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Will Packer has been named producer for the 94th Annual Academy Awards, scheduled for March 27.
This will be the first Oscar show produced by Packer, a prolific producer of numerous films and television projects, including Straight Outta Compton, Ride Along, Girls Trip, the Think like a man movies and the televised remake of Roots, for which he received an Emmy nomination. But his credits don’t include many live TV projects, so facing the Oscars will be a relatively new experience. His many comedy credits give hope that he will also create some fun Oscars.
The Academy is clearly on the hunt for fresh ideas and new directions after the critically-criticized, low-scoring pandemic-hit 2021 telecast produced by the trio of Steven Soderbergh, Stacey Sher and Jesse Collins. Of course, this show’s collapse in ratings, which was postponed until April 25, was not entirely due to the production team, but was deeply affected by a depressed film lineup and the ability same as Pull disabled a live show on the usual scale of Oscar parties. Still, some of their decisions, including the sparse use of little-seen nominee clips, and the disastrous idea of presenting the best film before the lead actor awards were not well received (the producers bet that the late Chadwick Boseman would win for the actor, but when the absent Anthony Hopkins’ name was in the envelope instead it resulted in an anti-climatic and embarrassing finish).
The Academy and broadcast partner ABC, if Covid allows, hope to return to normal in terms of producing a TV show to a full audience at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood – a far cry from the much smaller Union Station setup. where the 93rd Oscars took place just a few months ago. Ratings plunged 56% to 10.4 million viewers, up from 23.6 million before the pandemic for the 92nd Academy Awards. The recent Emmy Awards, however, still leery of the issues presented by the Covid restrictions, resorted to a reduced banquet-style ceremony in a tent above the LA Live parking lot for nominees and their guests only. Emmy ratings are up 16% from an all-time low the year before, so things could slowly improve on the awards front. AMPAS hope so and, with a new team at the helm, just look to the future.
“Will is a powerful producer who has found success in all genres of films! Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a statement. “He’s already bringing boundless energy and a focus on innovation to this year’s Oscars, to entertain the widest range of fans. Many nice surprises to come.
Packer said, “The power, the beauty, the romanticism of imagery in movies has always appealed to me. I fully embrace the challenge of bringing to life an ode to one of the world’s most iconic mediums. honor.”
Craig Erwich, President of Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, added, “There is no one better than Will Packer to celebrate our collective love for cinema. Will is a world class hitmaker and the perfect producer to capture Oscar prestige and deliver a powerful and moving event. “
Packer has produced or produced a wide variety of films which also include Photography, Small, What men want, Night school, Breaking, No good deed, Takers, Obsessed and Hit the court. His television credits include That Girl Lay Lay, Blackballed, Ambitions, Bigger, Being Mary Jane, and Uncle Buck. He is the founder and CEO of film production company Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, a television, digital and branded content company.
Shayla Cowan, Chief of Staff of Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, will co-produce alongside Packer. Cowan manages and oversees all operational activities of both companies, advises on marketing, communications and business strategies, and provides development and production support for the company’s films, television and digital programming. .
It’s not yet clear who, if any, will host the show, but after three Oscar ceremonies without a host, it might be a good idea to see a familiar face again as the MC.
The 94th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 27 at the Dolby Theater at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories around the world.
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