As the COVID-19 crisis continues to upend the entertainment industry, one of Hollywood's most hallowed institutions has been forced to adapt. When the Oscars take place this Sunday, things will look very different from the Academy's previous ceremonies. Here's what we know so far about the changes.
They're planning to hold an in-person event—no Zooming required.
While many awards shows have been forced to go virtual during the pandemic, the Academy is still planning to stage a live show. In December, a representative from the Academy and ABC told Variety, "The Oscars in-person telecast will happen." Added an awards publicist, "The Academy has done a walkthrough of the Dolby recently to see all the multiple options."
On March 18, producers for this year's ceremony sent a letter to nominees stating that all who wish to attend must attend in person, and no virtual options will be provided. "For those of you unable to attend because of scheduling or continued uneasiness about traveling, we want you to know there will not be an option to Zoom in for the show," wrote producers Steven Soderbergh, Stacey Sher and Jesse Collins.
As for why this would be the case, they added, "We are going to great lengths to provide a safe and ENJOYABLE evening...and we feel the virtual thing will diminish those efforts."
To keep the event safe, there will be "specially designed testing cadences to ensure up-to-the-minute results" and an on-site COVID safety team.
This week, the producers said that the show will also highlight the impact of COVID-19 and that masks will "play a very important role" in the story of the ceremony, though it is not yet clear what that means from a practical perspective. "If that's cryptic, it's meant to be," said Soderbergh. "But that topic is very central to the narrative."
Multiple locations will be used in the broadcast.
A spokesperson for the Academy has revealed that multiple spots, including the historic Dolby Theatre, will play a part in the show.
“In this unique year that has asked so much of so many, the Academy is determined to present an Oscars like none other, while prioritizing the public health and safety of all those who will participate. To create the in-person show our global audience wants to see, while adapting to the requirements of the pandemic, the ceremony will broadcast live from multiple locations, including the landmark Dolby Theatre,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The in-person event will take place at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, with "additional elements" at the traditional Dolby Theatre, according to PEOPLE.com.
No sweatshirts are allowed.
In an effort to retain the glamorous mood of the traditional Oscars, guests are encouraged to wear formal clothing that aims for "a fusion of Inspirational and Aspirational," according to the letter sent by producers. In other words: Sorry, Jason Sudeikis, but no sweatshirts this time.
There will not be a host.
For the third year running, the awards show will not feature an emcee, instead relying on a number of celebrity presenters as well as an "overarching structure" that Soderbergh said will hopefully make the event "feel like a film."
The awards were postponed.
Originally, the broadcast was slated for February 28, 2021, but it was rescheduled for April 25, 2021 due to the pandemic. The eligibility window for qualifying films was also extended, from December 31, 2020 to February 28, 2021.
Films won't be required to have a theatrical run.
Previously, the Oscars required that all movies seeking to take home a trophy had to be in theaters. (Specifically, "be shown in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County for a theatrical qualifying run of at least seven consecutive days, during which period screenings must occur at least three times daily," per the Academy's site.) In April 2020, the Academy announced that for the 93rd Oscars only, "films that had a previously planned theatrical release but are initially made available on a commercial streaming or VOD service may qualify."
No one has to understand the difference between sound mixing and sound editing anymore.
The Sound Mixing and Sound Editing categories will be collapsed into one, which will recognize "best achievement in Sound that emphasizes the team effort."
Speaking of audio, the Music (Original Score) category will now require that 60% of the score be original music in order to qualify; in "sequels and franchise films," it must have 80%.
Unlike the theatrical release changes, these modifications seem like they're here to stay.
The International Feature Film category is shaking things up.
Academy members will now be able to vote in the category's preliminary round. Those interested will have to opt-in and adhere to a "minimum viewing requirement" to participate.
The Academy Awards will air on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Chloe is a News Writer for Townandcountrymag.com, where she covers royal news, from the latest additions to Meghan Markle’s staff to Queen Elizabeth’s monochrome fashions; she also writes about culture, often dissecting TV shows like The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Killing Eve.
Lauren Puckett-Pope is a staff culture writer at ELLE, where she primarily covers film, television and books. She was previously an associate editor at ELLE.
