Set Decorators Society of America Condemns Academy Over Oscars Broadcast Cuts: ‘We Are All Diminished by This Action’
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The Set Decorators Society of America has penned an open letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expressing its “extreme disappointment” regarding the decision to not broadcast certain categories — best production design, particularly — live during this year’s Oscars ceremony.
The letter, addressed to Academy president David Rubin, CEO Dawn Hudson, the AMPAS board executive committee and the AMPAS awards committee, expresses solidarity with other branches that the “Academy has elected to demote from equal recognition” during its upcoming ceremony.
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“The diminution of these specific awards, which you declare to be ‘the fat in need of trimming’ from the broadcast in order to make it more entertaining, is punitive not only to the individual artists singled out for this treatment, but to entire industries represented by each one, who take enormous pride in their part in the creation of each nominated and winning film in the Academy competition,” the letter reads. “We are all diminished by this action, and infuriated by it.”
The SDSA’s letter is attributed to president Gene Serdena, board chairman Chase Helzer and executive director Gene Cane. The organization stands to promote and celebrate excellence in the craft of set design, preserving the field’s legacy in motions pictures and television.
The Academy first confirmed its decision to present several Oscar categories outside of the live March 27 telecast on Feb. 22, via a letter from Rubin that was sent to Academy membership. The letter explained that these awards will instead be given out an hour prior to the on-camera ceremony, with clips from the speeches being incorporated into the telecast. The other categories aside from score that won’t be awarded live this year are documentary short, animated short, live action short, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, production design and sound. The move generated instant controversy among industry veterans, with the American Cinema Editors guild issuing a public statement condemning the decision.
Read the SDSA’s full letter below:
In a climate of great cultural and political division, the Academy has elected to demote eight branches from equal recognition at the Academy Awards: Production Design, Documentary Short, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Animated Short, Live Action Short, and Sound. The SDSA takes this as a tremendous blow to the ideal of equality among the Academy’s branches. The Oscar for Outstanding Production Design is presented to the Production Designer and Set Decorator.
The diminution of these specific awards, which you declare to be “the fat in need of trimming” from the broadcast in order to make it more entertaining, is punitive not only to the individual artists singled out for this treatment, but to entire industries represented by each one, who take enormous pride in their part in the creation of each nominated and winning film in the Academy competition. We are all diminished by this action, and infuriated by it.
The demotion of the Academy Award for Production Design in the eyes of the world and among our peers in the workplace is a material blow and an unnecessary one.
The Academy has been the gold standard of fostering collaboration among the arts of filmmaking. But by this action you are sowing divisiveness: anyone looking at the list of those demoted to the prerecorded portion of the broadcast can only react with strong dismay at the lack of respect given to these art forms.
The Set Decorators Society of America is an organization separate and apart from any IATSE Local and does not represent Set Decorators for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours or work conditions in the Motion Picture or Television Industry
The relegation of certain film crafts to a lesser tier feels like confirmation of a bias antithetical to the spirit traditionally honored by the Academy.
One of the great events preceding the Awards Ceremony is the Oscars Luncheon, where the nominees are gathered in blended groups at their tables. Costume Designers sit side-by-side with Supporting Actor Nominees and Sound Mixers. A Set Decorator passes bread to a Director, who clinks glasses with a Special Effects Supervisor. And finally comes the class photo: all the nominees are called out one-by-one, and summoned to the dais, where they stand together in great equanimity and pride.
This event sets a tone of generosity and fraternity that carries over to the Awards Ceremony. It is a glorious celebration of professional achievement and unity.
It is this spirit that feels diminished by the recent announcement.
The Set Decorators Society of America expresses its extreme disappointment with this decision. We hope a different avenue can be found to maintain the audience’s interest, and one which truly celebrates the art of film making and holds to the true values of the Academy.
Sincerely,
Gene Serdena, SDSA President
Chase Helzer, SDSA Board Chairman
Gene Cane, SDSA Executive Director
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