Unsurprisingly, the Oscars’ reported decision to cut eight categories from its live broadcast has ruffled more than a few feathers. Per Variety, the affected individuals were told last week during a town-hall-style Zoom by the Academy that their categories would not air live on the telecast, leading to outrage and hurt feelings among the nominees.
“To relegate us in this way, it’s so disrespectful,” an anonymous nominee told Variety.
”It sends a strong message about prioritizing of branches and specific filmmakers within the Academy,” an anonymous producer told Variety, also choosing to conceal their identity out of fear of retaliation. “I think there would be other ways where the Academy could still present these awards live and quicken the pace of the show overall. This specific choice feels a bit lacking in creativity.”
The reported move to axe several craft categories from the live broadcast comes after years of declining ratings for the awards ceremony and echoes a model already employed by the Tony and Grammy awards. Still, the decision faced swift backlash online, and the industry response behind closed doors has reportedly been just as passionate.
“I am offended and insulted by the Academy’s decision to relegate eight categories to an inferior position at the Awards this year,” an anonymous Academy member told The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s absurd and the leadership should be ashamed.” Another anonymous Academy member told THR that the situation was “a complete fiasco,” adding that “it’s another example of the Academy bowing to the network. There are a lot of very unhappy people.”
Reportedly present on the awkward Academy Zoom call were executive vice president of membership and awards, Shawn Finnie; chief operating officer, Christine Simmons; governor of the producers branch, Jennifer Todd; and CEO Dawn Hudson, who joined the call after it began. Variety reports that some nominees on the Zoom call “were aghast” by the Academy’s decision, and others on the call offered other alternatives to streamline the show. They were told that the Academy’s decision was final.
Thus far, the American Cinema Editors are the only guild to publicly criticize the Academy’s decision, per Variety. “We are deeply disappointed by the Academy’s decision to alter the way certain categories, including film editing, will be presented in the Oscars telecast,” said the American Cinema Editors board of directors in a statement. “It sends a message that some creative disciplines are more vital than others. Nothing could be further from the truth and all who make movies know this. As a group of artists wholly dedicated to advancing the art and prestige of film editing, we passionately believe that editing—and all other creative disciplines that are part of the collaborative art of filmmaking—should be treated equally. Our contributions to that collaboration may sometimes appear invisible but they are undeniable. We hope that film editors and other artists affected by this change will be honored and celebrated with the passion, dignity, and inclusion they deserve.”
The Oscars air on ABC on Sunday, March 27, with hosts Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, and Regina Hall. A new category, #OscarsFanFavorite—where fans can vote on Twitter for their favorite film of the year—is being introduced to this year’s ceremony, and Amazon’s Cinderella reportedly led the poll ahead of this weekend. So while there may be no film editors or cinematographers onscreen at the Oscars, there might be Camila Cabello.
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