Guest Blogger: Morgan’s Tips on Hosting an Oscar Party

3/3  POST UPDATE – SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS 86 ACADEMY AWARDS (OSCARS 2014)

 
I have intentions of throwing a great Oscar party one year, not ready for that kind of planning and expense this year, but hopefully before the Oscars turn 100 🙂

For now, I prefer the relaxed fun of throwing a virtual online social media party, where everyone provides their own party food in the relative comfort of their own homes, but we can share pictures and comments back and forth during the red carpet and 86th Annual Academy Awards – hosted by Ellen DeGeneres!

Check out past Tinsel & Tine Oscar Coverage- 85th Oscars / 84th Oscars / 83 Oscars / 82nd Oscars / Oscar Predictions 2014 – Don’t forget to fill out your Oscar Ballot for this year!

I invite you to join me March 2nd on facebook, twitter (#OscarsTT), zeebox or Google+

Morgan Gray on the other hand, prefers to share Oscar night with people in the flesh. She loves throwing parties and has some great tips for entertaining your guests…

How to Host an Oscars Party for Film Buffs:

Watching the Oscars can be a great, laid back event – good food, good friends, and lots of glamor. But Oscars parties are even better when you and your guests have a true passion for films and filmmaking. While hosting Oscars parties over the years, I’ve had a lot of fun styling them to honor the craft and history of cinema. The Academy Awards are extra exciting for film buffs, so here are some great ways to entertain your film-y friends.

Test your knowledge:
If your guests are film lovers, there’s no doubt they’ll know a whole lot of movie trivia. Rather than watch the pre-awards stuff, like Red Carpet fashions, your film buff friends may prefer a trivia contest.

This can be as simple as challenging your guests to a store-bought movie trivia game, or just by compiling some neat cinema facts from a web search. Even better, include some trivia about the Oscars themselves. No matter who wins the contest, everyone will walk away with some mind-blowing knowledge.

Why so serious?:
Being passionate about cinema is awesome, but when it comes to an Oscars bash, it’s important to have fun. Being a beer fan, every year I have a blind beer tasting. This year, I came across this infographic from RedEnvelope and plan on incorporating a cheese pairing. Aside from the drinks and food, you won’t want the whole night to be about who’s going to win what award.

Consider lightening up the atmosphere by planning some silly film-related games and activities. For example, team up for movie title charades. Or even print some movie-themed coloring pages (like these) – your guests can either revisit their inner child for some old-fashioned coloring, or use their crayons to turn the pages into hilarious parodies.

Arrive in style:
And speaking of having fun, think about playing with your party’s dress code. Forget the tuxedos and fancy dresses. Ask your guests to come in character! You could limit the costumes to this year’s nominees; just imagine the possibilities for American Hustle, for example. Alternatively, guests could choose any character from cinema, and make a contest of who can guess their fictional identities. Directors, celebrities, and other filmmakers are a definite possibility as well.

Award your attendees:
Oscars parties are a great time for some friendly competition. It’s a fun idea to make a contest out of the night, whether it’s about trivia, winner guesses, or who has the best costume. Better yet, if your guests like making films as much as watching them, you can turn the night into a miniature filmmaking extravaganza. During the commercials, form groups and film mini-dramas using cell phone cameras. At the end of the night, transfer the videos to a bigger screen and choose a “Best Picture” winner. Everyone will have a great laugh and a lasting memory.

These are just some of the ideas I’ve used for film buff Oscars parties, and there are hundreds of other possibilities. Don’t limit yourself – after all, the Academy Awards are all about the joy of cinema, so it’s the perfect setting for a film-lover’s party. In the end, focus on the most important thing: enjoying moviemaking with the people you love most.