope that the low budget and other limitations still allow a good story to be told. Mr Broughton, I have heard your music in many films and television projects and they have always been worthy and professional. You have probably heard for years how great the score from "Silverado" was. Hold your head up high and know that you did nothing wrong, this is just the cutthroat industry that you have made your living in for many years. There are wonderful people in the industry but there are also a lot of self important ass kissers. You stepped on someones toes by asking for the same kind of consideration that anyone else would be entitled to and they would usually demand it at the top of their lungs. I'm sorry you have suffered this indignity. I hope that whatever set of envious colleagues were responsible for this travesty will certainly receive the karma they have earned from this tantrum.

7 comments:

SJHoneywell said...

Considering the amount of marketing that frequently happens with getting nominations and then getting the award, I'd say this is odd at best.

Actually, it's downright weird.

Richard Kirkham said...

It is crazy.

TheVern said...

The guy was probably cheated out of a nomination,and he has every right to protest but I am so glad that it got removed.

Richard Kirkham said...

I saw your comment on it on your site Vern, and since you said you didn't like the song, I was OK with that. I thought it was nice but nothing is going to beat the Frozen song. This just stinks of someone playing dirty. I read that someone hired a private eye to dig up something on this when their song was ignored.

Lionbear28 said...

He's been cheated out of so many nominations for Oscars in the past. Why he wasn't nominated for Rescuers Down Under and Homeward Bound is beyond me.

Lionbear28 said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Richard Kirkham said...

He has done a lot of fine work and it seems like it was a disproportionate response. Thanks for your comment.