|
Variety and Deadline Hollywood reported on
Wednesday that publicists and some studio executives have
complained to the film academy about logistics, costs and
quarantine issues raised by the decision to bar nominees from
taking part in the ceremony remotely.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes
the ceremony, did not return a request for comment on the
reports.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the April 25 show to hand out
the highest honors in the movie industry will be held both at
Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles and the traditional home
of the Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Producers said last week that there will "not be an option to
Zoom in for the show" and encouraged nominees to attend in
person.
At least nine nominees, including "Promising Young Woman"
director Emerald Fennell and star Carey Mulligan, live in
Britain. England next week is expected to ban nonessential
international travel until mid-May.
Representatives of the five international feature films -
submitted by Denmark, Hong Kong, Romania, Tunisia and Bosnia -
could also face hurdles getting to Los Angeles, Variety and
Deadline noted.
Some of the other 200 or so nominees will be working on
productions that require quarantine or living in restricted
"bubbles" with cast and crew, the publications said.
Visitors to California are currently expected to quarantine for
10 days. Travelers to nations outside the United States are also
subject to varying quarantine requirements.
Variety said a meeting this week to discuss the issues between
the Academy, movie studio executives and publicists had been
canceled.
Other awards shows in recent months have replaced the usual
in-person gatherings at gala dinners and on stage with
pre-recorded appearances or virtual events, or a combination of
those with small in-person gatherings.
But television audiences have slumped, with the Golden Globes
and the Grammys attracting the smallest numbers in decades.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content
|
|
