If movie rental stores are dying, why is Family Video growing?

The latest word this week on the assumed demise of the store-based home video rental industry centers on news that Movie Gallery is declaring bankruptcy for the second time and closing around 760 stores.

Movie Gallery is the second largest US video rental chain behind Blockbuster. Along with an expected 1,100-plus Movie Gallery Stores, the company will also continue to operate around 800 stores under the Hollywood Video name, which it owns after it bailed that company out of its own precarious debt position a few years ago.

Blockbuster has dealt with its own fleeting market position in the last few years as more analysts and consumers anticipate the transition into a storeless movie rental system. The company used to be known as the giant in the industry and still generates a significant amount of revenue from its nearly 7,100 global stores (as of September 2009).

Blockbuster has announced plans to close around twenty percent of its stores in the near-term to cut costs in the face of its own sizeable debt load. While the company maintains its stance that there is still a market for store-based video rentals, its rapid development of movie streaming and kiosk-based retail alternatives shows company leaders obviously believe there is growing demand for those rental formats.

Netflix has been the darling of home video rentals in the last few years thanks to its dominance in the strong and fast-growing online DVD and Blu-ray rental sector. Company CEO Reed Hastings is widely credited with spotting this market trend while others waited or took to long.

Netflix has also been among leaders in the move to online movie streaming and digital downloads. While some believe the future of movie rentals is subscription-based online services, Netflix and other current leaders are using streaming movie catalogs mostly as support for its new release platforms. Netflix currently promotes a digital catalog over 17,000 on demand titles that unlimited rental customers can download through their computers, Roku players, or other compatible download device platforms.

DVD rental kiosks have most recently replaced online DVD rental programs as the ‘obvious’ choice to take the throne as a top movie rental platform. Sector leader Redbox reportedly has over 22,000 self-serve DVD kiosks nationwide with rental prices of $1. NCR partnered with Blockbuster in mid-2009 and it the kiosk manufacturer is currently working to place machines under the licensed “Blockbuster Express” kiosk brand, also with a $1 price point.

The future of the movie rental industry seems very clear to anyone suggesting that everything is a possibility at this point. Will online DVD rentals continue to grow? Netflix’s subscriber base does, but there is little broad competition and the pace of growth slows as time goes along. What about online streaming? It seems logical that now that internet use has overtaken TV use among the average American as a preferred entertainment meidum that online downloads could grow.

Kiosks are already projected to make up 30 percent of all movie rentals for 2010. This is a significant jump over current levels should it play out that way.

With the growing diversity of product offerings and the uncertain future of the store-based retailer, many people believe the winners in the industry are going to be those providers that can leverage the benefits of each platform while building loyal customer relationships through a new world version of multi-channel retailing. This sounds like a fairly simple projection right? Is Blockbuster correct in suggesting there is still room for some retail stores in this perfect amalgum?

What is most interesting about all of the talk in the movie rental industry these days is what no one is talking about. Everyone seems to be assuming that it is the store-based traditional rental business model that is dead or dying. What if it is the lack of quality providers through this format that have put it on the brink. Maybe the reality is that no one has been doing store-based video renting the right way?

The case for video rental stores by Family Video

There is no question e-tailing, or internet retailing, is fast-growing relative to brick and mortar stores. Around six to eight percent of purchases are currently made online, with growth expected to be great in the coming years. However, this number also shows there is clearly a thriving store-based retail sector that dominates total retail sales volume.  A key question is why is it that home movie products (discs) cannot be sold through traditional stores along with other channels as many similar sized, shaped and valued products can be?

Counting Blockbuster, Movie Gallery, Hollywood Video, and countless other small local and regional chains and stores, there have been or will be thousands of video rental store closings over the last few years.  Seemingly, this is because video rental stores are a dying breed giving way to more sophisticated online programs, streaming, and kiosks.

Why then has Family Video nearly doubled in size and states of operation since 2003?  Family Video is one of the largest private video rental chains in the US and it is still (unlike every other known significant industry player) growing.  The company currently boasts around 600 stores with operations in 18 states and over 5,000 employees helping run their stores.

Family Video is hardly a newcomer to the video rental business.  In fact, the company was one of the very first industry players when it began renting “videos” in 1978.

According to the Family video website history, the company’s origins trace back to the first half of the 20th century, when “In 1946, Clarence Hoogland started Midstates Appliance & Supply Company. In 1953, Clarence’s son Charlie Hoogland took over the company. In the 1970s, Midstates got ’stuck’ with a large quantity of videos. Charlie’s team got the idea to rent the videos, and in 1978 Family Video was founded. Today Charlie’s sons Keith and Eric lead our (Family Video) company as President and Vice President, respectively.”

Since it is a privately held company, Family Video does not have to disclose financial data to the public.  However, one could surmise that since the company has rapidly grown in the last decade compared to dying competitors, its business position is solid enough to generate cash and/or make it worthy of major credit allocations.

