Question 1

What controversial Academy Award nomination process did Roger Ebert expose after this documentary was snubbed?

Accepted Answer

Roger Ebert said Academy documentary committee members used flashlights to signal when they'd given up on a film, and if a majority waved them, the movie was turned off. This film was turned off after 15 minutes.

Question 2

How did the filmmakers intervene in the lives of their subjects during production?

Accepted Answer

When electricity was turned off in the Agee home, the filmmakers paid to have it restored.

Question 3

What significant rule change resulted from this film's Oscar nomination controversy?

Accepted Answer

After the film failed to get a Best Documentary nomination despite a Best Film Editing nod, rules were changed to allow documentary filmmakers to vote in that category.

Question 4

How did the film's financial arrangements protect the players' college eligibility?

Accepted Answer

To maintain NCAA eligibility, neither player's family received money from the film's sale while they were in school. Later, Agee and Gates were made full partners with equal shares.

Question 5

What major festivals recognized this documentary?

Accepted Answer

The film was featured at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1994 and the New York Film Festival in 2012.

Question 6

What controversial Oscar nomination process did Roger Ebert expose after this documentary was snubbed?

Accepted Answer

According to Roger Ebert, Academy documentary committee members used flashlights to signal when they'd given up on a film, and if a majority waved them, the movie was turned off. This film was turned off after 15 minutes.

Question 7

How did the filmmakers intervene in the lives of their subjects during production?

Accepted Answer

During filming, when electricity was turned off in the Agee home, the filmmakers paid to have it turned back on.

Question 8

What major change did the Academy make to documentary voting rules after this film's Oscar snub?

Accepted Answer

After the film failed to be nominated for Best Documentary despite a Best Film Editing nomination, the Academy changed rules to allow documentary filmmakers to vote in that category.

Question 9

How did the film's financial arrangements protect the players' college eligibility?

Accepted Answer

To maintain NCAA eligibility, neither player's family received money from the film's sale while they were in school. Later, Agee and Gates were made full partners with shares equal to the producers'.

Question 10

What was the original scope of this documentary and how much did it expand during filming?

Accepted Answer

Originally intended as a 30-minute PBS special about multiple players on one court, after 5 years the filmmakers shot 250 hours of footage trimmed to 3 hours.

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