Oscars in crisis as Covid runs riot with key nominees out with the virus
THIS weekend’s Oscars are in crisis — with half of the Best Picture films battling Covid scares.
Nominees have dubbed the panic “swab sweat” — as they nervously await two mandatory PCR tests 48 hours ahead of Sunday’s ceremony.
Stars including Lady Gaga, Dame Judi Dench, Will Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch — plus performers Billie Eilish and Beyonce — have been told they will be forced to miss both the prestigious pre-Oscars Governors Ball tomorrow night and the main event 48 hours later should they test positive.
Belfast director and nominee Kenneth Branagh tested positive last weekend and is missing tonight’s Oscar Wilde Awards in LA.
At least four other cast members from other movies, including multi-nominee The Power Of The Dog, have also caught Covid within the past week.
Last night an insider from Hollywood power-brokers United Talent Agency told The Sun: “Everyone is dealing with swab sweat.
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“You get your nose swabbed and then you are sweating on whether the email will land showing you are positive. It is a really anxious time for major stars and nominees especially, knowing this may be their only chance of glory.
“All the events are asking for testing to show LA authorities they are following guidelines and adhering to the ongoing union-agreed coronavirus measures around live broadcasts.
“The socialising at events all week is obviously a major part of the celebrations, but there is a fear that anyone could innocently pick up Covid simply by mixing with an infected person.”
There is “significant concern about a widespread infection”, especially after many attendees at the Bafta Awards and parties two weeks ago caught the disease.
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OSCARS chiefs have done a U-turn by asking West Side Story actress Rachel Zegler to perform at Sunday’s ceremony.
She was upset at not being invited, despite playing the lead in the Steven Spielberg remake of the 1971 classic, which is up for seven gongs.
But now she will sing songs by the late composer Stephen Sondheim during the In Memoriam segment, along- side Leslie Odom Jr, Cynthia Erivo and Ben Platt.
Aside from the main ceremony other events across Los Angeles, including private house parties held by A-listers, are demanding that attendees do an antigen test on arrival to keep others safe.
The tight health policy, which is spreading “the fear of missing out on the biggest night of the Hollywood calendar”, comes as LA health authorities and event organisers double down on safety.
Branagh is currently in isolation in LA hoping he can test negative before Sunday’s show to see whether Belfast takes home the prestigious Best Picture gong.
Cases of the BA.2 subvariant, which spreads 80 per cent faster than Omicron, have more than doubled in the US over two weeks, and it is set to become the dominant variant.
This week White House chief medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci said cases were on the rise.
Masks are once again becoming mandatory indoors in many hotels, bars and indoor spaces, and it is thought serving staff at the event on Sunday will be told to wear them.
While the build-up to the biggest night in the film calendar is always manic, panic is palpably on the rise in Hollywood.
There is also mounting tension behind the scenes after Academy bosses decided to shorten the actual televised ceremony in order to boost ratings. With viewing numbers falling off a cliff in recent years, eight categories will now be pre-recorded.
This week Matthew Loeb, president of film crew union the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, called out the bosses over its “detrimental” plan to pre-tape, saying it wasn’t fair on the little-known members nominated.
He added: “Behind-the-scenes workers get little recognition as is.”
On Wednesday Peter Kurland, a four-time Oscar-nominated sound mixer who sits on the Cinema Audio Society’s board, resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over plans to axe live gongs for categories including Best Sound.
It is the second embarrassing resignation, coming three weeks after Tom Fleischman, an Oscar-winning re-recording mixer, quit.
This year it’s the Best Actress category which is generating the most public interest. Penelope Cruz, Kristen Stewart, Olivia Colman, Jessica Chastain and Nicole Kidman are all battling it out to scoop the coveted gong on the night.
Elton: Beam me in
SIR ELTON JOHN has come up with a way of getting involved with his annual Oscars fund-raising party — despite being hundreds of miles away.
The Sun revealed last month he is having to skip the star-studded charity bash in LA for his Aids foundation due to a schedule clash while on tour.
But the singer will now be beamed in by video link from his concert in Nebraska. And despite missing the Oscars shindig, Elton still plans to celebrate his 75th birthday today at his home in Atlanta, Georgia.
He said: “I’m not usually one to get nostalgic, but 75 is such a milestone.
“I’ll definitely find time today to take stock and thank my lucky stars for my family, friends and career.
“I still love what I do so much — I’m still so energised about music and excited I get to play, listen and talk about this every single day.
“Being back on the road is a blast and the thrill of playing live is as amazing as it was 50 years ago.”
EMBARRASSING RESIGNATION
Beyonce is performing her nominated song Be Alive from King Richard, about Venus and Serena Williams’s father, while Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas will perform No Time To Die from the James Bond film of the same name.
The awards themselves are being hosted by a trio of presenters — Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall. Those attending the Oscars, as well as anyone attending the Academy’s honorary Governors Awards on Friday, will be required to submit two negative PCR tests as well as proof of vaccination.
Presenters and performers at the Oscars will not be required to be vaccinated but will have to show that they have recently tested negative for the virus.
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Members of the media covering the event on the red carpet will have to wear masks, as will attendees inside the Dolby Theatre who are seated outside of the orchestra section.
While the theatre normally holds more than 3,000 people, attendance will be more limited this year, with some seats being removed to provide greater social distancing.
Who will win?
By Dulcie Pearce
Best Director
Will win: The Power Of The Dog
Should win: West Side Story
TWICE-nominated New Zealander Jane Campion is the safest bet for The Power Of The Dog, but Steven Spielberg’s glorious direction of his stunning musical remake deserves the top honour.
Best Actor
Will win: Will Smith
Should win: Benedict Cumberbatch
PLAYING a real person – the dad of tennis’s Williams sisters in King Richard – gives Will an advantage. Benedict’s performance in Power Of The Dog is more enigmatic, though.
Best Actress
Will win: Jessica Chastain
Should win: Jessica Chastain
EVEN though all the nominees this year put in outstanding performances, Chastain’s portrayal of a US televangelist in The Eyes Of Tammy Faye was heavenly.
Best Supporting Actress
Will win: Ariana Debose
Should win: Jessie Buckley
BUCKLEY's portrayal of a young mum in The Lost Daughter was a masterclass. But all-singing, all-dancing Debose will get the gold man for West Side Story.
Best supporting actor
Will win: Troy Kotsur
Should win: Kodi Smit-McPhee
KOTSUR, who was in CODA, is poised to become the first deaf actor to be win an Oscar. Smit-McPhee was just as entrancing in Power Of The Dog.
Best costume
Will win: Cruella
Should win: Cruella
It’s Cruel that this fabulous film wasn’t given a nod in the Best Picture category, as it was simply a joy from start to finish. One thing that can’t be ignored was its punk-rock fashion and breathtaking designs.
