What's an Academy Award worth to a Canadian? We asked 5 Oscar winners

Several Canadians will make their way to the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday hoping to come home with a gold statue and an impressive title: Oscar winner. 

But after the winners' names are called, the speeches are made, the photos are snapped and the gold statue is tucked away on a shelf — what does being an Oscar-winner really mean? 

"You definitely get your calls returned quicker, I will say that," said J. Miles Dale, a Toronto film producer who won a best picture Oscar with Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water in 2018.

"I think there's no version where it doesn't somehow elevate you in the eyes of other people in the business, whether that's right or wrong, whether that's perception, reality."

Dale remembers as soon as the Ontario-shot film hit festivals, something felt different. Audiences and critics were responding, and momentum built as the movie debuted at different festivals. 

Months later, the film was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, including best picture. Dale was sitting in the audience with his mom when his name was called as one of the winners. 

"It's like, 'Oh my God,' and then you're up on stage and you're looking out and it's like, 'There's Spielberg! And there's Meryl Streep!' and it's like, 'What am I doing here?' " said Dale. "It all goes in slow motion, but it's kind of the best car crash."

He said the Oscar win put an entire Canadian crew of filmmakers on the map.

That meant that back home in Toronto, Dale could use the new status to make another del Toro movie — Nightmare Alley, starring Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett. It got four Oscar nominations including another best picture nod. 

Now, Dale is working on del Toro's Frankenstein. The project, set to star Oscar Isaac, Christoph Waltz and Jacob Elordi, is shooting in Toronto this month.

Looking back, Dale says The Shape of Water's win was "a wonderful affirmation" of the work of Canadian filmmakers and crews.

"To be able to shine a light on those people and their careers and their accomplishments was really gratifying," said Dale.

Composer Mychael Danna agrees "the effect it has on the people around you" is by far the most lasting part of winning an Oscar.

Danna, who won best original score in 2013 for his work on Life of Pi, says an Oscar win acts as a career buoy for everyone involved.