The Academy Awards red carpet is still very much a building site, with the area around the Dolby Theater covered in bubble wrap, exposed cords and holes
As the Academy Awards loom, the production crew is in a mad dash to get everything ready for the glittering event. A night of sparkle and sophistication requires extensive preparation and construction to ensure the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles is up to scratch.
Hollywood is mourning the death of acting great Gene Hackman, who was found dead this week. A number of stars have already paid tribute, and it’s likely he will be included in the Oscars In Memoriam segment this weekend.
But before Tinseltown’s finest can strut their stuff on the red carpet and the Oscars nominees find out if they’ve won, backdrops and decorations need to be set up. But with time running out, it’s not quite the glamorous scene yet.
The Oscars’ red carpet area is currently hidden under a large white tent, lined with huge lights expected to illuminate the stars for eager paparazzi. However, much of the rest seems to be in chaos.
The concrete floor serves as a foundation for hefty black risers, swathed in heaps of tarps and bubble wrap. It seems the plastic covering is safeguarding the iconic red fabric until the perfect moment, while the team works round the clock to get everything ready.
And they’ll need to, given the equipment strewn about, including towering ladders, exposed wires, and rows of forklifts. In one spot, a ladder has even fallen over, right in front of the Oscars backdrop and red carpet presentation stage, reports the Mirror US.
Here, the carpet was revealed, covered in dust, while other areas saw the carpet still rolled up, awaiting its grand unveiling. The remaining walkways looked incomplete, with large gaps and holes indicating there’s still work to be done.
An onlooker reportedly told The Mirror: “It’s in a bit of a rough area to say the least but the celebs are ferried to the entrance by a fleet of cars so they are usually blissfully unaware.”
But last year was different, tainted by protests relating to the Palestine and Israel conflict. There’s chatter about potential disturbances this time too, and the bigwigs definitely want to dodge the scenes of nominees ditching their rides to trek 200meters to the start of the red carpet.
A source disclosed: “It was very embarrassing that they couldn’t ensure the nominees’ safety. Some even arrived late into the auditorium. They will be liaising with the police to have another contingency plan in place should that be needed. There are no indicators of any protests this year but they aren’t taking anything for granted.” And don’t forget the “secret tunnel” which made its first appearance last year. It’s a snug corridor behind the initial stretch of the red carpet, bustling with makeup artists and PR pros who need to stay out of camera shot but close to the celebs.
A source revealed: “The talent need their army of people behind the scenes but crucially out of shot when it comes to the global audience. It’s a claustrophobic little tunnel they can all walk down behind the scenes. It’s certainly very cosy in there but the celebs would rather their flunkeys in there than sharing the limelight.”
The event is scheduled for Sunday, March 2, 2025, with Conan O’Brien taking on hosting duties. The audience can look forward to special performances from Doja Cat, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Lisa of Blackpink, Queen Latifah, and Raye.
Once the red carpet is ready, it will kick off at 6:30 pm ET, hosted by Julianne Hough and Jesse Palmer, followed by the main show as the stars make their grand entrance into the theatre. Celebrities such as Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Amy Poehler, June Squibb and Bowen Yang will be presenting during the show. Fans can also anticipate appearances from Robert Downey Jr, Cillian Murphy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Emma Stone.
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
