Bill Kramer, the new CEO of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, bluntly acknowledged that some improvements need to be made to the Academy’s annual Oscar show and process, and spoke at this morning’s AMPAS membership meeting in person at the Academy Museum. promised to address them. For members in Los Angeles and virtually around the world.
“Clearly the show needs to be revitalized and we’re working hard to work on this with our great partners at Disney-ABC,” Kramer told members. , and that includes, as Deadline recently announced the naming of veteran live television and award show producers, Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, to run the show, who have collectively contributed to their work including 21 Tony Award Shows. Has won many Emmys.
Kramer and new president Janet Yang emphasized the show’s move to a position of “power, honor and importance”:
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- Hiring productive teams accountable to the Academy and building a dedicated team within the Academy focused solely on rewards
- Determining how to honor all craft areas in the air
- Focusing on love and reverence for the film
- Making Emotional Investment in Nominees
- Exploring the show’s expansion on streaming
- Continuing the Dramatic Requirement for Eligibility
- Making the Red Carpet an Event
- Continuing to prioritize sustainability, access, inclusion and representation
Troy Harvey/AMPAS
As for that second point regarding honoring “all craft fields” in the air, a bone of contention that caused a lot of trouble at the 94th Oscars earlier this year, when it was decided to present eight, we Edited and rolled into a pre-show and then into a live broadcast, the pair promised: “Determining how to honor all craft fields on air – A lot of you have written about this with questions and we’re hard pressed to work with our producers and Disney-ABC.”
I heard that he had no intention of repeating that “experiment”, as originally described to me by former CEO Don Hudson and former president David Rubin (both of which left the door open for further change in the future). ), but in today’s meeting he did not promise to go back completely to the way it was before. Ratings were up from the pandemic-hit 93rd show for the 94th Oscars, but still rank among the lowest rated Oscar shows, and it is expected that timely showing of craft category productions will not work. It was actually one of the longest Academy Awards ever, so stay tuned for further updates as plans for the 2023 show progress. And as for the commitment to continue to drive the dramatic need for eligibility, sources have told Deadline that there is one area that the producer arm in particular is very concerned about, and is working on an effort to push that requirement. .
Courtesy AMPAS
At the meeting, Yang reiterated the leadership’s commitment to members, “We are a members-first organization; members are our superpower, and we are prioritizing the needs of our academy members,” she said, adding that AMPAS is now serving worldwide. There are 10,627 members, 34% identify as women, 19% are from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities, and 23% live outside the United States, stating that they consider the latter group to be “linked to the Academy”. “Will continue to feel.
The two talked about their vision for the Academy, and this included inspiring the global film community and membership to become a unifying force in the industry; Building a sustainable organization with a diverse base of support; Generating enthusiasm for films in general, celebrating and preserving the collaborative artistry of filmmaking; and helping to envision a new, inclusive and equitable future for the industry.
More specifically:
Support and diversify revenue and build a sustainable long-term budget that includes a new Office of Revenue and Business Development, which will, among other things, support the expansion of the Academy’s digital screening room, licensing possibilities, new sponsorships and other philanthropic fundraising. Will explore opportunities.
Finding new ways to engage with members, these group meetings are just one way
Advancing the understanding and preservation of cinema
Advancing Your Own Inclusion and Sustainability Initiative
To help develop a new generation of diverse filmmaking talent
Creating clarity and efficiency in the AMPAS organizational structure (something from the minute Kramer took office)
Development of the “Brand”
On the sometimes controversial “inclusion and sustainability” initiative mentioned above, Kramer and Yang list its various aspects and explain what is happening with it. “It has been a collaborative process with the industry and we have received extensive support from our partners – studios, distributors and filmmakers – which began even before the support standards were announced and continues to this day.”
Kramer also stated that: “Our goal is not to disqualify any one film, but to celebrate and encourage our collective progress towards greater representation and inclusion in the industry. We want people to make films that are worth watching.” They want to make. Given the tremendous efforts of the industry for the last Oscars, all The Best Picture nominee would have qualified and met the standards. ,
On the all-important continued efforts of film preservation, Yang said, “The Academy will deliver accessible and relevant museum exhibitions, screenings and events, as well as continue to grow and manage the Academy Collection – which has more than 13 million items in the collection.” Including posters, scripts, photographs, films, costumes, cameras, props, and much more. The world turns to us to learn about the history and heritage of our treasured art form – the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as it We have a responsibility and a duty.”
Later today the Academy Museum will host an event promoted by Native American members of the Academy and offer a longstanding apology for its treatment of Sachen Littlefeather, the Native American woman who appeared to give a speech turning down Marlon Brando’s Best Actor Oscar. Had happened. Saint in 1973. Both Yang and Kramer will be among the speakers at the event, clearly an example of the Academy’s move towards all races, and perhaps an acknowledgment of mistakes in the past.
