This year’s Oscars gift bag, valued at $200,000, will include a $55,000 trip to Israel, a one-year supply of Audi A4 Rentals worth $45,000 and a box of underarm patches to reduce sweat marks on the red carpet.
Created by Distinctive Assets, the gift bag also includes personalized M&M’s retailing at $300, diet gummy bears to give stars and starlets a tasty weight loss option, and three personal training sessions with fitness expert Jay Cardiello worth in excess of $1,400.
While the swag isn’t officially endorsed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, trophy-less nominees have been scoring the Distinctive Assets gift haul for years.
To be part of the film industry’s biggest night on any level is thrilling,” said the company’s founder Lash Fray. “We always look forward to introducing standout entertainers to an array of companies with fabulous gifts to share … but as this is considered the ultimate consolation price for the non-winning nominees, it’s particularly fun to be able to do when you know it will truly brighten someone’s day.”
Additional items include a $31,000 lifetime supply of Pu-erh Tea Nourishing Cream and a full buyout of any Walk Japan tour for two people, priced at $54,000.
Of course, nominees accepting the gift bags must pay federal income tax on all items contained therein. As stated on the IRS website, “the person has received taxable income equal to the fair market value of the bag and its contents and must report that amount on his or her federal income tax return. These gift bags are not gifts for federal income tax purposes because the organizations and merchants who participate in giving the gifts bags do not do so solely out of affection, respect or similar impulses for the recipients of the gift bags.”
Basically, there’s nothing free in this world and the manufacturers and proprietors of these products and services get fair return for their generosity in the form of publicity. Like, say, a post about them on an entertainment website during a particularly slow news Friday.
Here is the full list of items:
Haze Dual V3 Vaporizer ($249.99)
My M&M’s ($300)
Halo, Purely for Pets ($6,300)
Explore Israel ($55,000)
SilverCar ($45,000)
Lizora ($31,200)
Tribute ($125)
Caolion ($134)
Healing Saint by Dr. Jane 360 ($193)
Walk Japan ($54,000)
Alexi Seletzky, Celebrity Trainer ($900)
Belldini ($300 +)
Chocolatines ($35)
Dandi Patch ($21)
Delovery ($2,000)
Farm Wife Style ($25)
Fit Club TV “Ultimate Fitness Package” ($6,250)
Gleener on the Go ($11.99)
Golden Door ($4,800)
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria ($5,000)
Grand Hotel Tremezzo ($5,000)
Greenhill Winery & Vineyards ($39)
Hydroxycut Gummies ($19.88)
Jay Cardiello ($1,400)
Joseph’s Toiletries ($275)
Lat & Lo ($150)
Memobottle ($47)
Mezcal El Silencio ($75)
Mission1 Clean Protein Bar ($5.64/box)
Nuelle Fiera Arouser For Her ($250)
Phantom Glass ($49.95-$59.95)
Purely Inspired Organic Protein ($19.97)
Rougle Maple ($99)
Sedona Lace ($109.95)
Signature Vodka ($70)
Slimware ($29.95)
Steamist ($5,060)
Sundial Power Coating ($500)
Tools by Gina ($250)
Vampire Breast Lift ($1,900)
Zekkle Edge ($125)
740 Park MD ($5,530)
Oscar Nominee Snubs and Surprises: Ridley Scott, Sylvester Stallone and 17 More (Photos)
SURPRISE: Tom Hardy, nominated Best Actor, “The Revenant” Leonardo DiCaprio has dominated conversations surrounding the grueling shoot and high art of "The Revenant," but Hardy suffered right alongside him -- and was rewarded with a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
Fox
SNUB: "Carol," not nominated Best Picture Todd Haynes' dreamy period piece fetched acting, score and cinematography nominations but was shut out of the Best Picture race.
TWC
SURPRISE: "Ex Machina," nominated, Best Visual Effects Alex Garland’s dystopian love story drew a nomination for Best Visual Effects over Colin Trevorrow’s record-setting “Jurassic World,” which is literally filled with screaming, stomping, fighting dinosaurs.
Universal
SNUB: Ridley Scott, not nominated Best Director, "The Martian" The exclusion of Ridley Scott from the Best Director category is enough to make you want to move to Mars. While the longtime movie maestro claimed a Golden Globe award, he was left off of the 2016 list entirely, presumably bumped by surprise nominee Lenny Abrahamson.
Fox
SURPRISE: Sylvester Stallone, nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role, "Creed" Conversations on Ryan Coogler’s “Creed” never roared like an audience at a Las Vegas bout, but here we are — Rocky Balboa himself is headed to the Dolby Theater as Sylvester Stallone joins a Best Supporting Actor category that includes Mark Ruffalo and Christian Bale.
