1975 (48th Annual Awards)
Academy Award Voting Rules

Each year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences publishes a booklet for its members detailing the current revised rules for nominating and voting for Academy Awards. Listed below is the exact text of the rules for the 1975 (48th) Awards.

Click on a year in the column on the right to display the Voting Rules for another year.

Note: Although the typography has been modified slightly for greater consistency and easier reading on this website, the text displayed for each Rule Book is exactly as it was originally printed (including the original—sometimes quirky—outline format and occasional spelling errors).

48th Annual
Academy Awards of Merit
FOR ACHIEVEMENTS DURING 1975

VOTING RULES

One

THE AWARDS YEAR

Academy Awards of Merit shall be bestowed for achievements in connection with motion pictures which for the first time are publicly exhibited by means of 35mm film or larger for paid admission (previews excluded) in a commercial motion picture theater in the Los Angeles area, defined as Los Angeles, West Los Angeles or Beverly Hills, (though they may have been exhibited elsewhere previously) between January 1, 1975 and midnight of December 31, 1975, such exhibition being for a consecutive run of not less than a week after an opening prior to midnight of December 31st, following normal exploitation and advertising utilized by the producer for his other pictures within the dates specified.
Exceptions to this rule appear in Special Rules for Documentary Awards (see Rule Twelve), Best Foreign Language Film Award (see Rule Fourteen), Music Awards (see Rule Fifteen ) and Short Films Awards (see Rule Eighteen).
Films exhibited in a subscription series presentation in the Los Angeles area (as defined above), but which run less than seven consecutive days, will not be excluded from eligibility for awards consideration in the year such films meet the exhibition requirements in paragraph 1 and otherwise qualify.
Pictures which qualify under paragraph 1, but which have also been exhibited in another medium are excluded from Awards eligibility unless their previous exhibition in another medium has occurred in a country other than the United States.

Two

THE ANNUAL AWARDS

Except in instances in which the producer is unable to comply herewith, every award shall be conditioned upon the delivery to the Academy of one print of every film nominated for final balloting for all Academy Awards, and such print shall become the property of the Academy, with the proviso, however, that the Academy shall not use such print for commercial gain. Such print shall be deposited with the Academy and, subject to matters not within its control, shall be screened by the Academy for the membership in advance of distribution of final ballots.

Awards of Merit in the form of gold statuettes shall be conferred for the following achievements:

ACTING:	For the best performance by an actor. For the best performance by an actor in a supporting role. For the best performance by an actress. For the best performance by an actress in a supporting role.
ART DIRECTION:	For the best achievement in art direction. (The Academy Statuette shall be given also to the set decorators on the picture which wins the Art Direction Award.)
CINEMATOGRAPHY:	For the best achievement in cinematography.
COSTUME DESIGN:	For the best achievement in costume design.
DIRECTING:	For the best achievement in directing.
DOCUMENTARY:	For the best achievement in each of two classifications: (a) Documentary features. (b) Documentary short subjects.
FILM EDITING:	For the best achievement in film editing.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:	For the best foreign language film of the year.
MUSIC:	For the outstanding achievements in music in connection with motion pictures: Best original score. { Best original song score and adaptation. { OR { Best scoring: adaptation. Best original song.
BEST PICTURE:	For the best motion picture of the year.
SHORT FILMS:	For the best achievement in each of two classifications: (a) Animated films. (b) Live action films.
SOUND:	For the best achievement in sound.
WRITING:	For the best achievement in each of two classifications: Best original screenplay. Best screenplay adapted from other material.

Three

OTHER AWARDS

(Not necessarily given each year)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT: For a device, method, formula, discovery, or invention of special and outstanding value to the arts and sciences of motion pictures, and actually employed in the motion picture industry during the awards year. The Class I Award (Academy Statuette) shall be conferred for basic achievements which have a definite influence upon the advancement of the industry; the Class II Award (Academy Plaque) for those achievements which exhibit a high level of engineering or technical merit and which are important to the progress of the industry; the Class III Award (Academy Citation) for those accomplishments which are valuable contributions to the progress of the industry (see Rule Seventeen).
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS (Statuette): Shall be given at such times as in the judgment of the Board of Governors there is an achievement which makes an exceptional contribution to the motion picture for which it was created, but for which there is no annual award category. Such awards shall only be conferred, however, for achievements in productions which also qualify under Rule One.
IRVING G. THALBERG MEMORIAL AWARD (Thalberg Head): Shall be given at such times as in the judgment of the Board of Governors there is a deserving recipient, but not necessarily each year. It shall be given to a creative producer whose body of work reflects a consistently high quality of motion picture production. No one shall be eligible to receive the Thalberg Award more than once (see Rule Twenty-one).
JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARD (Statuette): Shall be given at such times as in the judgment of the Board of Governors there is a deserving recipient, but not necessarily each year. It shall be given to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry. No one shall be eligible to receive this award more than once.

Four

HONORARY AWARDS

For outstanding achievements not strictly within the categories listed in Rules Two and Three. Honorary Awards shall only be given, however, for exceptionally distinguished service in the making of motion pictures or for outstanding service to the Academy.
Achievements voted Honorary Awards may be in connection with foreign as well as domestic productions and are not limited to the awards year.
Honorary Awards shall be in such form as the Board of Governors may decide.

