Next month’s Oscars gala will feature pre-recorded messages from the winners in eight categories, in an attempt to streamline the ceremony, organizers reported Tuesday.
The decision was made to “prioritize viewers” and will allow more time to be given to musical presentations, comic pictures and tributesAcademy President David Rubin explained in an email to members and nominees.
Television ratings for Hollywood’s biggest awards show have dropped dramatically in recent years. The 2021 edition was seen by just 10 million viewers, a decrease of 56% compared to the previous year which already marked the worst audience record of the gala.
Eight awards “will initially be presented at the Dolby Theater one hour before broadcast starts live,” and the edited highlights will be “fitted seamlessly into the show,” the email says.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has discussed on other occasions the possibility of reducing the number of categories in the live broadcast, and even recently combined the “sound mixing” and “sound editing” awards into a single Oscar, but the Previous attempts were not received with sympathy, especially among those who work in technical categories such as editing, makeup and styling, who fear that a moment that can define their careers will go unnoticed.
These categories will now be pre-recorded, along with prizes for original score, sound, production design, documentary short films, animated short films and live action short films.
Rubin’s email emphasizes that “every filmmaker and artist in every category will continue to have the ‘Oscar moment.’ of celebration that it deserves in the Dolby box, in front of an exalted public”.
This measure will leave “more time and opportunity for the audience to get involved with the gala through comedy and music scenes, with movie clips and with tributes,” he added.
“For viewers at home, the flow of the show does not change, although it will be tighter and more dynamic with this new rhythm”.
An Academy member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told him that “difficult decisions and changes that are hard to accept are necessary and have to be executedadding that members “understand communication” from Rubin.
“Considering the recent decline in TV viewership for the Oscars, the show must evolve thinking about the future of the galaas well as the Academy”, he commented.
This was not the only change introduced by the Academy this year to boost viewership.
The 94th Academy Awards will also include “Fans Favorite,” an award for the most popular movie voted by Twitter users.
This announcement came after the nominations were revealed that left several of the blockbuster productions out of the main categories last year, including “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, and “No Time to Die”.
Also, the ceremony on March 27 will be hosted by comedians Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, after three editions without a host.
–
