The Oscar Costs That No One Mentions

New Yorkers helped to pay for Birdman and California partially picked up the tab for American Sniper.

Tax Costs

As you can see below, every Academy Award best picture nominee was supported by tax breaks and subsidies from municipalities. Believing that a film shoot would help the local economy, cities, states and countries created incentives to attract the business. In sacrificed tax dollars, we paid the cost.

More Tax Costs

The nominees who do not win for best actor/actress, supporting actor/actress, director and the host each receive a goodie bag. Valued at (an inflated?) $167,586.76, the bag includes a 24 karat six-pack of herbal tea-based lollipops ($68), a VIP tour of a sea salt reserve ($1,548), a wearable liposuction device ($4,068), and a gift certificate for a home visit from a horoscope-dreams-mind control guru ($20,000).

There is one catch.

The IRS says the gift is taxable income because it really is all about business.

Acceptance Speech Costs

And finally, using the economic definition of cost, there is always a sacrificed alternative when we thank someone.

In 42 of 1396 speeches, Steven Spielberg was thanked the most. Here are the top 10:

•  Steven Spielberg (42)
•  Harvey Weinstein (34)
•  James Cameron (28)
•  George Lucas (23)
•  Peter Jackson (22)
•  God (19)
•  Fran Walsh (18)
•  Sheila Nevins (17)
•  Francis Ford Coppola, Barrie Osborne (16)
•  Martin Scorsese, Saul Zaentz (15)

However, expressed since 1971, these thanks were the best:

• 15 thanked their high school teacher.
• 181 wives were thanked but only 37 husbands
• 125 moms were thanked but only 81 dads
• Only 24 said, “I would like to thank my children.”

Our Bottom Line: TNASTAFL

Remembering there is never any such thing as a free lunch, let’s enjoy the awards!