Episode 105 - Monica Sandler - And the Oscar Goes To ...

Explore the fascinating world behind the Oscars with Dr. Monica Sandler, who pulls back the curtain on the industry's machinery, its history, controversies, and cultural significance. Discover how awards influence Hollywood's labor, diversity, and global cinema trends. 

Dr. Monica R. Sandler is a film and media historian at Ball State University, specializing in the history of entertainment prizes and their influence on Hollywood. She received her doctorate in Film and Media Studies from UCLA in 2023 and is a leading scholar examining how awards shape the media industries. Her research looks at events like the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and other Guild, critics, and trade group prizes to explore the impact of these events in Hollywood. Her work considers the economic structure of the awards season, the impact of prizegiving practices on working standards in Hollywood, and the legacies of exclusionary practices at these events. Her research on awards has been published in the Media Industries Journal and Cinefile, and she has been interviewed as an awards expert by outlets like TIME Magazine, NPR, and LAist on Oscar-related topics. She has additionally written awards commentary for USA Today and the Indianapolis Star.