A ‘teeny-tiny’ red carpet, no invitations for the most powerful powerliders in Hollywood, and a ‘central’ role for masks – the next Oscar’s personal Oscars take no risks when it comes to Covid-19, but the opportunity would be ‘impossible’ to hold a few weeks before, producers said on Saturday.
The 93rd Oscar award is the first time Tinseltown’s most beautiful gathering in more than a year, for a three-hour show that co-producer Steven Soderbergh said, “will not be like anything done before.”
The delayed ceremony on April 25 marks barely a week after California opened vaccinations for all over the age of 16, with infection rates declining after a massive winter outbreak tore through the state. Movie theaters even start again.
Asked by AFP about the impact of the postponement of the two-month program, Soderbergh said: ‘It would have been impossible for us to do what we were going to do … I do not know how we would have done it . ‘
“It’s the job definition to try to build an airplane while it’s in the air,” the director told a virtual press conference, adding that his experience of making films during the pandemic – and his 2011 thriller “Contagion “- has proved invaluable.
The ceremony takes place amid the ‘physical grandeur’ of Los Angeles’ cave-like Union Station, with nominees mingling outdoors and then turning in and out of the venue during the show.
The traditional red carpet will be dramatically reduced, and the guest list will be so limited that even the mighty Disney boss Bob Iger “will not be there,” Soderbergh said.
From the courtyard of the venue – where only nominees, their pluses and a handful of presenters will chat and drink – Soderbergh said he hopes the Oscars give the world a look at what will be possible if most people are vaccinated. , and fast, accurate, inexpensive testing is the norm. ‘
“Masks are going to play a very important role in the story of this evening,” he added. “If it’s cryptic, it’s meant to be – but the subject matter is very central to the narrative.”
– ‘Movie Screenshot’ –
Soderbergh and co-producers Jesse Collins and Stacey Sher oversee many details, but say that the unusual and “hopefully unique” nature of an Oscars from the pandemic era certainly provides an opportunity to try things that have not been tried before. . “
The ceremony will feature “the aesthetics of a film as opposed to a TV show,” including the use of cinematic “show recordings from the audience” and high-resolution widescreen formats, Soderbergh said.
Most nominees are expected to attend in person, with hubs in London and Paris enabling Europeans not to be able to travel due to restrictions on switching on – but only via smooth satellite connections in the industry, not through Zoom.
Recent awards have been acclaimed for their extensive use of calls for remote candidates, especially after Daniel Kaluuya lost the sound shortly after accepting his Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actor in ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’.
“Zoom was a wonderful thing, we’re constantly working on it,” Soderbergh said. “It’s just in the context of this show … that does not really fit.”
Following the award-as-a-film concept, no host has been announced, but presenters – referred to as the cast of the ceremony – will ‘play themselves, or … a version of themselves’.
Previously announced presenters of the A-list include Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt and Reese Witherspoon, with even before the show launched.
Candidates will be asked to share personal stories in a series to use interviews extensively.
“The stories were incredible, so helpful to us,” Soderbergh said. “And a wonderful archive – a snapshot of movies in 2020.”
amz / bbk