Proposed Oscar Changes Are an 'Insult,' Say Directors and Cinematographers

Another day, another Oscar controversy. But this time, will the academy budge?

That’s the question many in Hollywood are asking after the Oscars announced that in a bid to shorten the length of the Feb. 24 show, the winners in four categories will be rewarded during commercial breaks, then their acceptance speeches will be edited into a montage shown later in the broadcast.

The affected categories are cinematography, editing, live-action short film, and makeup and hairstyling, and the decision to change the way they are presented has roiled the industry in the days leading up to what is supposed to be Hollywood’s most celebratory night.

The American Society of Cinematographers issued a stinging critique Wednesday in the form of an open letter signed by dozens of industry figures, including Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino, as well as some of the nominees in the affected categories, like “Never Look Away” cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and “Bohemian Rhapsody” editor John Ottman.

“Relegating these essential cinematic crafts to lesser status in this 91st Academy Awards ceremony is nothing less than an insult to those of us who have devoted our lives and passions to our chosen profession,” said the letter. “We consider this abbreviation and potential censorship to run contrary to the spirit of the academy’s mission.”

The cinematographers’ letter concluded by quoting a sarcastic rebuke tweeted by actor-director Seth Rogen: “What better way to celebrate achievements in film than to not publicly honor the people whose job it is to literally film things.”

In an attempt to contain the growing controversy, the academy issued its own letter Wednesday, blaming the bad buzz on “inaccurate reporting and social media posts” that have set off “a chain of misinformation that has understandably upset many academy members.”

The letter revealed that the four categories selected for the commercial-break treatment were all volunteered by their branches — academy President John Bailey, who signed the letter, is a veteran cinematographer — and reiterated that the categories would not be eliminated from the show but rather broadcast later in truncated form.

“No award category at the 91st Oscars ceremony will be presented in a manner that depicts the achievements of its nominees and winners as less than any others,” the academy wrote.

Still, many in the industry remain skeptical. The academy has assured nominees that the four-category edit will mostly eliminate the time winners spend walking up to the stage, but producers have reserved the right to shorten their speeches, too, if those winners use that time to read from a rote list of thank-yous.

Others wonder if Bailey was eager to trim the cinematography category because it will probably be won by Alfonso Cuarón, the “Roma” auteur who also served as his own director of photography. Cuarón may dominate the Oscar broadcast with multiple acceptance speeches if, as pundits are predicting, his film prevails in the races for director, foreign-language film and best picture.

“I would not presume to suggest what categories should occur during commercials on Oscars night,” tweeted Cuarón’s close friend Guillermo del Toro, whose film “The Shape of Water” won multiple Oscars last year, “but, please: Cinematography & Editing are at the very heart of our craft.”

Spike Lee, whose “BlacKkKlansman” is up for an editing Oscar, also criticized the decision while appearing on the “Today” show Wednesday. “I hate it, hate it, hate it,” Lee told host Al Roker. “Without my cinematographer, editor, hair and makeup, there’s no movie,” Lee said, accusing the academy of “doin’ ’em dirty.”

Will the movie organization change its mind? “The vocal response from our peers and the immediate backlash from industry leaders over the academy’s decision makes it clear that it’s not too late to have this decision reversed,” the American Society of Cinematographers wrote.

Still, while the academy has reneged on other proposed changes this year, including the addition of a popular-film award and fewer musical performances, producers are under pressure to lock down the telecast with little more than a week before air and no host to guide the proceedings. In the letter meant to reassure Oscar voters, the officers of the academy even indicated that more races may be affected next year.

“In future years, four to six different categories may be selected for rotation,” the letter said.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.