Oscar invites film ads to its party

Mainstream movies to get seven-figure push The Academy Awards have been branded elitist in some quarters for a tendency to shower glory on arty pics that rarely pack 'em in at the multiplexes. But with TV viewership for the annual ceremony falling precipitously, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has found a way to bring some mainstream popcorn pics into Oscar's tent -- so long as studios are willing to pay the seven-figure freight. The board of governors voted last week to ease a long-standing ban on movie ads running in the Oscar telecast, but with a number of restrictions: Most notably, any spot that will air during the Feb. 22 kudocast has to be for a movie that won't open until at least the last week in April, meaning none of the nommed pics (or sequels/prequels to them) can be tubthumped during the telecast.... [read full story]