A lengthy list of leading filmmakers are blasting the Organizers of the Oscar awards for plans to present four awards categories at the upcoming 91st Oscars during commercial breaks. The filmmakers describe the decision as “nothing less than an insult to those who have devoted their lives and passions to their chosen profession.”
They are calling for the Academy to reverse its decision. Their remarks are part of an open letter that has been signed by such directors as Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese and Russell Crowe and a host of other prominent figures.
The Academy had emailed members on Monday that in order to keep the show down to three hours, they would be presenting four awards during commercial breaks. Their winning speeches would then be aired later in the broadcast in edited form.
This is not the first controversy over this year’s Oscars. The Academy announced plans to introduce a new popular film category but decided to postpone it after a backlash. Kevin Hart pulled out of hosting the awards following a controversy over homophobic tweets. The show, which comes up on Sunday, the twenty-fourth of February will now have no host.
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