Gerard wasn't able to crank out a "Tech Support" column last week, but he's got a doosey here this weekend. As we await the BAFTA and WGA announcements, here's a little food for though as he waxes on about how the Academy, the studios and the industry at large might improve the process of recognizing and representing the individuals behind the camera that get the job done:

Allow me to step away from general analysis this week and make a few observations on the current, often underappreciated, experience that is the race for the craft awards. Perhaps there are considerable ways of improving it.

We all see the stars hitting the talk shows. The trades are brimming with ads. The DGA nominees are all giving their spiel in high profile fashion. The acting and writing nominees are visible all around Hollywood. One would be hard-pressed to say the nominees aren’t receiving ample media and industry coverage – unless, of course, you are a nominee in a crafts category.

As usual, these men and women are taking an incredibly (back back back) backseat in media coverage and even industry coverage. Sure, they turn out in support for their films at this party/gathering or that, but you won’t find much in the way of campaign concentration. This process not only ghettoizes their categories in the eyes of the public, but it is also is a disservice to the integrity of awards process in these categories.