Oscars sneers and cheers
Changes envelope awards in controversy.
One wildfire is burning out of control in Hollywood: The blaze ignited last week when surprise changes to the Oscars were unveiled.
Last week, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a rough outline for major changes to its hallowed awards show, and somehow heatwave-cooked Southern California got even hotter as the industry town has fumed.
While many applaud the rationale behind reaching out to audiences in a changing world and reducing the length of the show, the disastrous rollout has received overwhelming criticism, sparking the hashtag #OscarsSoStupid.
“So far, it’s been days of people screaming what a terrible idea this all is,” says Steve Pond, awards editor for industry website TheWrap and author of “The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings Backstage at the Academy Awards,” a book of Oscars history. “These represent seismic shifts in what the Oscars are, the biggest changes I have ever seen.”
Here’s what fanned the flames and what it will mean to viewers.
The revamped show hopes to appeal to viewers
The Oscars are going to be a vastly different show starting in February. A new award will be given for outstanding achievement in popular film (a category name that could change), and several behind-the-camera awards will now be presented during commercial breaks.
The latter move is aimed at fitting the show into a three-hour run time, “delivering a more accessible Oscars for our viewers worldwide,” according to a letter sent to members by academy president John Bailey and CEO Dawn Hudson that was obtained by USA TODAY.
The academy’s leak-wary board of governors revealed the rough outline of changes after secretly working for “several months” on “improvements to the show,” according in the letter.
What the new broadcast and new award will look like are the source of passionate speculation. Most of the specifics will have to be worked out by the awards committee amid backlash as the questions pile up.
“It’s shocking to announce something so big with so few details worked out,” Pond says. “They announced an idea, not a plan. No one knows how this is going to work.”
The ‘popular’ award makes some fans wary
The academy has tried to find ways to honor fan-appreciated films in the past, including expanding the best-picture field from five nominees to a maximum of 10. Still, critically acclaimed hits such as “Wonder Woman” missed being nominated last year in a field of nine dominated by art-house films such as eventual winner “The Shape of Water.”
The new “popular” category kicks in with the 91st Oscars telecast airing Feb. 24, though there are no details yet about the eligibility requirements. With little guidance from the academy, vocal critics have filled the void, decrying the move as a push for show ratings over film excellence.
“The word ‘popular’ is where it all went wrong. People are confused by what that means, and there were no parameters,” says Nikki Novak, awards correspondent for Fandango.com. “The general consensus is that it means box office, like, over $100 million. But it’s still so open to interpretation.”
The academy then issued one adden- dum: Films will be eligible for both best picture and most popular. But fans are wary the popular award will become a second-tier honor.
“I don’t think they expected outcry from the general public who don’t want a consolation prize for their favorite films,” Novak says.
Cutting the number of live awards will be tough
The TV audience has balked about the length of the show, during which 24 awards have been handed out, including many for technical achievements.
“People want to see stars at the Oscars, people that they know,” Novak says. “Viewers might not know what sound editing is, much less who the winners are.”
The omitted awards will be given in the Dolby Theatre during commercial breaks, then edited down to air later in the broadcast.
But figuring out which categories won’t be honored live (sound editing? sound mixing? short film?) will cause pain and outrage in an academy filled with every branch of filmmaking – and a tradition of honoring all crafts.
“Cutting out anything, especially in this environment, is going to be tricky, because it’s saying this award is not as important,” Novak says.
Moving the show up on the calender may add drama
The academy is moving up the ceremony – traditionally held in late February or early March – starting in 2020, when the awards will be held Feb. 9. The idea is to reduce awards fatigue amid a drawn-out calendar. But now, all the other awards shows will have to cram in ahead of the Oscars.
It’s going to make for a traffic jam in terms of viewing and attendance.
“Where do the SAG Awards go now?” says Chris Beachum, managing editor of the awards site GoldDerby. “These weekends are going to be packed. This is a lot to figure out.”