People may not recall every detail of the 94th Academy Awards, but they will never forget the Will Smith-Chris Rock altercation that rocked Hollywood’s biggest award show the previous year. This is the main reason that Sunday’s Oscars organizers are making plans in case anything goes wrong at this year’s prestigious event.
For the first time, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has created a crisis team to respond to any mishaps.
“It is our hope that we will be prepared for anything,” Academy Chief Executive Bill Kramer told Time magazine in a recent interview. “Because of last year, we’ve opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars.”
The film Academy was heavily criticized for allowing Smith to remain in the audience, and accept the best actor trophy, after attacking Rock on stage over a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The organization has not provided information on the crisis team’s composition or its potential response to anything out of the usual. Smith is not going to be there. For ten years, he was not permitted to attend the occasion.
Janet Yang, the president of the Academy, said during a luncheon for nominees in February that the institution had learnt how to respond “swiftly, compassionately, and decisively” in times of crisis and that “you should and may expect no less from us going forward.”
Security is tight at the Dolby Theatre where the ceremony is held. Law enforcement closes off several blocks around the theater and the red carpet.
Show producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner said they hope to keep the spotlight this time on the year’s nominated movies and the people who brought them to life.
The show will be broadcast on Walt Disney Co’s (DIS.N) ABC network.
In a departure from recent years when the Academy nominated many little-seen films, the field of best picture contenders features many of the biggest box-office hits of 2022. They include “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Elvis” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
“We’re there to entertain, and to highlight the great movies this year, many of which people have seen, which is great for us,” Kirshner said.
Like other awards shows, the Oscars have lost viewers in recent years, particularly among younger people who are glued to social media. Weiss said the team was planning to pepper the show with moments that they hope would spread on Twitter and TikTok.
Pop superstar Rihanna will sing her nominated song “Lift Me Up” from “Wakanda Forever.” Stephanie Hsu, David Byrne and the band Son Lux will perform “This is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere.”