Five

GENERAL RULES

Final balloting on all achievements shall be restricted to active Academy members.
The established gold statuette trophy of the Academy shall be conferred for all achievements listed in Rule Two, for the Class I Scientific or Technical Awards, for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and for Special Achievement Awards. The Academy Plaque shall be given for Class II Scientific or Technical Awards. The Thalberg Head shall be given for the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. Trophies to be given for all Honorary Awards shall be determined by the Board of Governors.
Final voting for awards shall be by secret ballot. Printed forms and ballots shall be supplied by the Academy and shall be returned unsigned. Ballots shall be opened and counted by a firm of certified public accountants designated by the Academy President.
Awards shall be conferred at an Awards Presentation ceremony.
In the event that an achievement voted an award was done in collaboration, each of the collaborators shall receive an award trophy. In the event of a tie for first place in the final balloting, awards shall be given for both achievements.
In the nominations voting, the marking and tabulation of all ballots shall be according to the preferential or proportional system. No “write-in” votes shall be counted on the final ballots.
Subject to special rules approved by the Board of Governors, eligibility for consideration for Academy Awards shall be limited to motion pictures which have been exhibited by means of 35mm film or larger and for which full, complete and authentic credits have been received by the Academy from the producer or distributor, unless such limitations are waived by the Board of Governors or its Awards Committee.
The Board of Governors shall provide for such meetings, subcommittees and special showings as may be desirable to insure a full and fair consideration of the merits of all eligible achievements.
Motion pictures from all countries shall be eligible for consideration for the awards listed under Rule Two if the requirements of Rules One, Two, Five and Six are met, but foreign language films must have English subtitles.
The alteration of an achievement by changing a picture from the version shown in the Los Angeles area, upon which eligibility is based, shall subject such achievement to the risk of being declared ineligible by the Board of Governors.

Six

GENERAL RULES FOR NOMINATIONS VOTING

Each branch shall be permitted to formulate its own special rules, provided the final ballot presents not more than five achievements and that final voting in each category is restricted to active Academy members. All branches shall present their special rules to the Board of Governors for approval before putting them into operation.
Academy craft branch members who are also active members of another craft or guild shall be permitted to vote on nominations in those categories for which they are qualified, subject to branch approval.
No more than five nominations shall be made for each award. In all cases nominations shall be announced and placed on the final ballot in alphabetical order.
Each nomination shall refer only to the motion picture in which the achievement was made, and not to any individual responsible except in the case of nominations for acting which name both the individual and the one picture in which the achievement occurred.
The Academy shall prepare reminder lists of all eligible pictures, but before distribution to voters studios must check and assume full responsibility for errors and omissions.
Eligibility for all awards shall first be determined by credits as they appear on the screen and/or as certified to the Academy by the producing companies, but final determination in any event shall be made by the Academy.
In the event of any dispute concerning credits, the Academy reserves the right to declare any achievement ineligible or, alternatively, to reject all claims to credit, list credits as being in controversy and withhold any award until the dispute is resolved.
In the event a nominated achievement or a preliminary selection is declared ineligible by the Academy, it shall be replaced by the achievement or selection which received the next highest number of votes in the nominations balloting or in the balloting for the preliminary selections, as the case may be, if time reasonably permits such substitution.

Seven

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE ACTING AWARDS

Reminder lists including the casts of all eligible pictures shall be sent with nominations ballots to all members of the Academy Actors Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five acting achievements in each category: Best Performance by an Actor, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Performance by an Actress, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.
The five acting achievements in each category receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Acting Awards.
A performance by an actor or actress in any role shall be eligible for nomination either for the Best Acting Award or for the Supporting Player Award. If, however, all the dialogue has been dubbed by another actor, the performance shall not be eligible for Awards consideration. Singing which is dubbed will not affect the performer’s eligibility unless it constitutes the entire performance. The determination as to whether a role is a lead or support shall be made individually by members of the branch at the time of balloting.
The leading role and supporting role categories will be tabulated simultaneously. If any performance should receive votes in both categories, the achievement shall only be placed on the ballot in that category in which, during the tabulation process, it first received the required number of votes to be nominated. In the event that the performance receives the number of votes required to be nominated in both categories simultaneously, the achievement shall only be placed on the ballot in that category in which it received the greater percentage of the total votes.
In the event that two achievements by an actor or actress receive sufficient votes to be nominated in the same category, only one shall be nominated using the preferential tabulation process and such other allied procedures as may be necessary to achieve that result.
In the event that an actor or actress receives a sufficient number of votes to be nominated for one achievement in one category and for another achievement in the other category, both achievements shall be eligible.
Final voting for the Acting Awards shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Eight

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE ART DIRECTION AWARD

A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all art director and set decorator members of the Academy Art Directors Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than five productions. A meeting of the Academy Art Directors Branch shall be held to pass on the eligibility of all productions for awards consideration.
The ten productions receiving the highest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give all members of the Art Directors Branch an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions shall be sent to all members of the Art Directors Branch except costume designers, who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Art Direction Award.
Final voting for the Art Direction Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Set Decoration

Recognition in the form of Academy Statuettes shall be given to the set decorators of the production which receives an award for achievement in art direction.

