|
|
|
Anxiety looms over Oscars The Associated Press
Traditionally a time of celebration, the prospect of strikes by writers and actors, dwindling box-office returns and the shuttering of theaters nationwide has dampened the Oscar euphoria of 2001. "We are scared," said DreamWorks SKG executive Jeffrey Katzenberg. "Anybody who says they're not scared isn't being honest." The entertainment industry's dark economic outlook has created anxiety at the studio, he said, despite its 18 Oscar nominations this year, including 12 for best-picture contender "Gladiator."
The usual revelry has been sidelined by serious concerns "personally, professionally, for our colleagues and families," Katzenberg added. Some industry insiders say discussions about the Oscars frequently start with "Who will win?" but end with "What about the strikes?" "I've heard it another way," said Robert J. Dowling, editor in chief of The Hollywood Reporter. "The conversation starts with 'Do you think we'll have a strike,' and then it ends with, 'Do you think we'll have a strike. ... The topic is really dominating everything." The Oscars, he said, may serve as a morale booster. "There's a lot weighing heavily on the entertainment business, but as we get closer to that night, maybe all of it will be blocked out," Dowling said. After that, however, the industry will still face a period of tremendous upheaval. Hollywood had record domestic revenues of $7.7 billion last year, yet it was the second straight year that attendance fell. The number of moviegoers dropped to 1.42 billion, down 44 million from 1999. Meanwhile, 10 of the nation's largest theater companies have filed for bankruptcy protection since last summer, burdened by debt from constructing improved seating and sound systems. To reduce costs, theater chains plan to close about 200 screens a month over the coming year. Concern about actor and writer walkouts this spring has shaken everyone from top executives to crew workers. The Writers Guild of America's contract ends May 1, while the Screen Actors Guild's expires June 30. Asked about a breakdown in the writer negotiations, Julia Roberts frowned and told reporters at the SAG awards this month that it was too depressing to answer. "Can we have another question?" asked Roberts, a best-actress Oscar nominee for "Erin Brockovich." Others remain optimistic. Two-time Oscar-winner Tom Hanks, nominated this year for "Cast Away," said the potential for a strike has been blown out of proportion by sensationalized rumors. "I don't think that there is going to be a strike," he said. "We have a long time before we even have to think that will happen." Robert Iger, president of Walt Disney Co., said he was confident the industry will put aside its uneasiness Sunday "to celebrate creativity of the highest order." "(Business worries) may be on their minds," Iger said. "But I don't believe there will be a foul air of sorts hanging over the Academy Awards." Disney-owned ABC will broadcast the Oscars. Emanuel Levy, author of "Oscar Fever: The History and Politics of the Academy Awards," said viewers are unlikely to perceive any mournful mood at the show. "A lot of people watch the Oscar telecast as a sort of window to American popular culture," Levy said. "They will be more interested in 'Who is Nicole Kidman's companion?' or 'Will Tom Cruise be all alone?"' More headlines
|
|
ACADEMY AWARDS, OSCAR(S), OSCAR NIGHT, and the OSCAR statuette are the copyrighted property of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. This site is neither endorsed by nor affiliated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Copyright © 2001, Morris Digital Works, Morris Communications Corporation |
