It's a rare move for the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to disqualify an Oscar nominee. It has happened before. Regardless, Bruce Broughton's "Alone Yet Not Alone" original song for a movie of the same name will be removed from consideration for the 2014 Oscars.
Perhaps it was made with the best intentions--per Broughton, himself--but even his words of conceit cannot absolve him from blame.
It wasn't his fault, though, he just needed some quick love!
Still, it wasn't anything too shameful; it was just an email that brought Bruce down.
A statement from the Academy notes that the former board governor, too, "had emailed [some of the other 239] members of the branch to make them aware of his submission during the nominations voting period."
For rebuttal, Broughton claimed: "I indulged in the simplest grassroots campaign and it went against me when the song started getting attention. I got taken down by competition that had months of promotion and advertising behind them. I simply asked people to find the song and consider it."
And yes, that might be one way of looking at it, but the governor-cum-composer abused his privileges of office to better his career and position. That, as it goes, is inapprorpriate and warrants penalty.
Again, there have been a handful of DQs before this, quoth the Hollywood Reporter. So, at the very least, you join a unique inner circle, Big Bruce.
But don't fret, another nominee will soon take the place of his reconsidered song, and the Oscars will continue on March 2 as scheduled.
Until that date, here is the trailer for Alone Yet Not Alone. Too bad for its titular tune.
