Get ready for all the president’s mentions
Producers can’t keep politics from edging into Oscar acceptance speeches
While producers of the Academy Awards aren’t planning any political content, the night’s winners might be.
As much as first-time Oscar telecast producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd may want their show to focus on the magic of the movies, they say they support any message spoken from the heart.
“The show has to stand behind the free exchange of ideas,” De Luca said in a recent interview. “I do believe a little bit in the famous Sam Goldwyn quote about movies: ‘If you want to send a message, call Western Union.’ And there’s a school of thought that says people are tuning in to celebrate the storytelling that’s moved them, and should we limit what we say to a celebration of that?”
The Feb. 26 show already has a political element: The Iranian director and star of foreign language film nominee The Salesman have said they will not attend the ceremony in protest of Trump’s travel ban. Film academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs says the organization supports artists and freedom of expression.
Winners are free to use their allotted 45 seconds of speaking time as they please.
“I hope that the Oscar speeches, whatever they are, are just well said,” co-producer Todd said. “I loved when Patricia Arquette talked about fair pay (when accepting the supporting actress Oscar in 2015). She did a beautiful job and she spoke from her heart. So I just think that as long as you’re going to do it, do it well.”
Passionate expressions also make for compelling television, De Luca added. And if viewers who disagree with the politics decide to tune out?
“We’re of a mind of: Let people be the people they are and not worry about the public reaction,” De Luca said.
Oscar nominees and guests say they expect politics to have a presence at the 89th Academy Awards.
“I suppose each Oscar show represents its time on some level,” said Viggo Mortensen, nominated for lead actor for Captain Fantastic.
“I think the Trump White House so far is not about being, let’s say, completely honest and above board.
“It’s not really about intellectual curiosity. It’s not about listening to people who think differently. It’s about, to some degree, shutting people up who you don’t like or who don’t agree with you, and I think the Oscars will probably be the opposite of that.”