Ever lifted one of these?

Yes, you guessed it – 8.5 pounds (about the same as a gallon of milk). It’s made of gold-platted britannium, standing tall at 13 1/2 inches. Shout out to the thought leaders in acting that have a rare opportunity to be recognized for their work and briefly share their message of gratitude to over 15 million watchers.

It’s well worth its weight.

The first person to win an oscar was Emil Jannings, a German actor who was awarded the Best Actor award at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929. Jannings’ oscar win was for his performances in both The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh. He was recognized by the Academy as one of the greats of his time, and his oscar win was proof of that. Ever since then, oscars have been a symbol of excellence within the entertainment industry.

Oscars have been around for almost a century, but how did they get their iconic name? It is said that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences adopted the name “Oscar” from an offhand comment made by Margaret Herrick, an Academy librarian. At the time in 1931, she jokingly said that the statue looked like her Uncle Oscar. The name stuck, and oscars have been an iconic symbol of excellence in the entertainment industry ever since.

Best of luck to all that get to carry one or more of these tonight. You are thought leaders that impact others with your commitment to achieving the highest honors in filmmaking.

Stand out as a thought leader in 2023 and be the leader you are meant to be.