Nine

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD

A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all members of the Academy Cinematographers Branch who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than ten productions.
The ten productions receiving the highest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give all members of the Cinematographers Branch an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions shall be sent to all members of the Cinematographers Branch who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Cinematography Award.
In the event that two achievements by a cinematographer or team of cinematographers receive sufficient votes to be nominated, only one shall be nominated using the preferential tabulation process.
Final voting for the Cinematography Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Ten

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE COSTUME DESIGN AWARD

A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all costume designer members of the Academy Art Directors Branch who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than ten productions. To be eligible for the Costume Design Award, the principal costumes must have been created specifically for the picture by the costume designer.
The ten productions receiving the highest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give the costume designers an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions shall be sent to the costume designer members of the Art Directors Branch who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Costume Design Award.
Final voting for the Costume Design Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Eleven

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE DIRECTING AWARD

A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a nominations ballot to all members of the Academy Directors Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five directing achievements.
The five directing achievements receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Directing Award.
Final voting for the Directing Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Twelve

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE DOCUMENTARY AWARDS

Documentary films are defined as those dealing with cultural, artistic, historical, social, scientific, economic or other significant subjects, photographed in actual occurrence, re-enacted or produced in animation, stop-motion or any other technique and where the emphasis is on factual content. The purely technical instructional film will not be considered.
Films eligible for Documentary Awards shall be divided into two groups:
1. Documentary features—films of more than 3,000 35mm feet, or the equivalents in 16mm or 7Omm.
2. Documentary short subjects—films of no more than 3,000 35mm feet, or the equivalents in 16mm or 70mm.
Only one entry in each classification will be accepted from each producer.
Producer credit for these awards shall be limited to the person or persons responsible for the creative production of the picture. Executive producers, or other contributors, cannot share nominations or awards credit for documentaries. If there is a discrepancy between the creator listed on the entry blank and the name on the film title frame, the Academy will insist that credit for the nomination and/or award be settled by the submitting organization before the entry is screened for nominations balloting.
To be eligible, a documentary film must have been exhibited for the first time between January 1, 1975 and December 31, 1975 by having been projected in any auditorium, theater or other room (not necessarily in the Los Angeles area) in which there was assembled an audience for which the subject was made. Screening before a film festival or exposition audience, whether competitive or not, shall also constitute exhibition within the scope of this regulation. Pictures which have also been exhibited in any other medium but which qualify under the above rule are not to be excluded from eligibility, provided the first exhibition in that medium has occurred during the same awards year.
Entries in the documentary field will be limited to films either produced in, or enlarged to, 35mm or 70mm in which significant dialogue or narration is in English or which have English subtitles. Films produced in 16mm, however, may be submitted without enlargement provided they have been honored by acceptance for exhibition at a recognized, non-competitive, international film festival; or, in the case of a similarly recognized competitive international festival, if they have received a best-in-category award. Such recognition must occur in the same awards year in which the film is submitted for Academy Documentary Awards consideration.
All entries submitted must include a written description in English of the subject. The entry blank and synopsis should be submitted as soon as possible. Positively no entries will be accepted after December 31, 1975.
Prints should be shipped prepaid to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California 9021l. Those not chosen as nominations for final balloting by the active Academy membership will be returned prepaid to the sender. All prints submitted must remain with the Academy for screening until the presentation of the awards in March, 1976.
The Documentary Awards Committee will view all films entered and will then vote to nominate not more than five nor less than three in each category. The committee’s selections will then become the nominations. The nominated pictures in each category shall be screened for the active Academy membership, whose balloting will determine the awards in both categories.
“Except in instances in which the producer is unable to comply herewith, every award shall be conditioned upon the delivery to the Academy of one print of every film nominated for final balloting for all Academy Awards, and such print shall become the property of the Academy, with the proviso however, that the Academy shall not use such print for commercial gain. Such print shall be deposited with the Academy and, subject to matters not within its control, shall be screened by the Academy for the membership in advance of distribution of final ballots.” [Academy Bylaws, Article 8, Section 1, (f).] Unless notified to the contrary, the Academy will retain for its archives every print chosen as a nomination for final balloting on the Documentary Awards.
A Documentary Short Subject may qualify for Short Films Awards consideration (see Rules for Short Films Awards, which differ in important respects). The entry may compete in either category, but not in both. The choice of category must be designated by the producer at the time the entry is submitted for awards consideration. Feature length documentaries entered for these awards are also eligible for the other awards for feature length pictures, provided they qualify.
Final voting for both the Documentary Feature Award and the Documentary Short Subjects Award shall be restricted to active Academy members. Final balloting for the Documentary Short Subjects Award will be further restricted to those active Academy members who attend a special Academy screening of the nominated films to vote for one achievement in this classification.

