I have a question from the Netherlands — from Theo van Amelsvoort…
A few posts ago you mentioned that you received a free link to see the SNL movie. I was always under the impression that the companies who wanted to promote their movie for awards would send out free DVDs to people eligible to vote. And that voters would get dozens of DVDs. Do they still do that? Or do some do and others via a link to view online? Do you have a preference?
Yes, they used to do that…and I would get tons of them each year, way too many to possibly view. I got them as a member of the Writers Guild. I got them as a member of the Television Academy. I got them as a member of ASIFA, the Animation Society, which I don't think I belong to anymore. I got an awful lot of them…and a lot of them had these dire threats to prosecute the hell out of me if I didn't destroy them after one viewing. It was like: "You didn't ask for this but since we sent it to you, you're obligated to follow our instructions as how to handle them or we'll put you behind bars!"
But that was before most of us were hooked-up for streaming services and being able to watch stuff on the Internet on our TV sets and such. It was also before someone realized what a tremendous waste of money and time and resources it was, to say nothing of the environmental impact, to send out zillions of unsolicited DVDs. (And before that, they used to send out VHS tapes.) Some of them came in very elaborate, expensive packaging.
So I think some of the studios got together and switched to sending out links with passwords to watch their offerings online…and I think pretty much everyone else fell in line. I only got about ten "For Your Consideration" DVDs this year. One of them was Anora and a lady friend and I were halfway-through watching it when all my electricity went out a few nights ago.
Thus, the answer to your question is: Yes, they used to do that…and no, they don't do it very much anymore. I do however get a number of copies of the screenplays to read, as well as some links to read them online.
