Steven Spielbergis standing beside his fellowAcademy Awardnominees — in all categories.
“I feel very strongly that this is perhaps the most collaborative medium in the world. All of us make movies together, we become a family where one craft is just as indispensable as the next,” said Spielberg, 75, who is up for Best Director forWest Side Story.
“I feel that at the Academy Awards there is no above the line, there is no below the line. All of us areonthe same line bringing the best of us to tell the best stories we possibly can,” he added.
“And that means for me we should all have a seat at the supper table togetherliveat 5,” Spielberg said, referring to the ceremony’s usual 5 p.m. PT start time.
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The categories are Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Animated Short Film, Best Live-Action Short Film and Best Sound.
Spielberg, a 19-time Oscar nominee and three-time winner, told Deadline, “WithoutJohn Williams,Jawswould wear dentures. WithWest Side Story,when Tony is singing ‘Tonight’ with Maria,without(Production Designer)Adam Stockhausenhe would be singing it on a step-ladder and she would be on the scaffolding, all this on an empty soundstage. Without film editing, all my movies wouldstillbe in dailies.”
“We all come together to make magic, and I am sad that we will all not be on live television watching magic happentogether,” he added. “Everybody will have their moment in the limelight. All the winners will be able to be shown with their acceptance speeches, but it’s the idea that we can’t all be there.”
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Rubin emphasized in his Feb. 22 letter that no categories are cut altogether and that the winners will be identified when their moments air during the main broadcast. The decision was made, he said, to “provide more time and opportunity for audience entertainment and engagement through comedy, musical numbers, film clip packages and movie tributes.”
West Side Storyis up for seven Oscarsaside from Spielberg for Best Director, including Best Picture. The longtime filmmaker previously took home Best Director trophies forSchindler’s List(1993) andSaving Private Ryan(1998), as well as the Best Picture Oscar for the former film.
source: people.com