Thirteen

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE FILM EDITING AWARD

A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all members of the Academy Film Editors Branch who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than ten productions.
The ten productions receiving the highest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give all members of the Film Editors Branch an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions shall be sent to all members of the Film Editors Branch who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Film Editing Award.
Final voting for the Film Editing Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Fourteen

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM AWARD

This Award (Academy Statuette) will be given for the best feature length motion picture produced with a basically non-English sound track, first released in the country of origin between November 1, 1974 and October 31, 1975, and shown in a commercial theater for the profit of the producer and exhibitor. The picture need not have been released in the United States. The print submitted for Award consideration must be identical in form with the version released in the country of origin. Dialogue track must be in the original language and English subtitles are required. If the eligibility of any entry is questioned, the Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee shall make a determination.
Films submitted for Best Foreign Language Film Award consideration may also qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, but not the Best Picture of the Year Award, provided they meet the requirements of the special rules governing those other categories. Such films must be publicly exhibited by means of 35mm film or larger for paid admission (previews excluded) in a commercial motion picture theater in the Los Angeles area (defined as Los Angeles, West Los Angeles or Beverly Hills) between January 1, 1975 and midnight of December 31, 1975, for a consecutive run of not less than a week after an opening prior to midnight of December 31st. Films submitted for 1975 Best Foreign Language Film Award consideration shall not be eligible for Academy Award consideration in any category in any subsequent Awards year.
Every country shall be invited to submit its best film to the Academy. Selection of the best picture from each country shall be made by one group or organization, or by a jury or committee composed of representatives from several organizations in the country. Only one picture will be accepted from each country.
Prints should be shipped as early as possible as the Academy cannot accept pictures later than Friday, December 26, 1975 for Award consideration. A synopsis in English must be received in the Academy office with the official entry blank no later than Wednesday, November 26, 1975.
The Academy will provide entry blanks to the proper committee in each country so that the producer of the film selected can supply full information on his picture. All questions on the blank should be answered as fully as possible and should be supplemented by any other cast, credit or fact sheets available.
All foreign films sent to the Academy will be screened for balloting by the Foreign Language Film Award Committee. The ten productions receiving the highest score in this balloting shall become preliminary selections. The Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee shall by secret ballot nominate five of these preliminary selections for the Best Foreign Language Film Award. One representative of each picture nominated will be invited to attend the Academy Awards Presentation on March 29, 1976. The statuette will be awarded to the picture and not to any one individual.
Final voting for the Best Foreign Language Film Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Fifteen

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE MUSIC AWARDS

General Music Rules

For an achievement to be eligible for consideration for possible nomination in one of the three Music Awards categories, an official Entry Form, obtained from the Academy, must be submitted by the creator (or any individual creator in the case of collaboration). In order to encourage the recognition of outstanding achievement, any member of the Music Branch or the producer may recommend a work for submission. If such recommendation is made by a Branch member or producer (using an Official Recommendation Form obtained from the Academy), the creator(s) will be sent an Entry Form which must be filled out and returned to the Academy in order to be considered. The creator or producer need not be an Academy member. Although works may be submitted at any time during the year, it is strongly urged they be submitted as soon as possible but in any event no later than December 19, after which no submissions will be accepted. However, the Executive Committee reserves to itself the right to submit a candidate after December 19 but no later than December 31.
All works submitted for Awards consideration are subject to review by the Music Branch Official Screening Committee which will meet throughout the year to consider eligibility and make recommendations regarding classification and artistic qualification. The Screening Committee’s recommendations of those achievements to be considered for eligibility for possible nomination are subject to final determination by the Executive Committee.
To qualify, the work submitted must appear in an eligible film (see Paragraph 1 of Academy Voting Rule 1) and must, in the judgment of the Executive Committee, reflect the artistic standards established in Paragraphs 8, 10, 11 and 14 listed below. All Entry Forms submitted by the creator(s) must be accompanied by a copy of the music cue sheet. A lead sheet of a song as it appears in the film must accompany all songs submitted.
Works qualified by the Executive Committee will be shown throughout the year for Music Branch members prior to nominations balloting so that members may be given the opportunity to screen all of the scores and songs under consideration.
A reminder list of all eligible scores and songs which have qualified for consideration for nomination in each category shall be sent with a nominations ballot to all Academy Music Branch members who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than five selections in each category. If there are less than twenty works from eligible films submitted in any category, balloting shall be limited to no more than three nominations. The five (or three) selections in each category receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Music Awards.
The entire active Academy membership shall vote for final selection in each category: (I) Best Original Score; (II) Best Original Song Score and Adaptation or Best Scoring: Adaptation; and (III) Best Original Song.

Category I—Best Original Score

An Original Score is a composite body of original music (other than in the form of a song with lyrics) specifically created to accompany or “underscore” a given feature length motion picture. All of the principal thematic and developmental material therein must be original with the composer(s) and specifically composed for or first professionally used in the film for which eligibility is claimed.
The evaluation of an Original Score’s qualification for eligibility for possible nomination will be made on the basis of its service to the whole as an integral part of the total theatrical entity. Its contribution must be of sufficient import that, in the view of the Executive Committee of the Music Branch, its absence would clearly and substantially lessen the dramatic or theatrical thrust of the film as a whole. The sole measure of its qualifications shall be its effectiveness and importance in relation to the dramatic whole; duration, style and texture shall not be factors in determining this effectiveness and importance.
In the case of a solo composing credit for the score of a film (meaning composing other than songwriting), the Academy Music Branch has established the following criteria:
1. The scoring of a film embraces a large number of sophisticated and precise techniques, a knowledge of and proficiency in which are inherent in the ability to score a film.
2. A film composer of an Original Score is one who composes music and commits it to paper in the form of a properly timed, cued and otherwise detailed sketch (or a so-called “short score”) on at least three staves, ready for orchestration as such.
3. In the case of an Original Score not conventionally committed to paper, a film composer is one who performs his or her compositions on an instrument, or who directs other instrumentalists (and/or vocalists) in the performance thereof in the precise form in which it is heard on the sound track of the release print of the film in which eligibility is claimed.
The Executive Committee of the Music Branch may, at its discretion, require proof of the abilities set forth in Item (a) and in Items (b) and/or (c) above. The means by which to derive such proof shall be devised by said Executive Committee. In the absence of established knowledge of a composer’s abilities as above set forth, or in the event of the failure of a composer to supply proof as above set forth, it will be assumed that such a composer had co-composing collaboration. In such cases, a solo composing screen credit will not be accepted by the Music Branch as a qualification for eligibility for Academy Award consideration in the Original Score category. When this occurs, the composer and/or the producer will be given the opportunity of designating the co-composing collaborator(s) for Academy Award purposes and thus achieve eligibility. Failing, in these circumstances, to supply the Academy with such collaborative name(s), or with proof as above set forth, the composer will automatically render his score ineligible.

