The fate of the Oscars.

Are we running low on precious moments?

As a kid, we watched the Oscars as a family event, a rare chance to stay up late. There were no second screens, no red carpet pre-shows, just a Hollywood spectacle. Catching a glimpse of the stars entering the then Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles felt glamorous. You might have seen a movie star, The Tonight Show, but that was it. And why shouldn’t we be excited? Our movies have shaped and reflected our culture.

I’m reminded of Precious Images, the 1986 Oscar-winning short directed and edited by Chuck Workman. It sparked my love affair with movies and made me wonder—people do this for a living? How can I?

It is the best 7 minutes you will utilize today. Take a look. I dare you not to be moved by this ->

Now, it feels like a memorial to movies as an art form, but don’t get me wrong—there are still great movies. The Brutalist and Anora gave me hope.

The Oscars were created to boost movie sales between the holiday season and the summer blockbusters. Over time, they became a way for artists, actors, and producers to gain prestige and bigger paychecks. But now that the theater box office and streaming have changed the equation, the Oscar boost is minimal. So what’s left, a televised celebration of “Yay us?” Your response is invited.