Handing out prizes in front of a screen, a mosaic of zooms where the happy suitors, some tiny and in pajamas, let see a corner of their living room or the impersonal suite of a hotel room is a novelty generated by the pandemic. weary.
Last September, at the Emmy awards -Oscars of American television-, it seemed exotic. At the Golden Globes at the end of February, it was simply deadly and the catastrophic audiences suffered.
The fact that many of the films and actors named were seen, theaters closed, only by a small number of moviegoers did not help.
To read also: Nominations for the Oscars 2021:
Mank
in the lead, Florian Zeller embodies the French hopes
Aware of these issues, the organizers of the Oscars have announced the color and the response.
The April 25 ceremony will be very physical and absolutely not virtual.
The 2021 Oscars will take place in several locations in Los Angeles: the traditional Dolby Theater - its home for almost a decade - in the heart of Hollywood.
But also in the iconic historic colonial-style train station of Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, a dozen kilometers away in order to respect the rules of social distancing.
A Covid-19 screening test device will be deployed on site to guarantee results "within the minute".
Union station will welcome the nominees.
VALERIE MACON / AFP
As several figure contenders are based in Europe, such as Olivia Colman, Carey Mulligan, Emerald Fennell (in UK) or Florian Zeller (in France), it is not impossible that other locations will be announced.
A letter was sent to all applicants advising them that they would need to be physically present if they wished to receive their trophy.
It will be impossible for them to participate in the ceremony virtually.
The Grammy awards as a source of inspiration
A red carpet will be put in place, even with the constraint of barrier gestures.
The location of stars and journalists will be surrounded by plexiglass, masks, boom microphones will be required.
Like evening wear.
Jeans and pajamas prohibited.
The Oscars broadcast will be orchestrated for the sixth time by Glenn Weiss, a renowned expert in this type of event, with Steven Soderbergh, director of the film
Contagion, in production
.
“Our plan is that the Oscars this year look like a movie, not a TV show
,
”
Soderbergh and the other producers said in a statement.
"We are doing our utmost to provide an enjoyable and safe evening for everyone who will be physically present, as well as for the millions of movie fans around the world, and we feel that doing this virtually would go the other way
,
"
write the producers.
The Oscars ceremony seems to be inspired by that of the Grammy Awards, successfully organized on Sunday in Los Angeles between a covered stage and an open-air awards ceremony located nearby.
The Oscars night has been postponed for eight weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic which has caused cinemas to close and totally disrupted the schedule of major Hollywood studios.
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The selection of the Oscars 2021: movies to see at home in streaming
Sign of this year without blockbusters, the favorites of the Oscars 2021 come from platforms (
Mank, The Seven of Chicago
) or independent films seen and acclaimed in festivals but which have just returned in theaters (
Minari, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman
) New York cinemas reopened a few days ago.
Making room as never before for talents from diverse backgrounds, the nominations also give pride of place to young actors for whom this is the first selection: Riz Ahmed, Vanessa Kirby, Steven Yeun.
It remains to be seen if the spectators will be there.
Like many award ceremonies, Oscar audiences are dropping year after year.