Category II—Best Original Song Score and Adaptation
for which the songwriter(s) shall share the nomination and/or award with the
adapter(s).

Best Scoring: Adaptation
for which only the adapter(s) shall be eligible for the nomination and/or award.

An Original Song Score is defined as a work consisting of a body of not less than five original songs by one writer or one team of writers, used either as voice-overs on the sound track or visually performed in the film for which they were specifically created, or in which they were first professionally used. Each of at least five songs must be clearly audible and intelligible, both lyrically and musically. To qualify for Awards consideration in the category of Best Original Song Score and Adaptation, a score’s chief emphasis must be the utilization of songs. Additionally, the nature of its contribution must be of sufficient theatrical import so that its absence would substantially lessen the dramatic thrust of the film as a whole.
A score shall be defined as an Adaptation if the musical material, song score or otherwise, was originally created for another medium or has been previously professionally used. To be eligible for Awards consideration in the category of Best Scoring: Adaptation, the adaptation must be something other than a total restatement of selected sections in their original form. In the purview of this rule, Adaptation must include creativity in accommodating the material to the unique and specific demands of the motion picture. The simple selection, editing and use of material in its already existing form shall not be considered a valid Adaptation.
The Music Branch recognizes the possibility that the score of a film may include substantial portions of both original and adapted music. In such cases, the score will be allocated either to the Original Score category or the Adaptation category, at the sole discretion of the Executive Committee (see Paragraph 2). There shall be two criteria:
1. The comparative length in minutes of the original and adapted music.
2. The thrust or intent of the score, meaning which of the two types of music reaches the audience as the major or more important segment of the score.
No film score shall be eligible in more than one category.
When a song is specifically written for or first used in a film with an original score and its writers are other than the composer(s) of the score and the song is the substantial and/or significant thematic basis of the score, then the song shall be eligible in the Best Original Song category, but the score shall be eligible only in the Adaptation category.

Category III—Best Original Song

A song consists of music and words. To be eligible for Awards consideration, a song must be sung in the body of an eligible feature length motion picture. The body of a picture shall be interpreted to include the main title (irrespective of where in the film said main title occurs) and all dramatic action. If a song is sung over the end credits only, it shall be eligible if, in the judgment of the Executive Committee of the Music Branch, such usage constitutes a dramatically relevant postlude to the film. A song must be related to the total theatrical entity of the film itself and must serve the dramatic, emotional or atmospheric mood. Its form or idiom shall not be determining factors. Failing such dramatic or theatrical integration with the film, the song will not be considered an achievement in connection with motion pictures.
To qualify for eligibility, a song must satisfy the following additional prerequisites:
1. A significant portion of both lyrics and melody must be heard clearly and intelligibly in the film. A visual rendition of the song is not necessary.
2. The song must be recorded for use in the film prior to any public performance in, or exploitation through, any of the following or similar media: radio, television, stage, night clubs, literary material, phonograph records, tapes, and publication in sheet music form available for purchase by the public. “Public performance” is interpreted to mean any public performance for profit; public performance at a benefit where admission is charged; or public performance where admission is free but open to the general public.
3. Commercial recordings may be made only after the song is legally committed to the picture. Phonograph records, tapes, or any other form of mechanical or electronic reproduction of the song may not be released for sale to the public until after the song has been recorded for use in the film.
4. A song shall not be considered “used” in the film if it is cut from that film prior to the first regular commercial run of the film, even through it may have appeared at studio-arranged previews or trade screenings.
5. If a song includes a substantial portion of lyrics or music previously used in a motion picture, or exploited in any other medium so that the present use becomes what is known in the trade as an adaptation rather than a work original as to both music and lyrics, the song is not eligible for an award.
In the case of songs transferred from one language to another wherein this second lyric is used in the film, the second lyric writer shall share in the nomination and/or award.

