A host of top directors, including Denis Villeneuve, Jane Campion and Guillermo del Toro, have criticized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its decision not to represent several craft categories during the Oscars live stream later this month.
Eight categories – Documentary Short, Film Editing, Makeup/Hair, Original Score, Production Design, Animated Short, Short Film and Sound – will be recorded one hour before the abridged 94th Annual and then edited for later broadcast.
Dune director Villeneuve called the decision a “mistake,” while noting that the awards ceremony is going through an “identity crisis” following the television broadcast of the lowest-rated Oscars ever.
“Honestly, I think the academy threw the baby out with the bath water,” the director of Deadline said at the Art Directors Guild Awards on Saturday. “I think it’s a mistake. And I understand that they are under tremendous pressure, but I think this is the wrong decision.”
He went on to defend people “working in the shadows” in film production who “need to be seen and acknowledged”.
“I think the Oscars are going through an identity crisis,” Villeneuve said. “I don’t think there is anything wrong with the Oscars. I think everyone expects it to be a long show. I love it. … There are always bursts of genius. And great moments. Sometimes it’s boring. … Each individual edition is always different. This is part of the show. And listen, we’ll see what happened this year, but I think there’s going to be a lot of reflection before and after.”
The Oscar statue at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards in February 2020. As viewership has decreased over the past few years, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has made various changes to the live awards ceremony.ERIK BARADAT via Getty Images
Campion, whose film Power of the Dog leads the Best Picture nomination, also expressed dismay at the categories being edited for time.
While accepting the Cinematic Imagery Award virtually at the ADG Awards, the New Zealand director explained “how important production designers are [are] make any good movie,” according to Variety.
“I don’t know what their reasons were. It’s hard for any director to understand this choice,” she said. “I would definitely include design in the main part of the awards, because the designer is one of the very first people I invite to the team. All the work that you do as designers is very important and is truly deeply appreciated by me and your colleagues.”
Del Toro, whose film Nightmare Alley is nominated in several categories that will be affected by the changes, also criticized the academy’s decision.
“If any year was the right time to think about it, it’s not the year you can’t help but hear their names live at the Oscars,” he told the Hollywood Critics Association Awards on Monday, according to Variety. . “This is the year to sing and do it live.”
In an attempt to boost ratings, the academy attempted to redesign the ceremony in 2018 by adding a category for achievements in “popular” films, but abandoned the plan after receiving significant backlash.
This year, the organization launched a contest where people can vote online for their favorite movie and most “joy-worthy” movie moment — regardless of whether the movie received an Oscar nomination. The results will be announced during the broadcast, to the disappointment of many in the film industry.
Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes will host this year’s Oscars telecast, airing Sunday, March 27 at 8:00 pm ET on ABC.