Entertainment Extra

2 ENTERTAINMENT EXTRA By Kyla Brewer TV Media A little over a year ago, all sorts of film sets were shut down due to the global COVID- 19 pandemic, from small indie productions to massive block- busters. However, the industry rallied and got back on track, and now it's time to celebrate. Stars come together (safely!) to celebrate recent achieve- ments in film during the 93rd annual Academy Awards, airing Sunday, April 25, on ABC. Considered by many to be Hollywood's highest honor, the Oscars, as they are more com- monly known, are bestowed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 23 catego- ries that recognize outstanding work in everything from acting and directing to costume design and cinematography. Among the most highly antic- ipated awards shows of the sea- son, the Oscars have a reputa- tion for red carpet fashion, high- profile celebrity appearances and show-stopping performanc- es. However, while this year's ceremony is all but sure to please, it will have to adapt to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all in attendance. Unlike most other awards shows during the COVID-19 era, this year's Academy Awards ceremo- ny will be an in-person event. Awards galas such as the Golden Globes and the Emmys opted for virtual events or hybrid events featuring some remote presentations, but pro- ducers of the Oscars have decid- ed that the show will go on in person. How exactly the evening will unfold isn't perfectly clear, though it is known that the cere- mony will take place in multiple locations, including its traditional home at the Dolby Theatre as well as at Union Station Los Angeles and Hollywood & Highland. It has even been reported that there may be over- seas venues in London and Paris to reduce the risk of travel for nominees currently outside the United States. Luckily, producers have assem- bled a seasoned team of profes- sionals to tackle the challenge, led by director Glenn Weiss, who's won two Emmys for his work on previous Oscar telecasts. "Our plan is that this year's Oscars will look like a movie, not a television show, and Glenn has embraced this approach and come up with ideas of his own on how to achieve this," produc- ers Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh said in an official news release. "We're thrilled to have him as part of the brain trust." In other changes, the Academy made some adjustments to its rules this year to allow films that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to have a better shot at nominations. This year, films did not have to have a theatrical release to be in contention. The Academy expanded the field to those movies that were available through subscription and video- on-demand services, arguably a necessary step given the hit to movie theater businesses during COVID-19 lockdowns. Also, because the ceremony was post- poned from February to April this year, the eligibility window for films was expanded so that more films would qualify. Producers are keeping with at least one trend as this year's cer- emony will have no host. The Oscars haven't had an official host since Jimmy Kimmel ("Jimmy Kimmel Live!") took the helm in 2018. Presenters and performers for this year's gala had not been announced as of press time, but nominees were announced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas ("Baywatch," 2017) and Nick Jonas ("The Voice") through a global livestream on March 15. The black-and-white film "Mank" (2020) led the list of nominees by a mile with an impressive 10 Oscar nods, includ- ing Gary Oldman for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Amanda Seyfried for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Six films clocked in with six nominations each: "The Father" (2020), "Minari" (2020), "Judas and the Black Messiah" (2021), "Nomadland" (2020), "Sound of Metal" (2019) and "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (2020). All of those films, includ- ing "Mank," are up for the cov- eted Best Picture Oscar along with "Promising Young Woman" (2020). The latter film garnered five nominations, as did "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (2020). Fans may notice more diversity among this year's nominees as well, which may be attributed to the Academy's efforts to encour- age equitable representation in the movie industry and reflect the diversity of audiences through its Academy Aperture 2025 initiative. "Judas and the Black Messiah" is the first Best Picture nominee to have an all- Black production team. Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell also made history as their Best Director nominations mark the first time two women have been nominated in that category in the same year. Other notable firsts include Steven Yeun becoming the first Asian American to be nominated for Best Actor for his work in "Minari" and Riz Ahmed as the first Muslim actor nominated for Best Actor for his part in "Sound of Metal." The late Chadwick Boseman received a nomination for his role in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," making him the first African American to receive a posthumous Best Actor nomina- tion. This is also the first time since 1973 that two Black women have been nominated in the Best Actress category in the same year: Viola Davis for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and Andra Day for "The United States vs. Billie Holiday." YMCA 2 x 2" Pear Tree Gallery 3 x 2" On the Cover A statue of an Academy Award Academy Awards adapt to pandemic protocols Chase Center 3 x 2" American Legion Post 60 2 x 3" Thrifty Muffler 2 x 2.5"

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