Sixteen

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR AWARD

A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a nominations ballot to all active members of the Academy, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five Best Picture achievements.
The five pictures receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Best Picture Award.
Final voting for the Best Picture Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Seventeen

SPECIAL RULES FOR SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Academy Awards for Scientific or Technical Achievement shall be made by the Board of Governors, upon recommendation of the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee. Awards may be given for devices, methods, formulas, discoveries or inventions of special and outstanding value to the arts and sciences of motion pictures, and employed in the motion picture industry during the awards year.
The Academy President shall annually appoint outstanding representatives of the motion picture and technical fields to serve on the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee.
Awards for scientific or technical achievement may be granted in any of the three following classifications:
CLASS I AWARD (Academy Statuette)
For basic achievements which have a definite influence upon the advancement of the industry.

CLASS II AWARD (Academy Plaque)
For those achievements which exhibit a high level of engineering or technical merit and which are important to the progress of the industry.

CLASS III AWARD (Academy Citation)
For those accomplishments which are valuable contributions to the progress of the industry.
The committee shall endeavor to acquaint itself with all motion picture scientific or technical achievements of the awards year. To assist the committee, letters shall be sent to individuals and organizations engaged in scientific or technical developments for motion pictures, requesting that they submit any information they may have regarding achievements which may have been developed in their own or any other organization.
A list of all achievements being considered shall be widely publicized to permit anyone with claims of prior art or with devices similar to those under consideration to bring them to the attention of the committee.
The committee shall then conduct a series of meetings and examinations, and when feasible shall arrange for such demonstrations as are necessary to evaluate the achievements properly and make recommendations for action by the Board of Governors.
In evaluating the achievements, the committee shall seek to acquaint itself with all devices, methods, formulas, discoveries or inventions similar to those being considered.
Where achievements are covered by patents, the committee may request that copies of the patent be made available to them.
Full claim for originality and development of each achievement must be established to the satisfaction of the committee. If any controversy should arise as to the origin or authorship of an achievement, the committee may request that the Academy Board of Governors postpone action until proper credit shall have been established.
The committee may appoint subcommittees for each technical classification in which there are achievements to be considered. Each subcommittee shall consist of one representative from each studio, and additional representatives as may be required. The chairman of each subcommittee shall be one of the members of the subcommittee and shall conduct its demonstrations, meetings and discussions.
Each subcommittee shall consider all achievements in its field. The subcommittees shall not make recommendations as to awards classification on the achievements, but shall evaluate them by completing prepared questionnaires. These evaluations shall be forwarded to the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee.
All voting by the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee shall be by secret written ballot. All decisions as to awards recommendations and classification shall require a two-thirds majority vote. Members of the committee having a personal connection with any achievement shall not be present during discussion of that achievement except by invitation of the chairman. Members of the committee who do not have a personal connection with the achievement but who are affiliated with the organization responsible for the achievement may be present at the discussion and voting at the discretion of the chairman, but may not vote on the achievement.
The committee shall recommend to the Academy Board of Governors the person, persons and/or organization to whom an award shall be made, and the type of award.
In recommending awards, the committee will judge to the best of its ability the scientific or technical merits of the achievements, but does not warrant that the person or persons named are responsible for the origin or development of the achievement named in the award.
It shall be within the discretion of the committee to recommend no awards if, in its judgment, there have been no achievements worthy of recognition.
Such other rules as may be considered necessary for the proper conduct of this award shall be adopted by the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee, subject to the approval of the Academy Board of Governors.

Eighteen

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE SHORT FILMS AWARDS

Short films eligible for these awards shall be limited to a maximum of 3,000 35mm feet in length or the equivalents in 16mm or 70mm. To compete for these awards, films must be exhibited within two years of completion date in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County for a paid play date of seven consecutive days after an opening between January 1, 1975 and midnight, December 31, 1975. Newsreels, previews and advertising films shall be excluded.
These awards shall be limited to the producer or other person(s) directly responsible for the creative production of the picture. If there is a discrepancy between the creator(s) listed on the entry blank and the name(s) on the film titles, the Academy will insist that credit for the nomination and/or award be settled before the entry is screened for nominations balloting. Failing the settlement of any controversy, the film may be declared ineligible for Academy Award consideration.
An award shall be given for the best achievement in each of two classifications:
1. Animated films of no more than 3,000 35mm feet, or the equivalents in 16mm or 70mm, utilizing animation as the basic medium of entertainment.
2. Live action films of no more than 3,000 35mm feet, or the equivalents in 16mm or 70mm, utilizing live action techniques as the basic medium of entertainment.
Eligibility and classification shall be determined at a special screening by a Preliminary Reviewing Committee, consisting of no less than 15 percent of the branch members. The vote of the committee shall decide these questions but the committee may, at its discretion, request that a special showing be held for the full branch. In this case, a majority vote of branch members who attend the screening shall be decisive. The Preliminary Reviewing Committee shall mark all entries 10, 8, 6 or 4 (10 Excellent; 8 Good; 6 Fair; 4 Poor ), and any subjects receiving a score of less than 7.0 in the tabulation shall be declared ineligible.
Producers shall be permitted one entry in either or both classifications, or one entry from each series of films produced for regular release; i. e., if a studio has two or three series of cartoons and several series of live action films, then one entry from each series may be presented for award consideration.
Films which also qualify as Documentary Short Subjects may compete in the Short Films Awards category (Live Action and Animation) or for the Documentary Short Subjects Award, but not both, and must not have received previous award consideration. The choice of category must be designated by the producer at the time the entry is submitted (see Special Rules for Documentary Awards).
Entry prints must be available for screening at the Academy on dates to be specified.
All entries selected by the Preliminary Reviewing Committee shall be screened by the Branch Nominating Committee [see (a) below]. The running order of subjects in each classification shall be determined by lot.
1. The Nominating Committee shall consist of all active members of the Academy Short Films Branch. The point system of voting, i.e., 10, 8, 6, 4, is to be used at this screening to select the nominations.
2. Nominations for final balloting shall be not more than five in each category, but may be reduced to less than five by the procedure outlined in (c) below.
3. If, in the tabulation of the nominations ballots, the subjects which place fifth and/or fourth do not achieve an average score of 7.5, these subjects shall not be declared nominated and the nominations for final balloting may, by this method, be reduced to four or three in either category. If, however, the subject which places third on the list has an average score of less than 7.5, it shall be declared a nomination. The intent of this rule is to present at least three nominations for final balloting in both Short Films classifications.
Final voting for the Short Films Awards shall be restricted to active Academy members who may vote only at a special screening of the nominated achievements for one subject in each of the two classifications.
In both preliminary and final voting, the excellence of the entries shall be judged on the basis of originality, entertainment and production quality without regard to cost of production or subject matter.

