Many Americans, in particular, are excited about a chance to return closer to normal with the widespread distribution of vaccines over the past few months and moving forward. It appears the producers of the 93rd Academy Awards were in that boat. After originally announcing that nominees needed to be at the Oscars in person this year, Steven Soderbergh, Stacey Sher, and Jesse Collins jumped on a number of private conference calls this morning to announce that was no longer the case.
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With cases rising overseas, a number of nominees are “stuck” in the UK or Europe because of international stay-at-home orders or production commitments. In the past, many nominees could get a few days off and fly to LA for the Oscars and then return to filming. Mandatory quarantining in both the U.S. and abroad makes this entirely unfeasible. Moreover, some nominees have had problems securing visas to travel outside their home countries. In particular, Gary Oldman, Laura Pausini, Emerald Ferrell, and Carey Mulligan are major contenders who might not have been able to make the trip overseas. Today, the Oscars revealed they are setting up “international hubs” in at least London and Paris where nominees can congregate to accept their Oscars (assuming they win).
During the series of conference calls, Soderbergh promised to be more “transparent” moving forward after massive blowback following the initial in-person request. The Academy also had Dr. Erin Bromage, a COVID-19 consultant, on hand to answer questions. Bromage spoke of a state-of-the-art testing facility at the location for this year’s telecast, Los Angeles’ Union Station. She also revealed that quarantining in the U.S. can be shortened for those willing to travel if they have been vaccinated, are already in a production bubble, or, wait for it, have traveled by business or first class (or private, we’d assume).
(Having paid for a first-class ticket to visit family this past fall, the idea that is significantly safer is laughable).
Soderbergh also said that nominees that cannot afford to pay for quarantining in Los Angeles will be assisted by “partners to the show that we have relationships with — airlines and hotels.”
Additionally, it was revealed that while there will be a red carpet, it will be different than in years past. Personal publicists and studio publicists will not be allowed and there may be limited Academy publicists on hand to assist as well. Soderbergh described the ceremony as a cocktail party where one set of nominees are shuttered in and out of the main staging area. So, if you watched this year’s Grammy Awards, you have a good idea of how the in-person portion will proceed.
When asked if a zoom option will be allowed for nominees who cannot make it to the hubs, Soderbergh didn’t shut the door, but it made it clear that would not be ideal.
The 93rd Academy Awards will be held on April 25 and broadcast live at 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET on ABC.