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Oscar adaptation vs. originality: When "Barbie" meets Academy Awards
Recently, a news about the Academy Awards has sparked heated discussions in the industry and audiences. "Barbie", which was originally pinned on by Warner Bros. Pictures and hoped to compete for the Oscar as an "original screenplay", was judged to be an "adapted screenplay" by the organizer, the Academy of Film Arts. This unexpected decision not only disappointed the filmmakers, but also sparked an in-depth discussion in the industry about the classification of scripts.
Although the story of Barbie is derived from existing toy characters, its core characters and plot are independently created by the director and screenwriter, and are not directly adapted from any existing story texts. In this regard, it is different from the traditional adapted screenplay. Because of this, when the college classified "Barbie" as an "adapted screenplay", many people said it was difficult to understand.
In fact, the criteria for the Academy Award are not set in stone when it comes to defining "adaptation" and "originality". In general, a film based on an existing character or setting is often classified as an "adaptation", while a new story and character setting is more likely to be considered "original". But the special thing about "Barbie" is that although its characters are different from the existing toy IP, its specific characters and story lines are completely new creations.
The controversy quickly caught the attention of industry insiders. In particular, Judd Apato, the director of "The 40-year-old virgin," has publicly expressed doubts about this decision, criticizing it bluntly: "It is an insult to them to say that these writers created this film based on existing material." Noah Baum**, one of the screenwriters, initially considered quitting the job because he felt that the film lacked established characters and storytelling.
What was the consideration behind Oscar's decision?Is it a respect for existing IP, or a redefinition of the blurred line between originality and adaptation?Whatever the answer, this controversy undoubtedly sets a new agenda for future filmmaking and award judging. For film creators, this is both a challenge and an opportunity, how to create a new and unique story on the basis of existing IP, and at the same time be recognized by the award?This is undoubtedly a big test of their ability to innovate and artistic sensitivity.
As the film industry continues to grow, we look forward to seeing more creative works emerge, and we also hope that the Oscar judging criteria can keep pace with the times and better reflect and inspire the development of film art. After all, whether it is an adaptation or an original, what really matters is whether the work can touch people's hearts and show the unique artistic charm of the film.