Why No One Is Wearing a Mask on Camera at the 2021 Oscars
Tonight, the Academy is putting on a big, in-person, indoor Oscars show at Los Angeles’ Union Station, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Other award shows like the Grammys modified the way they're conducted for COVID-19 safety). According to Variety, attendees were controversially asked not to wear masks on camera.
Here’s what we know about the Oscar producers’ mask policy and what they're doing for COVID safety.
Celebs were told early this week not to wear masks on camera.
Variety wrote that the request was made Monday morning “during a Zoom meeting with Academy reps and nominees, and studio and personal publicists.” An Academy staffer explained to them that “because the ceremony…is being treated as a TV/film production, masks are not required for people on camera,” the outlet wrote. When attendees are not on camera, they have been asked to put on masks.
Union Station has been authorized to hold up to 170 guests at a time during the Oscars broadcast, and audience members will be changed out throughout the show.
Masks will be part of the Oscars—but in a mysterious, plot-driven way not made clear before the show.
Oscars co-producer Steven Soderbergh told press, per Variety, that masks would be part of the broadcast—though in a plot-oriented way. (Soderbergh told press on Saturday that the ceremony will “feel like you're watching a movie,” per The Hollywood Reporter.)
“Masks are going to play a very important role in the story of this evening,” he said. “If that’s cryptic, it’s meant to be. That topic is very central to the narrative.” It was unclear ahead of the ceremony how that was going to play out.
Guests will be COVID-tested multiple times Oscar week and go through a mandatory temperature check on Oscar night.
Some COVID screening protocol is in place. Variety reports that guests will go through a mandatory temperature-check. During Oscar week, attendees will be required to take at least three COVID tests before the show.
There will be a red carpet but with far less press and photographers than usual.
Oscar producers planned an “abbreviated” red carpet this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Variety. Only three photographers will be shooting the evening, and a “limited number of press outlets” have been authorized to do interviews. Celebs and reporters will have seven feet between them during those chats, so the conversations are super social distanced.
You Might Also Like
