ABSTRACT
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a nonprofit organization established to “improve the artistic quality of the film medium, provide a common forum for the various branches and crafts of the industry, foster cooperation in technical research and cultural progress.” Membership is by invitation only, and to qualify for membership the prospective member must demonstrate “distinctive achievement” in one of the branches of the motion picture industry, which originally included producers, actors, directors, writers, and technicians. As the industry grew and diversified, other branches were established to represent this progress.
