Oscars Producer Steven Soderbergh Says 2021 Academy Awards Will Feel More Like a Movie
I feel like the awards shows for movies and TV get a bad rap. Some people think they’re boring, others don’t like the politics, and most people complain that they last too long. I love the awards shows. I like to see what everyone is wearing. I like to see the actors get starstruck on the red carpet. I like the jokes, the banter, and making my bids on who will win the awards, along with the emotional acceptance speeches. The whole experience is fun for me, but I’m not opposed to a little shakeup.
Director Steven Soderbergh, known for Erin Brockovich, Logan Lucky, and the Ocean’s 11-13 franchise, is hard at work producing this year’s Academy Award Ceremony. In an interview with the Associated Press, Soderbergh said of the upcoming event, “Right out of the gate, people are going to know: ‘We’ve got to put our seatbelt on.'”
The director said he wants to shake up the format, hoping to improve upon things that are just being done because of tradition. He said he hopes to make the awards feel more like a film, saying:
“It’s going to feel like a movie in that there’s an overarching theme that’s articulated in different ways throughout the show. So the presenters are essentially the storytellers for each chapter. We want you to feel like it wasn’t a show made by an institution. We want you to feel like you’re watching a show that was made by a small group of people that really attacked everything that feels generic or unnecessary or insincere. That’s the kind of intention when I watch shows like this that is missing for me. A voice. It needs to have a specific voice.”
I’m not sure how this will look, but it’s fun to hear that the director has a vision. If it works, it works. If not, I’m sure we will see some restructuring next year. Either way, I am excited to watch and see what happens. Soderbergh is producing alongside Stacey Sher and Jesse Collins, and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is serving as music director.
The 93rd Academy Awards will air this Sunday, April 25, 2021, starting at 8:00 P.M. ET. Check out the list of nominees here. Will you be tuning in?