Thread by @CDisillusion

I'm not one to miss an opportunity to razz Spielberg, but I think most people reacting to his Oscar/Netflix position don't actually know where they stand themselves. Looking at the details, I'm not sure where I stand! ... /1

If you're a filmmaker, try to set aside all the rhetoric that gives this story the "old man fights against inevitable change" vibe, get into a "we're all in this together" mindset and consider which of these 3 outcomes you support: /2

1 - Oscars should change rules to accept made-for-streaming movies
2 - Streaming services should be allowed to game the system (as they do now) to get movies qualified for Oscar consideration
3 - Oscars should change rules to prevent streaming services from gaming the system

I didn't set that up as a poll 'cause I don't want to know which one you're for. I just want to tell you what I think about all three... 1) The Oscars has been pretty flexible throughout its history. They've modified categories and tried different approaches as things change.. /4

But the basic concept has always been awarding films that were made for, and distributed in, movie theaters. That in itself is not weird or exclusionary. It's just... what the Oscars is. But changing what the Oscars is is equally not weird. It's kind of an arbitrary decision. /5

Want to keep it the same? Cool. Anyone is allowed to make a theatrical movie. It's very hard. So is creating a giant office building. But if you want a [insert office building architecture award] you'll prob have to dedicate part of your life to that very specific industry. /6

Want to change it? Cool. Why not, movies are movies. But like, we do have other respected awards for other mediums already. And it might be nice to raise the profile of a NEW brand of award for a NEW medium, rather than expanding the Oscars to monopolize it. Idk. /7

Circling back to outcome 2) (tweet 3) - gaming the system... is a little lame. I love Netflix and their original movies are every bit as movies as theatrical movies, but they've been renting theaters to screen them just enough to technically qualify for Oscars.. /8

...Note, they're not licensing the films to theaters, just renting theater space. Never mind that this keeps box office numbers unknown, it's pretty clearly against the spirit of the Oscar rules. Again, IT WOULD BE OK TO CHANGE THE RULES. But they're skirting the current rules /9

Finally, outcome 3) - should the Oscars reinforce the current rules to only recognize films that reach their audience through movie theaters? The movie theater industry is dying. Should it be actively preserved or allowed to naturally fade away? I'm genuinely not sure. But... /10

...THAT'S THE STORY. Not Spielberg being grumpy. /END

PS: Do ya'll think this thread hurts my chances of ever being picked up by Netflix? ...

I TAKE IT ALL BACK!!