Oscar producers Steven Soderbergh, Stacey Sher and Jesse Collins sent a letter to all nominees that gives a glimpse of exactly what the plans for the small-scale ceremony at downtown Union Station will look like. It also establishes some rules for nominees.
First of all, the 93rd edition of the Oscar is definitely no it will be a case of Zoom, unlike the vast majority of other award shows affected by the pandemic that we saw recently (except for the Grammy). In other words, you will appear in person or the Academy will accept your Oscar on your behalf. “For those of you who are unable to attend due to scheduling or continuing to travel, we want you to know that there will be no option to expand the show. We are making a great effort to provide a safe and NICE night for all of you personally, as well as for all the millions of film fans around the world, and we feel that the virtual will decrease these efforts ”, say the producers.
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Revealing the theme “Stories are important”, they are also asking nominees to allow themselves to be interviewed and tell their own personal story about what led them to this significant moment in their lives. This does not only include high-level nominees, that is, actors, but also each one of them in an attempt to connect the idea that films tell stories and, in one way or another, are all storytellers themselves, the journey itself being one that can be shared on Oscar Sunday.
The producers also offer tips on the dress code, saying that the usual formal look is good, but please don’t go “casual” In other words, no Jason Sudeikis sweatshirts, please. “Our goal is a fusion of Inspiration and Aspiration, which, in real words, means that formal is totally cool if you want to go there, but casual really isn’t,” says the letter.
As for the Covid protocol, the Oscar is over and the state Union Station will be treated in the same way as film sets today. Here’s what they have to say about what:
Regarding the practical aspects of the show, our plan is to hold a personal and intimate event at Union Station in Los Angeles, with additional elements from the live show at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Of course, your first thought is THIS CAN BE DONE SAFELY? The answer is YES, IT CAN. We are treating the event as an active film set, with test cadences specially designed to guarantee up-to-date results, including an on-site COVID security team with PCR testing capability. There will be specific instructions for those traveling outside of Los Angeles and other instructions for those who are already based in Los Angeles. All of this will come directly to you from the Academy to ensure you have a safe and carefree night (a glimpse into the future?).
As I had speculated earlier this week (when the Academy confirmed last week’s scoop that the ceremony would use both Union Station and the usual Dolby Theater), Dolby will be used for what producers are calling “elements” additional features of the show “, most likely meaning performances as nominated for Best Song, although this is not specifically explained in this letter.
They also give the producer’s usual speech about the speeches, asking again to be personal and not to read a list. The Academy will hold a 90-minute pre-show meeting in the Union Station courtyard for nominees and their guests. Only nominees and guests, in addition to the presenters, will be personally present this year.
Here is the letter in full:
Congratulations on your Oscar nomination! Borrowing the words of a boring flight attendant, WE HAVE HONOR TO BE PART OF YOUR JOURNEY. We believe that you are happy that your fellow artists have recognized you in an exceptional year, and it is our desire, as your producers, to create an experience for you as a nominee who lives and improves on this achievement.
The first – and most obvious – point that we want to convey with this year’s program is STORIES MATTER. We, as a species, are programmed for the narrative. It’s how we communicate. That’s how we learn. That’s how we evolved. We are surrounded by stories, we swim in them, they are inevitable. AND MOVIES are – we think – the most powerful way of telling stories ever invented. It is a unique art form in its combination of so many other art forms, along with the unique skills needed to execute it well. Then there is the final piece: the audience. The fact that a film can be experienced by millions of people in large groups simultaneously across the planet is another reason for its remarkable reach and continued influence.
So, if STORIES matter, then the PEOPLE who bring these stories to life matter. That is, YOU. To ensure that ALL nominees receive equal prominence, we hope you will agree to be interviewed (soon) to help us tell the story of your journey through April 25th. We want to highlight the connections between all of us who work in the cinema and show that the process is exclusively intimate, collaborative and fun (usually. Hopefully?).
With regard to the practical aspects of the show, our plan is to hold a personal and intimate event at Union Station in Los Angeles, with additional elements from the live show at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Of course, your first thought is THIS CAN BE DONE SAFELY? The answer is YES, IT CAN. We are treating the event as an active film set, with test cadences specially designed to guarantee up-to-date results, including an on-site COVID security team with PCR testing capability. There will be specific instructions for those traveling outside of Los Angeles and other instructions for those who are already based in Los Angeles. All of this will come directly to you from the Academy to ensure you have a safe and carefree night (a glimpse into the future?).
For those who are unable to attend due to schedules or continuing uneasiness with the trip, we want you to know that there will be no option to expand the show. We are making a great effort to provide a safe and NICE night for all of you personally, as well as for all the millions of film fans around the world, and we feel that the virtual thing will lessen these efforts.
Our speech about speeches. We believe that the show is not “too long” because of the speeches. Having said that, we would like to say the following: With great freedom comes great responsibility, and if you are wondering what exactly we mean by that, we mean READ THE ROOM. Tell a story. If you are thanking someone, say their name, not the position. Don’t say MY MANAGER, PEGGY, just say PEGGY. Make it PERSONAL. The audience leans back when they see a winner with a piece of paper in their hands. The good news is that you must be very relaxed at the time of the show, because you will have been at a pre-show meeting in the Union Station courtyard for the past ninety minutes with your nominated colleagues and your guests (ONLY nominees and guests will be present on the show, by the way. Oh, and the presenters!). Our goal is a feeling of casual exchange and good humor.
You’re wondering about the dress code (as it should). Our goal is a fusion of Inspiration and Aspiration, which in real words means that formal is totally cool if you want to go there, but casual is not.
Finally, a lot has been lost and a lot has changed since the last Oscar. We will recognize this at the same time as we remind viewers of the power and the need for stories to move us forward, and how films, in particular, create a special kind of connection between people around the world.
We hope to see you on April 25th.
With all our love for cinema,
Jesse
Stacey
Steven
93rd Oscar producers