Nineteen

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE SOUND AWARD

A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all members of the Academy Sound Branch who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than ten productions.
The ten productions receiving the highest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give all Sound Branch members an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
The Theater Sound Inspection Committee shall inspect and approve the projection sound system of the Academy theater at least four weeks before the preliminary Sound Award screenings and no further changes may be made after that final approval. Submitted samples will be screened during this meeting to aid in the final approval. Any entry that deviates from the normal sound system of the Academy theater, or requires modification of the sound system, must be approved by a majority of the Theater Sound Inspection Committee before the time of the final check of the sound system. Such entry must be capable of nationwide release. Notification of such deviation or modification must be submitted to the Academy at least three weeks before the scheduled meeting of the Theater Sound Inspection Committee. However, any composite release print that plays on the normal projection sound system of the Academy theater without modification does not have to be approved by the Theater Sound Inspection Committee.
Before screening, representatives of the pictures to be shown each evening may run portions of their pictures to determine fader settings for the screenings. However, at the actual screenings, representatives may make any adjustments they deem necessary, but only during the first 1,000 ft. of dialogue. No further fader adjustments may then be made.
Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions shall be sent to all members of the Sound Branch who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Sound Award.
Final voting for the Sound Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Twenty

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS AWARD

An Academy Award for Special Visual Effects may be made by the Board of Governors upon recommendation of the Special Visual Effects Award Committee. Achievements under consideration for this award shall be judged on the basis of:
1. The necessity of the special visual effects employed to overcome economic infeasibility and/or physical impracticability.
2. The skill and fidelity with which the illusion of reality and/or fantasy is achieved so that the use of the effect mechanisms, methods or techniques is not apparent in the final results.
3. Consideration of all effects achievements and selections of those which contribute most importantly to the overall production.
The Academy President shall annually appoint outstanding visual effects technicians, qualified art directors and cinematographers to serve on the Special Visual Effects Award Committee. This committee shall be charged with the responsibility of submitting to the Board for award consideration a single production which, in its judgment, represents the best special visual effects achievement of the year. It shall be within the discretion of the committee to make no award recommendation if, in its judgment, there has been no achievement worthy of Academy recognition.
Entries for this award may be made in one or more of the following visual effects categories: Full-Sized Mechanical, Matte Paintings, Miniatures, Optical, Projection Process and Animation. However, animation may only be considered under the following conditions: (a) two dimensional animation (cartoon or painting) is eligible only when used as an adjunct to, and included in, live action scenes; (b) three dimensional animation is eligible only if its purpose is to achieve a result sufficiently well done to be accepted as realistic and it must relate to live action scenes or sequences only. Motion pictures or sequences that are principally cartoons or three dimensional animation are not eligible for this award.
In order to qualify for award consideration, film excerpts and written descriptions of how the special visual effects were achieved shall be prepared by representatives of each production. The description shall indicate in which of the effects categories the production is being submitted for consideration and shall name the one person principally responsible and directly involved in the supervision and execution of the effect in each category. Copies of the descriptions of the special visual effects will be made available to the committee.
When all entries have been received, the Special Visual Effects Award Committee shall meet to screen excerpts from the productions under consideration, after which the voting shall be conducted as follows:
1. A preliminary ballot, listing all productions under consideration, shall be distributed to the committee. Each member shall mark a 10, 8, 6 or 4 opposite each of the productions listed. This point system shall represent a rating of Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor. The three productions receiving the highest point score shall become the committee’s preliminary selections.
2. After the preliminary selections have been determined, at the discretion of the chairman another written ballot may be taken to decide if the three productions shall receive further award consideration. A two-thirds affirmative vote will serve to make this determination.
3. Providing the productions under consideration obtain the required two-thirds affirmative vote, category ballots listing all the categories in which the picture was entered shall be distributed to the committee. Each member shall mark a 10, 8, 6 or 4 opposite each of the effects categories listed. The ballots for each production shall be tabulated separately and those categories which receive an average point score of 8.0 or more shall be considered eligible. If this results in the selection of more than three categories, only the three with the highest point scores will be eligible. If no category attains the 8.0 average point score, the one category receiving the highest point score below 8.0 will be declared eligible. If a picture is entered in only one category, no category balloting will be necessary and it will automatically be eligible.
4. Following category balloting, excerpts from the three productions selected may be screened again, after which ballots shall be distributed. Each member shall mark 10, 8, 6 or 4 opposite each production, and the production which achieves the highest average vote shall then be eligible for final consideration by the committee.
5. A two-thirds affirmative vote will be required for the production to be recommended for award consideration. If the production does not receive the required two-thirds vote, no recommendation for a Special Visual Effects Award will be submitted to the Board of Governors that year.
Such other rules as may be considered necessary for the proper conduct of this award shall be adopted by the Special Visual Effects Award Rules Committee subject to the approval of the Academy Board of Governors.

