Do you remember the first time you watched the Academy Awards? Do you remember who gave the first speech you ever heard? I can recount it all — it’s forever seared into my mind, a true core memory.
I had been down for the count with a horrible sickness — fever, chills, aches, nausea, the whole nine yards. I hadn’t left my bed in several days except to go to the bathroom or visit the doctor. After missing school on Friday and sleeping straight through Saturday, by Sunday I was finally starting to feel better. That night, for whatever reason, I decided to rejoin the land of the living. I made my way to the family room just as my dad was flipping through the TV channels. He stopped long enough for me to hear: “And the Oscar goes to… Helen Mirren in The Queen.” I asked my dad what “the Oscars” were, and he let me watch her speech before flipping back to whatever he was watching. I had no idea who Helen Mirren was. I had just learned the word “Oscar” and what they were, and certainly had no clue how much the Oscars would eventually shape my life.
A whole year passed before I heard the word “Oscar” again. Someone asked, “Have you seen No Country for Old Men? It won the Oscar for Best Picture.” I hadn’t even heard of the movie, but that word — “Oscar” — triggered my memory of Helen Mirren and my first glimpse of the ceremony. I sought out the film, and I was amazed. I had never seen anything so expertly crafted and acted. It was a new kind of experience, and I thought, “if this is what wins Best Picture, I need to know everything about the Oscars.”
So, using my brother’s laptop when he wasn’t home — and our neighbor’s Wi-Fi, because we didn’t pay for such luxuries back then— I discovered a whole new world. I learned the history of the Academy Awards, the categories, the nominees, and winners. Then I found out about the precursors — the Globes, BAFTA, SAG, Critics’ Choice — and this entire ecosystem called “awards season.” I took it all in like a kid in a candy store. The next season was already underway, so I dove right in, watching every nominee I could find.
I saw Slumdog Millionaire in theaters three times — something about it filled me with joy and made me feel connected to one of my closest cousins, who was adopted from India. I remember seeing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with my dad and brother after our family Christmas party — it was beautiful, moving, and epic in a way I’d never seen. I had just turned 17 and was the only one old enough to buy R-rated tickets for me and my friends to see The Reader. I rented Doubt and Milk from Family Video while my parents were out of town because they definitely wouldn’t have approved of Milk. I was horrified and mesmerized by Angelina Jolie and Jason Butler Harner in Changeling. And I’ll never forget all my cousins going to see The Dark Knight on opening night in the brand-new IMAX theater nearby. I was having the time of my life chasing these movies.
My first Oscar ceremony — 2008 — was magical. The way they brought out past winners to introduce the nominees, Hugh Jackman’s opening number, the moving tribute to Heath Ledger, Kate Winslet finally getting her moment, and Slumdog Millionaire sweeping the night. It was perfect — the glitz, the glam, the pomp and circumstance. I remember cheering, clapping, and feeling completely captivated. I don’t think I’ve ever loved an Oscar ceremony quite as much as that one — maybe I never will.
From that night on, I was all in. I dove deep into Oscar history, watching winners and nominees from decades past. I couldn’t get enough. My life had been changed. I spent hours at the video store, sometimes calling other locations just to track down certain films. I was hooked — and still am. I probably sounded like a broken record talking about the Oscars to anyone who would listen, and most people around me didn’t care — until I discovered Awards Daily.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d end up writing about the Oscars on Awards Daily, or talking about them on a podcast. Half my life has gone by on that site. I’ve made friends, learned how to predict races, and developed a deeper appreciation for film in general. Awards Daily has become home — a place where I can talk about cinema with people who care as much as I do. I’m forever grateful for it. I honestly can’t imagine my life without it.
Recently, someone asked me, “Why do you love the Oscars so much? Why are they so important to you?”
In many ways, the Oscars found me. In high school — that confusing, lonely time when everyone’s trying to find themselves — I felt lost. I didn’t have many friends. In middle school, I had been bullied so badly that I stopped being myself. I was teased because of how I talked, how I walked, how I carried myself. I was labeled, judged, and isolated because I wasn’t “manly enough”. When I got to high school and got into music, I finally began finding my voice—literally and figuratively. People started being friendly, but I still felt like the subject of everyone’s curiosity.
When the Oscars came into my life, something shifted. Watching movies gave me a sense of healing and belonging. I found worlds that understood me — that made me feel seen. I’ve always gravitated toward coming-of-age stories and films about learning to be yourself. The Oscars, almost by accident, opened my eyes to the world in ways nothing else could. I say all the time that movies have the power to heal and open hearts — and I say that because I lived it.
The Oscars changed my life. Through all the films I’ve watched, I discovered who I was. For me, it’s not just about celebrating artistic achievement — it’s about honoring the power of cinema itself. Some movies and performances fade with time, but for the people they touch, they remain forever. That’s why I talk about FEELS so much — because when a movie hits you in the feels, that’s a forever moment.
The Oscars started as a hobby and became a part of who I am. It’s on my bucket list to attend a ceremony someday — or maybe even get nominated—one can dream! What I wouldn’t give to be in that room, celebrating the art of cinema. To some people, it might not matter, but to me — someone who’s poured half his life into this — it matters deeply. I hope the Oscars will last for many years to come, because they matter, and I am sure they can help others just like me, find their way!
The Oscars matter—now more than ever!
We need movies.
We need the Oscars.
Now, my questions to you, my friends: What is your first Oscar memory? Why do you love and follow them? Share the speeches and winners that stuck with you! As always, be kind, be respectful, and of course — Let’s Talk Cinema!
