A producer has teased that there will be some "surprises" and heartfelt reunions at this year's Academy Awards.
The annual film awards ceremony - which is also known as the Oscars - will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles tonight. A host of guests, including the nominees, are set to attend the star-studded event in the US this weekend.
Ahead of the ceremony, it has been suggested by the team behind last year's show that they are "aiming for the stars" again. Executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor told the Associated Press (AP): "We're feeling the pressure. But we're not ones to rest on our laurels. We always want to push the envelope."
Giving an insight into preparations, Raj added: "We want people when they watch the Oscars to be inspired by the films but also be inspired by the broadcast and feel something like it's a show that you can watch with your friends and your family and debate on who should have won and who is winning. We want people to have all the feels when they watch the show."
Organisers have teased that first-time host Conan O'Brien will bring something new to the Oscars. Raj said: "That alone brings this fresh, invigorated energy." Speaking about Conan - who is known for fronting talk shows like Late Night - Raj said that he has been a "wealth of ideas and imagination" and that, given his experience with live TV, he's skilled at improvisation.
Executive producer Katy Mullan added: "He is going to be this great, exciting, warm hug and guide us through the night. He's got some surprises up his sleeve, which is fantastic because we love to keep people guessing."
Although this year's ceremony won't feature performances of the original song nominees, some big names are set to take to the stage. They include Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, whose performance is much anticipated by fans. Raj said: "We've been talking for months. And it's a moment that's been very special." Blackpink member Lisa and Doja Cat are also set to be part of the broadcast, and producers have also promised a musical tribute honouring LA and Hollywood's film industry.
Acknowledging recent events, Katy told AP that the wildfires will be referenced, assuring that producers have aimed for a delicate balance between giving space for reflection and celebrating talent. She said: "The Grammys did an incredible job with their show and how it was treated. Our show being a month after that and Conan having been affected himself, we're just looking at the right way to calibrate it so that it feels like the right show for March 2 - that we do acknowledge it and reflect on it but also allow people the chance to step on that stage and have their moment and celebrate their talent."
Last year, former Oscar acting winners were invited on stage to say a few words about each nominee before announcing the recipient - rather than simply a list of names being read out. That presentation form is back, but Katy said that it won't be the actors this time but other categories that "maybe don't normally get the spotlight on the Oscar stage". She added: "Our theme is all about collaboration and the alchemy of filmmaking and really taking a look behind the scenes and understanding a bit more of the interconnectedness of how a film comes together."
Teasing that fans can enjoy the ceremony even if they haven't seen all of the films nominated, Raj said: "If you love the movies, like come to the Oscars and maybe you'll discover things that you actually have not seen yet but will want to. Hopefully you'll fall in love even with a few pictures while watching the show." Whilst Katy promised: "We've got some reunions that I think will hit people in the heart."
Comments
Leave a Comment