Steven Spielberg Speaks Out Against Oscars Pre-Recording Awards

screenrant.com:

Steven Spielberg speaks out about the Motion Picture Academy's recent decision to pre-record the Academy Awards presentations for eight categories prior to the live telecast. Spielberg, of course, is no stranger to Hollywood's Biggest Night, having earned three Oscars in the course of his storied career (two for Schindler's List and one for Saving Private Ryan). This year, his remake of the Broadway musical, West Side Story, has seven nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture.

The Academy recently announced a change to the ceremony format in an effort to cap the show at three hours. Eight categories will be presented an hour prior to the ABC telecast, pre-recorded at the Dolby Theatre and edited into the live program. The eight categories are Best Production Design, Sound, Original Music Score, Makeup and Hairstyling, Film Editing, Documentary Short, Live Action Short, and Animated Short.

Related: Steven Spielberg Just Broke His Own Incredible Oscars Record

But not every filmmaker has been on board with these changes, including Spielberg, whose West Side Story has nominations in Production Design and Sound. In an interview with Deadline, he voiced his disagreement over the Academy's decision, stressing the importance of these positions on the film crew and asserting that "we should all have a seat at the supper table." He said:

“I disagree with the decision made by the executive committee. 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. I feel that at the Academy Awards there is no above the line, there is no below the line. All of us are on the same line bringing the