So what is the model for success that Family Video might offer to some of its competitors in the store-based movie rental sector?  The company is certainly not without inherent challenges, threats and weaknesses.  It faces the same basic variable costs of doing business that other stores have faced.  It’s stores are run by people, many of whom are younger than industry average, who deal with day-to-day struggles and bring natural human weaknesses to their jobs.

Here are just some of the basic Family Video business philosophies and service standards they may provide some insight into how the company has managed to survive and grow as others have fallen into oblivion (or close to it):

1. As evidenced by its history - Family Video has always been more than ‘just’ a video rental business.  One thing that sets the company apart is that it owns all or most of its properties.  Whereas other chains face tough lease demands that are quite expensive when broken (as in to close stores prematurely), Family Video owns its real estate even if a store were to be a poor draw.  Company leaders have long been prepared for the time when ‘traditional’ video rental stores would be less in demand, and a transition into something similar, or different might be necessary. Additionally, most of the company’s newer stores were built with rental spaces and contain rent paying customers like pizza makers and hair salons.
2. A higher employee standard – Family Video seeks only exemplary retail employees who possess customer-oriented skills and personalities.  With a work ethic that “there is always something to do”, the company does not have cashiers who simply collect money from patrons.  Employees, called Customer Service Representatives (CSRs), are always expected to be in motion, stocking movies, cleaning, organizing, checking inventory, making service calls, and more, with employees being the top priority.  Employees follow a business casual dress code during the week with Friday-Saturday attire including a more semi-professional look.  This is a far cry from the conventional untucked polo shirt with a store logo.
3. A growth within structure – Family Video hires Managers-in-Training (MITs) who learn the ropes at a local store for three to six months.  When ready to lead, the manager moves to take over management of an existing store, or to help open a new store.  The company allows managers with experience and a proven track record to take on higher volume stores.  Top store managers can become district managers with a few years (something the company promotes in its hiring), and regional managers oversee the company’s various regions of operation.  It is not uncommon to find store managers in their early 20s and some district managers in their mid-to-late 20s.  The company’s structure offers quick mobility for ambitious, talented and hard-working employees.
4. A customer first approach – This may the company’s single greatest strength relative to its store-based competitors who have long failed to grasp the real concept of effective movie rental service.  Here are some key examples of how Family Video does customer service better:

• 4 Daily Goals – Family Video asks employees “to learn, to teach, to WOW, and to improve” every day.  To WOW a customer, an employee would fix a problem that doesn’t exist or go above and beyond a customer’s expectation by finding a way to make them happy
• “What Can I Do to Make You Happy” – These are known as the magic words to company employees, who are expected to learn and memorize them within the first few days and weeks on the job.  The idea is to never let a customer leave unhappy.
• Defective rental process – The reality of renting discs is that they scratch.  Whereas most video stores simply replace your disc when you bring it back, assuming they believe you didn’t break it or scratch it, Family Video takes into account your inconvenience of time and effort and awards you an extra free rental on top of a replacement.
• The $9.95 plan – Family Video understoods the concept of loyal customers as a key driver.  The company allows regular and frequent movie and game renters to pay a $9.95 monthly fee in order to get half off rental prices.  Users typically break even with around six movie rentals or fewer game rentals.
• Late fee policy – Late fees have long been a key point of contention in movie rentals.  Many customers rack them up routinely and don’t pay.  Family Video prefers to never lose a customer over a late fee.  The company sends out invite cards to customers who haven’t been in store for several months because of a late fee.  It also attempts to work with customers who have unique circumstances that cause a late fee or who need time to pay one off.  As a rule, no customer is turned away because of a late fee.

These are just a few of the examples of how Family Video might offer hope to others who want to maintain stores as part of their multi-channel home video rental operations.  Many of the companies mentioned earlier highlight the move towered lower price, extreme value video rentals.  Family Video is not expensive, but with $2-3 DVD and Blu-ray prices, it is not trying to be the cheapest provider either.  The company does also leverage new retail channels including offering sales of new DVDs and video games on its website.

The company proves that there is a reasonable contingent of customers willing to pay a few extra cents per movie for a good total customer experience, a concept that still holds true in movies and in retail.

Conclusions about the status and future of the home video rental industry

Whether Family Video lasts for one more year, five, ten, or infinitely more as a movie rental provider, the company is well-positioned for long-term viability in some business form.

There is no question movie renting is becoming more high-tech and more self-service driven.  Online DVD rentals via Netflix and kiosk rentals through Redbox, Blockbuster Express, and other potential players appear to be the wave of the near future.  Online movie streaming subscription services, hopefully legally licensed by studios, appear to be the medium-to-long term direction of the industry.

However, despite what many have already reported, the store-based movie rental environment may not yet be dead.  It may just need a facelift that gets back to the root of the customer experience, value, service, good product at a fair price expectations that movie rental store goers long for.

Article by Neil of Movie Room Reviews – The author was a store manager with Family Video from 2000-2002 but has no material connection to the company and received no compensation for this feature

2010 Oscar Predictions and Academy Awards Preview

2010 Academy Awards Preview and Oscar Predictions

The Academy Awards are without question that signature evening and event in the busy film and television awards season that starts every year.  The 2010 Academy Awards air on Sunday, March 7th on ABC, beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT, with red carpet events and television coverage running on many networks beginning in the early to mid-afternoon.

