Academy Yanks Oscar Nom For Christian Movie Over Shady Campaigning

Two weeks ago we puzzled over the Academy Award nomination for a song from a virtually unknown Christian movie that had only played a few shows in Los Angeles in order to qualify. Today the Academy yanked that nomination over shady campaigning by the songwriter. From their press release:

On Tuesday night, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted to rescind the Original Song nomination for “Alone Yet Not Alone,” music by Bruce Broughton and lyric by Dennis Spiegel. The decision was prompted by the discovery that Broughton, a former Governor and current Music Branch executive committee member, had emailed members of the branch to make them aware of his submission during the nominations voting period. “No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one’s position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one’s own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage,” said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy President.

In 1985 Boughton, who has won ten Emmys, got a Best Original Score nomination for Silverado. The Oscar that year went to John Barry for Out Of Africa.  (Tipped by JMG readers Jerry and Ricardo)