Academy leadership are exploring potential streaming extensions to the Oscars telecast as they seek to reinvigorate the show.
New CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang told an all-members meeting over the weekend (September 17) they want to honour all crafts categories on air – the Academy spared a minor scandal when it presented eight craft category winners off air at the 94th ceremony – focus on love and reverence for film, and make the red carpet an event in and of itself.
They also announced that Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner will produce the 95th Oscars show on March 12, 2023, with a focus on and an expertise in live television event production.
Last year’s show was derailed when Will Smith walked on stage and slapped Chris Rock, causing some audience members to express concern that action was not taken sooner on the night to deal with the incident.
The upcoming telecast production designers will be Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley, who between them have worked on world tours for Ariana Grande and Coldplay and Oscars, Grammy and Emmy telecasts.
As previously reported the organisation will continue to require films to get a qualifying theatrical release and are placing emphasis on galvanising the Academy’s global membership to become the “home base” for global cinema fans.
Kramer and Yang pointed out at the in-person and virtual meeting at the Academy Museum in mid-town Los Angeles that they have set up an office of revenue and business development to find new revenue streams and build a sustainable long-term budget. To this end the organisation will explore licensing and sponsorship opportunities, philanthropic work and expanding the Academy Screening Room platform.
“Revenue diversification is important to the health of any non-profit, and we are moving in the right direction,” said Kramer. “We are also discovering new supporters through our successful Museum fundraising – individuals, corporations, and foundations – who we hope will evolve with us and provide needed support in the future for a variety of Academy initiatives and programmes.”
The Academy will introduced previously announced inclusion and diversity standards for best film contenders from 2024 under the auspices of its Academy Aperture 25 initiative. Kramer noted the goal was not to disqualify films, adding that every best picture nominee last season would have qualified.
Yang updated on membership and said there were currently 10,627 around the world, of whom 23% hail from outside the United States, 34% identify as women, and 19% are from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities.
Of the 2022 intake, nearly half were from outside the United States, 42% identify as women and 38% come from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities. Boosting the Academy’s global presence and engaging with global membership are high up on the to-do list. Efforts will be made to highlight leadership eligibility roles to international members and those not based in Los Angeles.
The all-member meeting will become an annual event, alongside the annual all-branch meetings led by the board of governors.
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