Twenty-one

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE IRVING G. THALBERG MEMORIAL AWARD

Verbal nominations for the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award shall be made from the floor at a meeting of the Board of Governors called for this purpose. Consideration for this award shall be limited to creative producers whose body of work reflects a consistently high quality of motion picture production.
When the nominations are completed, a written secret ballot shall be taken and if one candidate receives a majority vote of the Governors present, he shall receive the Thalberg Award.
If, on the first ballot, no candidate receives a majority vote of the Governors present, a second ballot shall be distributed, listing the two candidates who received the highest number of votes on the first ballot. If a tie for second place occurs on the first ballot, the second ballot shall list three names.
If one of the candidates on the second ballot receives the majority vote of the Governors present at the meeting, he shall be declared the winner of the Thalberg Award. However, if the second ballot should result in a tie for first place, a third and final ballot shall be taken on the two names tied for first place.
If no candidate receives the majority vote of the Governors present on the second or third ballot, no Thalberg Award shall be given that year.
No proxies shall be permitted in balloting for the Thalberg Award.
No individual shall be eligible to receive the Thalberg Award more than once.

Twenty-two

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE WRITING AWARDS

An award shall be given for the best achievement in each of two categories:
Best Original Screenplay
This award is intended to honor the best screenplay conceived and written solely for the screen.

(The screenplay may not be based on the fictional work of any other writer or writers but may be based on factual material.)

Best Screenplay Adapted From Other Material
This award honors the best screenplay adapted from material previously published or produced.

(In a case where the writer of the basic material is someone other than the writer of the screenplay and that material has not been previously published or produced, the writer of the basic material will also be honored and will receive a statuette.)
A reminder list of all pictures eligible in each category shall be sent with nominations ballots to all members of the Academy Writers Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five writing achievements in each category.
The five writing achievements in each category receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Writing Awards.
In the event that two achievements by a writing team or writer without collaborator receive sufficient votes to be nominated in the same category, only one shall be nominated using the preferential tabulation process and such other allied procedures as may be necessary to achieve that result.
Final voting for the Writing Awards shall be restricted to active Academy members.

BALLOTING INFORMATION CHART

Forty-eighth Annual Awards - 1975 Calendar Year
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

AWARD	NOMINATIONS BALLOTING		FINAL BALLOTING
AWARD	MAXIMUM NUMBER OF NOMINATIONS	NOMINATING GROUPS	FINAL BALLOTING
ACTOR ACTRESS SUPPORTING ACTOR SUPPORTING ACTRESS	5 5 5 5	Academy Actors Branch Members.
ART DIRECTION	5	Preliminary Balloting by Art Director and Set Decorator Members of the Academy Art Directors Branch. Nominations Balloting by all Members of the Academy Art Directors Branch except Costume Designers.
CINEMATOGRAPHY	5	Preliminary and Nominations Balloting by Academy Cinematographers Branch Members.
COSTUME DESIGN	5	Preliminary and Nominations Balloting by Costume Designer Members of the Art Directors Branch.
DIRECTING	5	Academy Directors Branch Members.
DOCUMENTARY AWARDS: FEATURES SHORT SUBJECTS	5 5	Documentary Awards Committee.
FILM EDITING	5	Preliminary and Nominations Balloting by Academy Film Editors Branch Members.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM AWARD	5	Foreign Language Film Award Nominating Committee.
MUSIC: BEST ORIGINAL SCORE {BEST ORIGINAL SONG { SCORE AND ADAPTATION { OR {BEST SCORING: { ADAPTATION BEST ORIGINAL SONG	5 5 5	Academy Music Branch Members.
BEST PICTURE	5	All Active Academy Members.
SHORT FILMS: ANIMATED FILMS LIVE ACTION FILMS	5 5	Academy Short Films Branch Members.
SOUND	5	Preliminary and Nominations Balloting by Academy Sound Branch Members.
WRITING: BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY BEST SCREENPLAY ADAPTED FROM OTHER MATERIAL	5 5	Academy Writers Branch Members.

OTHER AWARDS:
SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARDS	Voted by Board of Governors, based on recommendations of the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS	Voted by Board of Governors.
THALBERG MEMORIAL AWARD	Voted by Board of Governors.
JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARD	Voted by Board of Governors.

HONORARY AWARDS:
HONORARY AWARDS	Voted by Board of Governors.

1975 (48th Annual Awards)Academy Award Voting Rules

48th Annual Academy Awards of Merit FOR ACHIEVEMENTS DURING 1975