Academy Award organisers have acted over lengthy Oscar Awards night speeches; lengthy speeches that have characterised the recent televised Oscar award ceremonies.

At issue are the long-winded, incoherent and largely self-centred speeches of winning stars and starlets. To the winner they might be endearing, but to the world’s TV viewers they have proved tedious. Advertisers share that view.

This year, say the organisers, winners will be restricted to 45 seconds of speech in front of the mike.

Here’s to brevity, wit and coherence in the film industry.