Jane Campion has become the second filmmaker to speak out publicly about the Academy’s decision to pre-record eight craft categories and present them during the live telecast.
Campion received Saturday night’s Cinematic Imagery Award. It recognizes exceptional production design in theatre, television and commercials. The Oscar-nominated director gave a speech via video. “I want to take this moment to express particularly how important production designers [are] to create any good film. I don’t know what their reasons were, it’s hard for any directors to understand that choice.”
“I would definitely have included design in the main body of the awards because the designer is one of the very first people I bring onto a team. All the work that you do as designers is so vital, and it is really deeply valued by myself and your peers,”She continued.
Campion thanked the group and said, “I have so much respect for you.”
Campion announced that she had contracted COVID during her speech. Campion claimed she didn’t feel sick. “I wouldn’t even know I was ill, the lights went on on my test,”She said.
Del Toro made a call to the Academy earlier in the week and criticized its decision. Before the ceremony, the Academy will present the awards for documentary short and film editing, make-up and hairstyling as well as original score, production design and animated short. Del Toro commented, ”If any year was the year to think about it, this is not the year not to hear their names live at the Oscars. This is the year to sing and do it live.”
Sasha Urban contributed to the story.