The basement of a hotel, an Al Malaikah temple and the annex of an open-air mall are just a few of the locations that have hosted the Academy Awards in 93 years of history.
But with the pandemic comes a major change in the entertainment industry, and what better time than to switch Oscar venues – in this case, trade the Dolby Theater for the John and Donald Parkinson-designed, 82-year-old Union Station. downtown Los Angeles. ?
As Oscars producer Stacey Sher said to a press on Saturday, “We’re here to argue why cinema Affairs,And Union Station is an iconic landmark in the film capital of the world, including crime noir Union Station, the way we were, to live and die in LA, Blade Runner and The Dark Knight Rises were shot. As Deadline’s Pete Hammond wrote, Oscar producer Steven Soderbergh’s “manifesto” shows the awards ceremony as a movie, not a TV show, at 24 frames per second, widescreen with footage over the shoulder, too.
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Rockwell Group
Oscarcast production designer David Rockwell said in a press conference today that this year’s inspiration came from a return to the elegance of previous Oscars at the Biltmore and Roosevelt Hotels. In fact, both locations were considered this year before production settled at Union Station. The train station praises the art deco architecture that LA is popular for, but what’s important at this year’s show is creating “a room within a room,” according to Rockwell, in particular one that is transparent.
The building lent itself to an Oscar show in its “massive scale” and “oxygen,” allowing for “horizontal scale and vertical swing”. Essentially, the old counter room at Union Station will house the main stage. The north and south patios with jacaranda trees are used for the before and after show. “The room will be used 360,” Rockwell said. “There will be camera positions all over the room that are picking up action.”
One of Rockwell’s challenges in working with the site: “Nothing can be attached to the ceiling and nothing can be attached to the floor.”
The deco lighting fixtures are part of the show’s lighting, as are the 12-foot-high windows of the station in the old ticket area. Attendees will be seated in groups of two – one nominee and one guest – at tables and banquets.
“Remember the ceremony starts at 5pm, so this production is going from daylight to night,” said Rockwell. “We will use that daylight and other production light in the corner of the room to illuminate the stage.”
The deadline recently ventured to Union Station, and it’s a work in progress; many of the details come to life in the last 48 hours before the show. The station remains fully operational between the subway lines and Amtrak trains, with large areas such as the patios and the original ticket lobby blocked off and accessible to badge personnel.
The Oscars will air live on ABC starting Sunday, April 25 at 5 p.m. PT.
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