Although it will be a scaled-down ceremony, the Oscar show producers are trying to ensure showbiz’s biggest night will be as close to ‘normal’ as possible.
According to celebrity entertainment news site Deadline, the producers have sent a letter to all the nominees stating that they need to be there in person to accept an award. In other words, nominees need to show up in person or the Academy “will accept the award on your behalf.”
In laying down a couple of rules, the letter went on to state “no hoodies and no zoom link-ups” will be allowed.
The producer's Steven Soderbergh, Stacey Sher, and Jesse Collins said that everyone will be tested and a COVID-19 safety team would also be on-site, “We are going to great lengths to provide a safe and ENJOYABLE evening for all of you in person, as well as for all the millions of film fans around the world, and we feel the virtual thing will diminish those efforts.”
The 93rd annual Academy Award ceremony is due to take place on April 25 at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles with some live elements broadcast from the ceremony's usual home at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The Academy will be streaming its official red carpet pre-show, Oscars All Access: Red Carpet Live from the @TheAcademy Twitter account starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. Based on last year's programming, ABC will kick off its pre-red carpet coverage at 5:30, and its Oscars Opening Ceremony: Live From the Red Carpet starts at 6:30 p.m. ET. The E! Countdown to the Red Carpet starts at 5 p.m. ET.
