Most theaters have been shuttered since March, and major festivals such as Tribeca and Cannes have been canceled, postponed or reimagined as virtual events. In the coronavirus era, it’s unclear if the Oscars can move forward as planned, at least without making some massive changes to the way the awards are campaigned for and handed out. Here are 5 questions facing the Academy Awards during COVID-19.
What if the Oscars are delayed?
The Academy is considering pushing back the Oscar ceremony from its original airdate of Feb. 28. If that happens, it could scramble the awards-season calendar. Should the Oscars feel the need to move deeper into 2021 in the hope of finding a post-pandemic — or post-vaccine — perch, that could put pressure on other awards shows, such as the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards, to find new dates.
How will campaigns change?
When COVID-19 is swirling around, which likely will require a dramatic overhaul to the way that many of these campaigns are designed and managed. It’s unclear how potential nominees will be able to charm voters from a social distance, or if they’ll even be game to do the kind of relentless traveling that characterizes most Oscar pushes.
Will the show go virtual?
It’s certainly possible. From college graduations to the Democratic National Convention, major events are being conducted online. There are lots of reasons why Hollywood A-listers are skittish about the prospect of sitting cheek-to-jowl with their fellow stars and power brokers in the Dolby Theatre for a three-hour show. The Academy might want to start looking at backdrop options.
Will Netflix be the big winner?
The streaming giant has made no secret of its burning desire to win a best picture statue. But 2020 could be the year that changes. For one thing, a lack of theaters doesn’t put a dent in Netflix’s plans; unlike companies such as Warner Bros. or Sony, the streamer makes its money from subscriptions, not box office. It only schedules theatrical releases to engender good will with its filmmakers. Plus, Netflix has assembled a formidable list of contenders.
Will there even be an Oscars?
It’s worth asking. If movie theaters are slow to reopen or if there’s a second wave of the coronavirus and things shut down again, is it really worth having an Oscars for the handful of movies that are truly awards-worthy? It’s possible that the Academy will instead opt to combine 2020’s contenders with those from 2021. When cinemas began closing down, people on Twitter joked that Jim Carrey might win an Oscar for his work as Dr. Robotnik in “Sonic the Hedgehog,” one of the few films to get released so far this year.
VA/CamõesTV