Academy Awards Secrets

In 2011 I was given the ultimate opportunity that any former theater kid would kill for. I would be going to L.A. to cover the 83rd Academy Awards. I know many people feel the ceremony to be stuffy or outdated, but my love of the Oscars started when I was a very little girl. 

I never missed the broadcast and Oscar Sunday was holier than Superbowl Sunday in my house. We would watch all of the nominated films (that were age-appropriate, of course) leading up to the broadcast and then day-of we were glued to the TV, catching all of the pre-Oscar action. I lived for the red carpet. I lived for the fashion. And then when the show finally started, no one would dare interrupt me!

There are a few reasons for this. One was because I had dreams of becoming a famous actress. The other was because of my Uncle Fred, whom I worshipped. Sadly we lost him to a major heart attack in 1997. He had gone out to Hollywood when he was in his 20s and had worked his way up to talent manager, working with big names like Geena Davis, Hugh Grant and Willem Dafoe. We would watch the broadcast to see if we could spot him – and we actually did when Geena Davis won her Oscar in 1992. 

So for those reasons and many others, it was a dream come true when I stepped onto the red carpet in 2011, dressed in my blue sequin gown, to report back to our Boston station. And even though I was obsessed with the broadcast and prided myself on being able to rattle off Oscar winners like baseball stats, I learned so much more about this Hollywood tradition. Now, more than 10 years later I’m sharing a few secrets about the Oscars …

It takes weeks to set up the red carpet and Dolby Theater

We arrived five days prior to the ceremony and I don’t know why but I was shocked to see that there were several crews setting up the red carpet. While I didn’t have as good a camera as I do now and I was very new to journalistic photography, I immediately volunteered to visit the Dolby each day to see the progress. 

Planning for the next Oscars starts even before that year’s event takes place

During an interview I produced with Tom Sherak, the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2011, he told us that planning for the next Oscars starts before the current show even takes place. Obviously, they do not know the nominees, but they start brainstorming ideas for sets, show hosts, etc., because, according to Sherak, they wouldn’t have enough time to get it all done if they didn’t. 

The whole of Hollywood  is very aware of what is happening

Because it is a town full of actors, producers, directors, etc., L.A. is very aware that the Oscars are coming up. Let me put on my travel blogger hat for a second and say that unless you are going to L.A., Beverly Hills or Hollywood specifically for the Oscars, you will want to avoid those cities during this time of year because it will be much more expensive to book a hotel. And if you’re looking for a nice hotel, don’t even think about it.

If you’re reporting from the Red Carpet, you have to get there early

The ceremony doesn’t start until 5 pm PST/8 pm EST, but I was up at 6 am to get my hair and makeup done because we had to be dressed, camera ready and on the carpet by 10 a.m. That doesn’t sound that terrible until you realize that most of these reporters are working until at least the start of the actual program, 7 hours later. 

Fans Line up at least a Day Before the Big Event

I always felt special flashing my press credentials each day I would head down to the red carpet to photograph their progress. But my heart was with the fans that I saw standing near the entrance, trying to get a glimpse of the action. And then the day before I actually noticed people had brought tents. Whether they were allowed to stay, I’m not sure but if I lived in the area, that would be me!

I will go back someday

Not really a secret of the Oscars, but rather a promise to myself. I will go back to the Oscars someday, not as an actress but definitely in some professional capacity. Consider this me manifesting my future. 

Will you be watching the Oscars tonight? Who are you rooting for?