The Los Angeles fire delayed the Oscars for 48 hours — and the campaign ground to a halt
One of Hollywood’s busiest weeks is on hold due to the devastating wildfires spreading rapidly across Los Angeles County. As Oscar voting begins Wednesday morning, studios and strategists are already planning a series of events for the nominees over the weekend—screenings, Q&A receptions and opportunities common to increase word of mouth among voters. According to insiders, most of these events have been canceled or will be canceled soon, along with major ceremonies preparing for A-list attendance: the Critics’ Choice Awards. on Sunday, the BAFTA tea on Saturday and the prestigious AFI luncheon.
In a Wednesday afternoon letter sent to Academy members seen by Vanity fairCEO Bill Kramer announced that the voting deadline for nominations has been extended by two days, from January 12 to January 14, “to give members more time to vote.” Accordingly, the nomination announcement previously scheduled for January 17 was unusually moved to Sunday, January 19. Key elements of this final round of campaigning, including live “baking” sessions for shortlisted sound designers, visual effects artists, and hairstyling and makeup to highlight their work, has officially been canceled, moving to a digital showcase. The screening of the international feature film shortlist has been rescheduled for an undetermined date before voting closes.
There are a number of reasons for the mass changes and cancellations, not the least of which is respecting the feelings of insecurity and anxiety of many in the community. Finding safety, assessing damage, and checking on loved ones are now the top priorities instead of keeping track of the last remaining opponents on the list. The same neighborhoods engulfed in flames are home to some of the Academy’s most active members, including music industry veterans. Diane Warrenreturned to the race this year for her song in Six-Three EightHis home of more than 30 years was destroyed and was a recent Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtiswho described his terrifying evacuation experience on Instagram. Their colleagues shared similar stories. And anecdotally speaking, the fear, anxiety and mourning going on around town made the Oscar nominees feel very distant, even if they were fast approaching.
“Continuing with business as usual doesn’t seem appropriate when the lives of so many people we know and love have been devastated,” said a strategist who has worked on several films.
On Tuesday night, as the Pacific Palisades fire erupted and the Eaton fire east of Los Angeles began to build, Sony Pictures Classics canceled what could have been a pivotal event for its Brazilian film, I’m still herehosted by CAA in Century City. The star of the movie Fernanda Torres just won the big Golden Globe for best actress, improving the Oscar chances of bigger names like Demi Moore And Nicole Kidmanbut the person running the scheduled Q&A session, Guillermo del Torowas unable to attend after having to evacuate his home. The main challenge international films face in the Oscar race is simply getting voters to favor them, and a post-Golden Globes win would attract plenty of new fans to the fold. this race. Walter Salles dramatic. Now one will have to hope the Globes’ momentum will carry over to those who find the film on the Academy’s streaming portal, unless a last-minute replacement can be scheduled.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” another senior awards strategist told me. “It’s terrible,” said one veteran of Tuesday’s campaign, who expected all of their Los Angeles Q&As to be canceled through the weekend.
The final showgirl just emerged as an underdog at the Oscars after receiving a SAG star nomination Pamela Anderson And Jamie Lee Curtisbut Thursday night’s Los Angeles premiere — a perfectly timed red carpet moment — was canceled. Focus Features has an event planned for Friday Nosferatu in Santa Monica with the director Robert Eggers and star Lily-Rose Depphoping to earn some awards from the horror film’s box office success, but plans were suddenly cut short. A complete unknown Manage question and answer sessions with candidates Edward Norton in Century City on Tuesday night, just before it dominated the SAG and DGA nominations, but canceled Wednesday’s dinner and screening at the San Vicente Bungalows. Timothée Chalamet also planned three Q&As over the weekend, as part of an American Cinema career retrospective. We are waiting to hear about the fate of the shows that sold out in record time.
Barring an Academy-backed push as early as next week, this effectively ends the Oscar campaign a week earlier than expected, putting those on the rise hoping for fame. Good echoes can go digital. Currently, movies that are in a bubble phase—like nickel guy, Sing Sing, Matter, All we imagine is lightAnd A real painis vying for the final few spots in the Best Picture category — has essentially stalled. I’ve heard strategists on some of the films in the race worry about how many Academy members haven’t seen their movies, and now the battle to reach voters could be left on a cliffhanger. Free information for everyone.
One thing is certain: The most unpredictable Oscar race in recent history shows no signs of slowing down.
This story has been updated.
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