All about the Oscars-Part 1

  "Oscar Winner" is a label that means success,fame and,yes,riches.Getting a best Picture Oscar generally guarantees a film an extra US $20-50 million in ticket sales.Titanic earned a staggering further $100 million more.According to Variety,a win in any major category will boost a film's revenues by $11 million.

  Anyone who wins a Best Actor or Actress award is instantly promoted to the "A List' and can exponentially increase their acting fee.It's been said that Hilary Swank upped her asking price from $1 million to $8 million a picture after winning the Best Actress in 2005 for 'The Million Dollar Baby'. How apt...?

   Some interesting titbits..

• Three films have tied for winning the most number of awards-11.Ben Hur(1959),Titanic(1997),The Lord of the Rings:The return of the king(2003).
• 300 limousines are reserved each year for the ceremony..
• Michael Jackson paid $1.54 million in 1999 to Sotheby's for David Selznick's Best Picture Oscar for the 1939 classic Gone With the Wind.
• Walt Disney holds the record for more Academy Award nominations than any other individual.He won 26 in his 59 nominations.
• Peter O'Toole holds the record for being nominated for Best Actor 8 times and never winning.Unlucky...!

• Gone with the wind is the longest film ever to win an Oscar.234 minutes.
• Gandhi(1982) won 8 Oscars including Best picture.It's Costume Designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first ever Indian to win an Oscar.
• Tatum O'Neal was the youngest ever Oscar winner at 10 for Paper Moon(1973).The oldest was for Jessica Tandy at 80 in Driving Miss Daisy.