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Academy invitee Eddie Redmayne in 'The Theory of Everything.' Academy invites 322 new members: 'More diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before' The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has offered membership to 322 individuals "who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures." According to the Academy's press release, "those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2015." In case all 322 potential new members say an enthusiastic Yes, that means an injection of new blood representing about 5 percent of the Academy's current membership. In the words of Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs (as quoted in the press release), in 2015 "our branches have recognized a more diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before, and we look forward to adding their creativity, ideas and experience to our organization." In recent years, the Academy membership has...

©Renzo Piano Building Workshop/©Studio Pali Fekete architects/©A.M.P.A.S.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week that the Los Angeles City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved plans for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Construction will begin this summer, and ceremonial groundbreaking festivities will occur this fall.

“I am thrilled that Los Angeles is gaining another architectural and cultural icon,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “My office of economic development has worked directly with the museum’s development team to ensure that the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will create jobs, support tourism, and pay homage to the industry that helped define our identity as the creative capital of the world.”

“We are grateful to our incredible community of supporters who have helped make this museum a reality,” said Dawn Hudson, the Academy’s CEO. “Building this museum has been an Academy...

Strangely dropping a press release on a historic day where the nation's attention is elsewhere, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed their annual list of new member invitees this morning. For those who criticize the makeup of the Academy there was some good news and the stark realization the organization still has a long way to go. The Academy has spent the last eight to 10 years attempting to diversify its membership and this year's class mostly reflects that. There are significantly more invitees of Asian and African-American descent, but the male to female disparity is still depressing. Out of the 25 potential new members of the Actor's Branch only seven are women. And, no, there isn't really an acceptable way for the Academy to spin that sad fact. Additionally, It's important to realize the 322 people noted in the release have only been invited to join Hollywood's most exclusive club.

By Anjelica Oswald

Managing Editor

Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Guardians of the Galaxy all received awards from the Make-up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild during its awards ceremony Feb. 14. Both Guardians and Grand Budapest are nominated for the Oscar for best makeup and hairstyling (along with Foxcatcher).

Guardians’ Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou was awarded for contemporary makeup and David White won for special makeup effects. Grand Budapest’s Frances Hannon and Julie Dartnell won for best period and/or character makeup, as well as best period and/or character hairstyling. Birdman’s Jerry Popolis and Kat Drazen won for contemporary hairstyling.

Aside from feature films, the Make-up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards also recognizes make-up artists and hair stylists for television and new media, as well as television miniseries and made-for-tv movies. The guild first gave out awards in 2000 and continued through 2004 until they stopped for 10 years. The awards were again given out last year.

With one week before the Academy Awards, "Birdman" continues its triumphant march towards Oscar glory. Just this past weekend, the Alejandro González Iñárritu contender won the top awards at the American Society of Cinematographers (Asc) awards, the 62nd Sound Editors' Golden Reel, and the 51st Cinema Audio Society. The film also took home the Best Contemporary Hair Styling award from the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild.

Will this transfer to Oscar glory?

Here's the complete list of winners from the Asc, Golden Reel, Cinema Audio Society, and Make-Up Artist and Hair Stylists Guild awards.

29th American Society of Cinematographers Winners

Feature Film: "Birdman"

Emmanuel Lubezki, Asc, AMC

Television Episodic: "Boardwalk Empire: Golden Days for Boys and Girls"

Jonathan Freeman, Asc

Television Movie/Miniseries/Pilot: "Manhattan" pilot

John Lindley, Asc

Spotlight Award: "Concrete Night" ("Betoniyo")

Peter Flinckenberg, Fsc

62nd Sound Editors' Golden Reel Winners

Feature Animation: .Big...

The Makeup and Hairstylists Guild is well-established on the circuit in the organization's second year of doling out top honors for hair and makeup work across the fields of film, television and theater. The 2015 ceremony Saturday night saw wins for "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Birdman" and "American Horror Story: Freak Show," among others. At the Oscars, "Guardians" is up against "Foxcatcher" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel." The latter won a pair of prizes, as did "Guardians." Check out the full list of Makeup and Hairstylists Guild winners below, nominees here and the rest of the season's offerings at The Circuit. Feature Length Motion Picture (Feature Films) Best Contemporary Makeup "Guardians of the Galaxy" Make-Up Artist: Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou Best Period and/or Character Makeup "The Grand Budapest Hotel" Make-Up Artists: Frances Hannon and Julie Dartnell Best Special Effects Makeup "Guardians of the Galaxy" Make-Up Artist: David White Best Contemporary Hairstyling...

This is the second year for the Makeup and Hairstylists Guild joining the awards game, and they've been a welcome addition to the circuit. They spread their nods thin across a number of categories, but it's a good window into what this branch digs, for sure. This year, the only two films on the Academy's bake-off list of finalists that didn't garner any recognition were "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" and "Noah." Meaning "Foxcatcher," "The Grand Budapest Hotel," "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Maleficent" and "The Theory of Everything" were each represented in one form or another. Meanwhile, "Guardians of the Galaxy" led with the most mentions at three, while "The Grand Budapest Hotel," "Interstellar" and "Into the Woods" each got a pair. As previously announced, Oscar-winning make-up artist Rick Baker and Emmy-nominated hair stylist Kathryn Blondell will receive the Guild's Lifetime Achievement Awards. Check out the full list of nominees below,...

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and Into The Woods are among the feature nominees announced today for the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards. There is a tie in the Television and New Media Series Best Contemporary Make-Up Category resulting in six nominees. The awards will be presented during a ceremony February 14 at Paramount Studios. Here’s the complete list:

Feature Length Motion Picture (Feature Films)

Best Contemporary Make-up

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Make-Up Artists: Allan Apone, Nicole Sortillon and Lisa Rocco (Petition)

Gone Girl

Make-Up Artists: Kate Biscoe and Gigi Williams

Guardians of the Galaxy

Make-Up Artist: Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou

Interstellar

Make-Up Artists: Luisa Abel and Jay Wejebe

Nightcrawler

Make-Up Artists: Donald Mowat and Malanie Romero

Feature Length Motion Picture (Feature Films)

Best Period And/Or Character Make-up

Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

Make-Up Artists: Ve Neill, Nikoletta Skarlatos and Conor McCullagh (Petition)

Into the Woods...

The Make-Up Artists And Hair Stylists Guild unveiled nominations in 19 categories on Thursday (January 8).

The winners will be announced at the 2015 Annual Muahs Guild Awards ceremony on February 14 at Paramount Studios.

Final ballot voting begins on January 19 and closes on February 10.

As previously announced make-up artist Rick Baker and hair stylist Kathryn Blondell will receive the Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Feature Length Motion Picture (Feature Films)

Best Contemporary Make-Up

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Make-up artists: Allan Apone, Nicole Sortillon and Lisa Rocco (petition)

Gone Girl

Make-up artists: Kate Biscoe and Gigi Williams

Guardians Of The Galaxy

Make-up artist: Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou

Interstellar

Make-up artists: Luisa Abel and Jay Wejebe

Nightcrawler

Make-up artists: Donald Mowat and Malanie Romero

Best Period And/Or Character Make-Up

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

Make-up artists: Ve Neill, Nikoletta Skarlatos and Conor McCullagh (petition)

Into The Woods

Make-up artist: Peter Swords King

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Make-up artists: Frances Hannon and Julie Dartnell...