Hollywood: Anger about the changed Oscar gala

Hollywood
Anger about the changed Oscar gala

A good four weeks before the Oscars are awarded, the film academy’s new plans for a modified show are causing a stir in the industry.

The prizes in eight of the 23 categories, including film music, editing, short films and sound, are to be handed out before the start of the live gala at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. A tightened recording with the acceptance speeches of the winners should then be shown during the show, according to a letter from the film academy to its members, which was published by US trade journals.

In this way, the award ceremony, which usually lasts three hours, is intended to create more space for entertainment, music performances and film awards, the “Hollywood Reporter” quoted from the cover letter. The new format of the show promptly brought criticism to the Oscars.

The Association of US Film Editors was “deeply disappointed” in a statement. Editors deserve the same credit as any other creative discipline in making a film.

According to Deadline.com, director Ben Proudfoot, who is nominated for an Oscar in the short documentary category, lamented that this would create a “class system”. Numerous Academy members who did not want to be named have expressed their anger, the Hollywood Reporter reported.

In order to shorten the time for the gala, the Oscar Academy had already announced plans in 2019 not to hand over the trophies in four categories – camera, editing, live action short film and make-up and hair styling – live but during the commercial breaks. At the time, well-known artists were up in arms, and the association gave in and withdrew the controversial plans.

This year’s Oscars are scheduled for March 27th. Actresses Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes are set to take the stage to host the 94th Academy Awards.

dpa