During a press conference Wednesday about what audiences can expect from Sunday’s Oscars TV broadcast, the creative team behind the 95th Academy Awards, including executive producer and showrunner Glenn Weiss, confirmed that Lady Gaga won’t be performing his Oscar-nominated song from “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Hold My Hand.”
The Will Smith factor was also tackled by the creative team, which included executive producer and showrunner Ricky Kirshner, music director Rickey Minor, writers Dave Boone, Nefetari Spencer and Agathe Panaretos, and producer Sarah Levine Hall.
Traditionally, the previous year’s Best Actor winner returns to present the Best Actress award, but Smith, who resigned from the Academy after slapping host Chris Rock, is banned from attending for ten years. . Executive producer Molly McNearney said, “We’ll acknowledge it, and then we’ll move on.” She added: “We don’t want to make this year last year. It’s definitely something we can and will approach in a comedic way.
Kirshner, a new addition to the team, pointed out that this was a new show that was going to be different from what regular viewers are used to. “There’s no more ‘This is what we used to do’. We redesigned the show and we have presenters who make sense for the categories.
The show will cover many themes. Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed Variety last year that all categories will be included in the live broadcast, and this will be evident during the show. Kirshner said this year’s show was about “honoring craftsmanship and what it takes to make a movie.” He added: “Most people only see the actors in front of the camera, but as you know there are hundreds of people making movies and a lot of people across the country don’t know what it takes. , but we will show that.”
Regarding what audiences can expect from the musical aspect, Minor, who served as the show’s last musical director in 2020, said, “As a team, we not only talk about the presentation of the music, but diverse music that is in all those great movies and great writers.
The orchestra will be on stage and featured throughout the show.
In addition to celebrating Hollywood film music and its composers, Minor reiterated that the ceremony will dive into the awards’ 95th anniversary. “It’s a treasure. We have a lot of material to choose from,” he teased.
Weiss took a moment to talk to the show’s production. He said: “We’ve added surround sound and you’re going to find an experience that’s adaptable, immersive and takes on the taste of winners and movies. It will be a visually stunning experience.