Another year, another Oscars telecast filled with controversy…before the first award is handed out. It seems like every year the Academy does something that confuses and frustrates fans and the filmmaking community. 2022 is no different. And now, we have folks like Steven Spielberg speaking out against changes made to this year’s Oscars telecast.
Speaking at a screening of “West Side Story” on the studio lot (via Deadline), Steven Spielberg talked about the controversial changes to the Oscars telecast. Specifically, he expressed his displeasure with relegating certain categories to be given away in a pre-taped ceremony before the live telecast.
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“I disagree with the decision made by the executive committee. I feel very strongly that this is perhaps the most collaborative medium in the world,” said Spielberg. “All of us make movies together, we become a family where one craft is just as indispensable as the next. I feel that at the Academy Awards there is no above the line, there is no below the line. All of us are on the same line bringing the best of us to tell the best stories we possibly can. And that means for me we should all have a seat at the supper table together live at 5.”
It was previously announced that categories such as Best Production Design, Best Original Score, and others were going to be presented before the live ceremony with the winners’ pre-recorded acceptance speeches being aired during the telecast. This is somehow meant to keep the live telecast flowing, but many people are upset at the fact that this means some categories are treated as less-than.
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“When I look back and I think without [composer] John Williams, ‘Jaws’ would wear dentures,” said the filmmaker. “With ‘West Side Story,’ when Tony is singing ‘Tonight’ with Maria, without [Production Designer] Adam Stockhausen, he would be singing it on a step-ladder and she would be on the scaffolding, all this on an empty soundstage. Without film editing all my movies would still be in dailies.”
He continued, “We all come together to make magic, and I am sad that we will all not be on live television watching magic happen together. Everybody will have their moment in the limelight. All the winners will be able to be shown with their acceptance speeches, but it’s the idea that we can’t all be there.”
With the Oscars still days away, some folks are hoping the Academy will reverse its decision and allow for all of the categories to be included in the live telecast. However, when that idea is brought up to Spielberg, the filmmaker doesn’t think it’ll happen.
“I hope it’s reversed, but I’m not anticipating a reversal and I am not optimistic about it,” he said.
The Oscars telecast is scheduled to air on March 27.