The Academy is not asking Oscar attendees to wear face masks while cameras are running during the live ceremony on April 25.
The news was announced Monday morning at a Zoom meeting with Academy representatives and nominees, and studio and personal publicists. Because the ceremony – which will be held at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles – is treated like a TV / movie production, masks are not required for people in front of the camera, an Academy representative explained.
However, if guests are not on camera, they will be asked to wear masks. For example, masks should be put on during commercial breaks.
The Academy also revealed that the audience capacity will be limited to 170 people. As Variety First reported earlier this month, spectators will be rotated in and out of the ceremony. Upon arrival at Union Station, the nominees will receive a personalized itinerary indicating the times they will be switched on and off.
Oscars co-producer Steven Soderbergh remained mother of the face mask protocol during a press conference with co-producers Jesse Collins and Stacey Sher. He said on Saturday that masks would play “a very important part in the story”. “If that’s cryptic, it’s supposed to,” he added. “That subject is very central to the story.”
The meeting included a detailed explanation of what visitors could expect from Union Station. A temperature control is mandatory. This is after attendees are required to take at least three COVID tests in the days leading up to the ceremony
A shortened red carpet features three photographers and a very limited number of press outlets conducting interviews, including ABC News, KABC and E !. International outlets come from Japan, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Brazil, Spain, Mexico and Australia. There will be at least two meters between reporters and interviewees.
In addition to press conference style virtual interviews backstage, winners will have the opportunity to conduct virtual interviews with Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest for “Live With Kelly and Ryan” and Lara Spencer from “Good Morning America”.