On Tuesday, it was announced that eight categories including documentary short, film editing, makeup/hairstyling, original score, production design, animated short, live-action short and sound will not be announced during the live telecast of the upcoming Academy Awards, and instead inside the Dolby Theatre an hour before the live telecast commences. They will be recorded and edited into the subsequent live broadcast.
As AMPAS continues to make unfathomable changes to the program, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that nominees in the affected categories were informed of the approach to the presentation via a town hall-style meeting Tuesday afternoon, shortly before the official announcement from the Academy, according to one source. Despite the decision to change the presentation, members were told a three-hour show is still planned.
The choice was met with quite the backlash as some Academy members voted their opinions stating,
“It’s complete fiasco,” said one affected Academy member of the decision. “It’s another example of the Academy bowing to the network. There are a lot of very unhappy people.”
“I am offended and insulted by the Academy’s decision to relegate eight categories to an inferior position at the awards this year. … It’s absurd and the leadership should be ashamed.”
Numerous associations additionally released statements. The American Cinema Editors board of directors said:
“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. 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.”
Mark A. Lanza, president of Motion Picture Sound Editors, agreed:
“The Academy’s mission is to honor the craft of filmmaking in all its parts. Eliminating certain categories from the live broadcast degrades that mission.” He also pointed to the “bill of goods the sound branch was sold” when, beginning with the 2021 Oscars, there was a change to a single best sound category. “The Academy made an explicit promise not to eliminate sound from the live broadcast if they agreed to the travesty of combining sound editing and sound mixing into one category.”
The International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) additionally released a statement, which read in part,
“We are so proud of our members whose work will be honored during the Academy Awards show this year. We are, however, disappointed by the Academy’s decision to exclude so many exceptional artists in other branches from the live broadcast itself. Cinematographers and all filmmakers understand the collaboration required to produced ineligible images.”
This attempt to eliminate categories from the live telecast was attempted before and ultimately reverted back to its original format. Time will tell if the same fate will follow this choice.
