The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are the people who vote on the Oscars, and they have just invited some 120 film professionals to join their ranks, among the names are Jake Gyllenhaal, Werner Herzog and Dakota Fanning, so young and strange blood abounds.

The story from The Guardian has the most amusing comment of why these people are invited:

The academy offered membership to 120 actors, directors, producers, animators, cinematographers, musicians, writers, editors and other industry professionals to fill vacancies in the organization created by retirement or death, academy President Sid Ganis said.

Oh, wouldn't that make you feel special? Some other names invited that we would recognise are Rachel Weisz, Terrence Howard, Felicity Huffman, Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix and David Strathairn.

I wonder what affect this would have on the Oscar votes this year? Perhaps a younger, fresher slant? I was impressed last year as to the direction the voting was taking with a lot less Hollywood and lot more social conciousness, I wonder if this will continue?