–MEMO–
TO: Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
FROM: Kristopher Tapley
RE: The ballot you recently received
Ladies and gentleman,
As you sit to ponder the year’s best in your various fields of professional expertise, you might find yourself strong-armed into the consensus view 2008’s film product has been whittled down to over the last 30 days. You might even find yourself at a loss, cramming as much as you can after a year of constantly working with nary a moment to spare a trip to the cinema. Such last minute jitters can yield an unconsidered and, certainly, lackadaisical approach to your annual responsibilities as AMPAS members. But I implore you to take your time with this, be measured, and above all, take pen to paper with a level of seriousness.
While I would never presume to tell you how to go about filling in your respective ballots, I hope you don’t find it too bold of me to offer a few closing words of encouragement and suggestion as we close the book on 2008. The glut of film awards season fades into a numbing hum you’d perhaps rather ignore until the holidays have run their course, so come back to these words at a later date if you must. They merely represent the humble opinion of one passionate film lover who believes in the potential of your organization and the ideals it stands for.