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Do Academy Awardnomineesactually deserve our pity?
And theyre not even close to done.
Theyve hobnobbed with voters at a mind-numbing array of champagne meet-and-greets.
Think: theelegant soireeFocus Features co-hosted withVanity Fairon January 21 for period fashion-dramaPhantom Threadat West Hollywoods Chateau Marmont.
Phase Two, conversely, presumes that AMPASs rank and file have seen all the movies in contention.
And from there, the strategists double down on core messaging.
What can you do?
Four Q&As only; thats another Academy rule.
Advertising is a big piece of it.
What is your narrative?
It saw themoment coming.
This is the point at which various guild awards shows falling during Phase Two gain outsize importance.
And if you are a presenter, youre there staying front of mind among other winners.
And people can come up to you and say hi.
This year, directorGuillermo del Toros phantasmagorical fantasy-espionage dramaThe Shape of Waterleads all other films with 13 Oscar nominations.
Sometimes a strategist is committed to a film for a year.
Living, breathing, eating, sleeping this title and these people.
They get very attached.
Their passions are definitely inflamed.
And people sometimes say and do things that are not appropriate.
But on the heels of Phase Two, the silos are leveled and everyone votes for everything.
Exhibit A:Moonlights stunning upset of Best Picture front-runnerLa La Landlast year.
La La Lands billboard didnt even identify the film with words.
Did those billboards really change the films Oscars math?Impossible to say.
My love toLa La Land!
Which could be as fitting a coda to Phase Two as has ever been uttered.
