In response to frequent criticisms, documentaries which had a theatrical run --characterized as
"a minimum of 25 commercial exhibitions for paid admission in motion picture theaters in 15 states, each exhibition to be at least two consecutive days" --are now mostly exempt from their respective rules about television broadcast dropping the films from contention.
To further even out their rules they really should drop this television exemption altogether -features are not subject to these disqualifications if they're on cable four months after their theatrical run, so why should documentaries be? And while they're at it if they would make the features have to meet this exhibition rule (the 15 states part --I like that!) than we wouldn't have so many stupid one week only showings in LA to subvert the year's natural chronology.
I realize this post may sound like gobbledegook butI can't help it. I hate all these special rules. Features should have to exhibit in more than just LA & NY just like the documentaries do. This would also help weed out that awful December release glut each year. Basically if features had to follow these documentary rules, things like
Million Dollar Baby would be in danger of not qualifying... which is a good thing. You shouldn't be able to be called the best of a year in which no one was able to see you (except for those blessed souls in LA and NYC like myself). There's no reason why Marty should undergo public scrutiny but Clint should be spared, you know?