The 2010 Oscar nominations were presented in a live teleconference on February 2nd by Academy President Tom Sherak and 2008 Oscar-nominated actress Anne Hathaway.

The 2010 Academy Awards will be hosted by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin (Read host bios) who will present the awards in 24 film and acting categories.  There are several multiple award nominees, with Avatar a top candidate for multiple wins.

Movie Room Reviews will cover the 2010 Oscars with Oscar blog updates and Tweets throughout the awards presentation with updates on winners, notes on the presenters, speeches, and other items.  The following are the (Very early – slight revisions possible leading up to event) 2010 Oscar Predictions of winners by Movie Room Reviews.  This site correctly predicted 60% of the Golden Globe winners (15 of 25).

Complete 2010 Oscar Predictions List
Nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards (Predicted Winners in Bold)

Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

Actor in a Supporting Role

Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

Actress in a Supporting Role

Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Animated Feature Film

“Coraline” Henry Selick
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
“Up” Pete Docter

Art Direction

“Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
“Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

Cinematography

“Avatar” Mauro Fiore
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
“Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” Christian Berger

Costume Design

“Bright Star” Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell

Directing

“Avatar” James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” Jason Reitman

Documentary (Feature)

“Burma VJ” Anders Ostergaard and Lise Lense-Moller
“The Cove” Nominees to be determined
“Food, Inc.” Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
“Which Way Home” Rebecca Cammisa

Documentary (Short Subject)

“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant” Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
“Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
“Rabbit à la Berlin” Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

Film Editing

“Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
“District 9” Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz

Foreign Language Film

“Ajami” Israel
“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” Argentina
“The Milk of Sorrow” Peru
“Un Prophète” France
“The White Ribbon” Germany

Makeup

“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Music (Original Score)

“Avatar” James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
“Up” Michael Giacchino

Music (Original Song)

“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Best Picture

“Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
“The Blind Side” Nominees to be determined
“District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
“An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
“The Hurt Locker” Nominees to be determined
“Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
“A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
“Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

Short Film (Animated)

“French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park

Short Film (Live Action)

“The Door” Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
“Instead of Abracadabra” Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
“Kavi” Gregg Helvey
“Miracle Fish” Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
“The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Sound Editing

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

Sound Mixing

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

Visual Effects

“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Writing (Original Screenplay)

“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

Follow Movie Room Reviews complete coverage of the 2010 Oscars including live Oscar updates and blogging of the March 7th 2010 Academy Awards Show.

2010 Oscar Predictions and Academy Awards Preview by Neil of Movie Room Reviews

2010 Oscar Nominations List

The month-long (actually longer) Academy Awards hoopla kicks off this morning, Tuesday, February 2nd, Groundhog Day, with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announcements of the 2010 Oscar Nominations list at 5:30AM PST, 8:30AM ET, and 7:30AM CST.  Academy President Tom Sherak and 2008 Oscar-nominated actress Anne Hathaway will make the announcements.

Watch the 2010 Oscar nominations online!

The 82nd Academy Awards don’t air until Sunday, March 7th, but the list of Oscar nominations is shared in a televised presentation that certainly gets the buzz going.  There are not expected to be a tremendous amount of surprises in this years Oscar nomination announcements given the relative consistency in the other awards already given, like the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globe Awards.

Complete 2010 Oscar Nominations List
Nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards

Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

Actor in a Supporting Role

Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

Actress in a Supporting Role

Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Animated Feature Film

“Coraline” Henry Selick
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
“Up” Pete Docter

Art Direction

“Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
“Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

Cinematography

“Avatar” Mauro Fiore
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
“Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” Christian Berger

Costume Design

“Bright Star” Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell

Directing

“Avatar” James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” Jason Reitman

Documentary (Feature)

“Burma VJ” Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
“The Cove” Nominees to be determined
“Food, Inc.” Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
“Which Way Home” Rebecca Cammisa

Documentary (Short Subject)

“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant” Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
“Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
“Rabbit à la Berlin” Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

Film Editing

“Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
“District 9” Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz

Foreign Language Film

“Ajami” Israel
“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” Argentina
“The Milk of Sorrow” Peru
“Un Prophète” France
“The White Ribbon” Germany

Makeup

“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Music (Original Score)

“Avatar” James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
“Up” Michael Giacchino

Music (Original Song)

“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Best Picture

“Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
“The Blind Side” Nominees to be determined
“District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
“An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
“The Hurt Locker” Nominees to be determined
“Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
“A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
“Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

Short Film (Animated)

“French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park

Short Film (Live Action)

“The Door” Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
“Instead of Abracadabra” Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
“Kavi” Gregg Helvey
“Miracle Fish” Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
“The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Sound Editing

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

Sound Mixing

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

Visual Effects

“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Writing (Original Screenplay)

“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

Follow Movie Room Reviews complete coverage of the 2010 Oscars including Oscar predictions for all 24 award categories and blogging of the March 7th Academy Awards show.

2010 Oscar Nominations List by Neil of Movie Room Reviews

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