Make your way to the Academy Awards' red carpet
The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are a star-studded event in which actors, actresses, directors, producers and others in the film industry are recognized for their talents and expertise. Every year, the event is televised globally in late February or early March. Those traveling to California for the extravaganza can pick up a Los Angeles airport rental car to navigate their way around town.
History of the Academy Awards
The first Academy Awards were held in 1929, making it the oldest award show in history. That year, the ceremony took place at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in the Blossom Room. Back in the day, tickets costs just $5 and only about 270 guests attended. Some of the winners of the first-ever Oscars included "Sunrise: A Song of Two Human" for Best Picture and Emil Jannings as Best Actor for his work in "The Last Command" and "The Way of All Flesh." However, back then winning wasn't quite the surprise it is now, as the picks were announced three months earlier.
The complete list of categories for the event now include: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Screenplay/Writer. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is responsible for voting on who receives recognition in each category. It wasn't until 1999 that the Oscars started taking place on a Sunday in order to increase television viewership.
Going to the Oscars
If you plan to pick up a California rental car and make your way to the Academy Awards, there are some things you need to know first. Unlike many may believe, the event is not exclusively for A-listers - you can make your way to the sidelines of the red carpet too. Today, the event is held at the Dolby Theatre, which is located in the center of Hollywood. So, leaving your Oscar car rental at the hotel may be an easier option than finding parking on the crowded streets.
The trick to getting inside for the Oscars is volunteering as a seat filler. Throughout the taping of the awards, celebrities often leave their seats - whether it's to use the restroom or take an important phone call. That being said, producers want to make sure all their seats are filled in the meantime - that's where you come in. To ensure yourself a seat, get yourself cast ahead of time online. There are a number of sites available to do so, including seatfiller.com.
Attendees hoping to sit up front when well-known celebrities venture out to the lobby or elsewhere will want to be well-dressed, but not distracting. At the end of the day, all the attention is on those famous faces, so it's best not to take any of their spotlight away. While there are no guarantees, waiting might get you an up-close-and-personal experience with past Oscar winners such as Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock or Meryl Streep.