This open letter to the academy was sent to me, and to be honest it raises a great point that I thought about while the Oscars was on. The issue is how much disrespect Jerry Seinfeld (who I totally love by the way. Hell, I think he should Host the Oscars next year) showed the Documentary Category and documentary filmmakers everywhere with his “presentation” at the Oscars this year.
The Letter is from the director of one of the films that was nominated. I give it to you in its fullness:
John Sinno
Typecast Films
3131 Western Ave Suite 514
Seattle, Washington, USAMarch 2, 2007
An open letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
I had the great fortune of attending the 79th Academy Awards following my nomination as producer for a film in the Best Documentary Feature category. At the Awards ceremony, most categories featured an introduction that glorified the filmmakers’ craft and the role it plays for the film audience and industry. But when comedian Jerry Seinfeld introduced the award for Best Documentary Feature, he began by referring to a documentary that features himself as a subject, then proceeded to poke fun at it by saying it won no awards and made no money. He then revealed his love of documentaries, as they have a very “real” quality, while making a comically sour face. This less-than-flattering beginning was followed by a lengthy digression that had nothing whatsoever to do with documentary films. The clincher, however, came when he wrapped up his introduction by calling all five nominated films “incredibly depressing!”
While I appreciate the role of humor in our lives, Jerry Seinfeld’s remarks were made at the expense of thousands of documentary filmmakers and the entire documentary genre. Obviously we make films not for awards or money, although we are glad if we are fortunate enough to receive them. The important thing is to tell stories, whether of people who have been damaged by war, of humankind’s reckless attitude toward nature and the environment, or even of the lives and habits of penguins. With his lengthy, dismissive and digressive introduction, Jerry Seinfeld had no time left for any individual description of the five nominated films. And by labeling the documentaries “incredibly depressing,” he indirectly told millions of viewers not to bother seeing them because they’re nothing but downers. He wasted a wonderful opportunity to excite viewers about the nominated films and about the documentary genre in general.
To have a presenter introduce a category with such disrespect for the nominees and their work is counter to the principles the Academy was founded upon. To be nominated for an Academy Award is one of the highest honors our peers can give us, and to have the films dismissed in such an offhand fashion was deeply insulting. The Academy owes all documentary filmmakers an apology.
Seinfeld’s introduction arrived on the heels of an announcement by the Academy that the number of cities where documentary films must screen to qualify for an Academy Award is being increased by 75%. This will make it much more difficult for independent filmmakers’ work to qualify for the Best Documentary Feature Award, while giving an advantage to films distributed by large studios. Fewer controversial films will qualify for Academy consideration, and my film Iraq in Fragments would have been disqualified this year. This announcement came as a great disappointment to me and to other documentary filmmakers. I hope the Academy will reconsider its decision.
On a final note, I would like to point out that there was no mention of the Iraq War during the Oscar telecast, though it was on the minds of many in the theatre and of millions of viewers. It is wonderful to see the Academy support the protection of the environment. Unfortunately there is more than just one inconvenient truth in this world. Having mention of the Iraq War avoided altogether was a painful reminder for many of us that our country is living in a state of denial. As filmmakers, it is the greatest professional crime we can commit not to speak out with the truth. We owe it to the public.
I hope what I have said is taken to heart. It comes from my concern for the cinematic art and its crucial role in the times we’re living in.
John Sinno
Academy Award Nominee, Iraq In Fragments
Co-Founder, Northwest Documentary Association
Yes, the Seinfeld bit was funny (at least I laughed at it), but even I, a die hard Seinfeld fan, have to admit that the way he said “Depressing films” showed a lot of disrespect to people and films who have waitied their whole lives for that moment. For Jerry Seinfeld to come out, not even talk about the category (which every other presenter did for their categories) and then just refer to the nominees as a group of depressing films… well… that was over the line.
It’s not that I think Seinfeld MEANT to offend anyone… actually I’m quite sure he probably didn’t mean that at all… but it is how it came across and I think an apology is probably in order.
Being funny doesn’t make it ok. Being popular doesn’t make it ok. Jerry seems like a great guy and probably meant no harm or disrespect at all… but I do hope he offers an apology. Just my two cents worth.
UPDATE – Jefrey left a great comment that nails it for me. He said: “it’s kinda like the father of the groom getting up and making a joke about the bride being a slut. Maybe it’s funny, but it’s not the time or place.”
It’s easy for the rest of us to say generic meaningless phrases like “it was just a joke” or “don’t take yourself too seriously”, but just like the wedding analogy, that was their moment… what they worked towards… and it’s supposed to be about them. Seinfelds remarks cheapened it. But as i said before, I highly doubt that was his intention… it just worked out that way.