Warner Bros.
SNUB: Idris Elba, not nominated Best Actor, “Beasts of No Nation” The excessively likable and highly pedigreed Elba could not earn a spot among the Best Actor crowd for “Beasts of No Nation” despite his edgy positioning with hot director Cary Fukunaga and streaming release platform Netflix.
Netflix
SURPRISE: Lenny Abrahamson, nominated Best Director, "Room" Sure, the director’s “Room” is an emotional marathon and, frankly, a technical feat for creating a universe within those tiny walls -- but it was surely a surprise to hear his name called for Best Director over Ridley Scott’s.
TheWrap
SNUB: “See You Again,” not nominated Best Original Song, "Furious 7" Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “Furious 7” anthem served not only as a radio hit but also a tribute to the late Paul Walker. It was all but guaranteed that the creative eyebrows of Puth and NBA-level tattoos of Khalifa would suit up to claim a Best Original Song Oscar come February. Sorry boys, maybe we’ll see you again.
Universal
SNUB: Amy Schumer, not nominated Best Original Screenplay, "Trainwreck" America’s acidic sweetheart Schumer was a fledgling leading lady in Universal’s “Trainwreck,” but had a serious shot at Best Original Screenplay for her comedy with Bill Hader and Brie Larson.
Universal
SURPRISE: “Inside Out,” nominated Best Original Screenplay Any Pixar film is a presumed nominee if not winner, but it was unexpected to see the Amy Poehler-fronted film nominated for Best Original Screenplay. We imagine all the writers attached are feeling only Joy.
Disney
SNUB: Johnny Depp, not nominated Best Actor, “Black Mass" Forget the Ed Harris makeup — Johnny Depp did an extraordinary job playing Whitey Bulger in Warner Bros. “Black Mass.” Many thought the A-lister would be among peers like Leonardo DiCaprio in the Best Actor category.
Warner Bros.
SURPRISE: Charlotte Rampling, nominated Best Actress, "45 Years" Charlotte Rampling was nominated for her role in "45 years" in the Best Actress category along with Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan. Rampling was a strong contender in October, but no one really talked about the film throughout the rest of award season. For example, she didn't receive a Golden Globe or SAG nomination.
Artificial Eye
SNUB: Will Smith, not nominated Best Actor, "Concussion" He delivered a spectacular performance as Dr. Bennet Omalu in "Concussion," but Will Smith didn't receive a nomination in the Best Actor category despite making everyone's radar following his Golden Globes nom.
Sony/Columbia
SURPRISE: "The 100-Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared," nominated Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling For the Danish film to be nominated at all came as a complete surprise because most hadn't even heard of this film. Released in May in only 76 theaters, it grossed $944,000 dollars. It took the place within the Makeup and Hairstyling category of films like "Cinderella," "The Danish Girl," "Ex Machina," "Black Mass" and "Star Wars," which all received Makeup Guild Awards nominations.
Music Box Films
SNUBS: "Peanuts"/"Minions"/"Good Dinosaur," not nominated Best Animated Feature Those three films were left out of the nominations for Best Animated Feature, replaced by surprises "Boy and the World" and "When Marnie Was There." "Minions" is an especially surprising omission because it made $336 million domestically and broke several box office records for Universal at the time.
Universal/Fox/Pixar
SNUB: Aaron Sorkin, not nominated Best Screenplay, "Steve Jobs" Sorkin is known as one of the best living screenwriters, and his adaptation of Walter Isaacson's "Steve Jobs" was one of this year's most anticipated scripts. Sorkin also received praise for the unique structure he established for the film, receiving a Golden Globe award for Best Screenplay on Jan. 10.
Getty Images
SNUB: Todd Haynes, not nominated Best Director, "Carol" Many who saw the film "Carol," starring lead and supporting actress nominees Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, praised it for how artfully it was put together. That makes Haynes' absence in the Best Director field perplexing.
Getty Images
SNUB: Steven Spielberg, not nominated Best Director, "Bridge of Spies" Spielberg directed "Bridge of Spies," one of the most well-received films of the year, yet, the two-time Oscar winner was left out of the Best Director category by the Academy this year.
Getty Images
SNUB: Tom Hanks, not nominated Best Actor, "Bridge of Spies" The two-time Academy Award winner delivered another stellar performance in "Bridge of Spies," but didn't receive a Best Actor nomination for the film, despite its six total noms. The film's supporting actor, Mark Rylance, was nominated for an Oscar this year.
Disney
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The Academy sprung some last-minute names — and shut out sure things from awards season