admincarry the Oscar trophies so the stars can present them?
They were replaced this year by aspiring filmmakers. Six college students from across the United States won a contest to help present the Oscar statuettes. Among the winners was University of California student Tatenda Mbudzi. The producers had to tell Mbudzi five times before the news of his selection finally sank in.
“This tradition of the buxom babe that comes out and brings the trophy to the presenter to give to the winner seemed to be very antiquated and kind of sexist, too,” said Neil Meron, co-producer of this year’s Academy Awards.
“They’re just there to be objectified. We thought why can’t we have people who actually care about film and are the future of film as the trophy presenters?”
So he and co-producer Craig Zadan developed a contest directed at college students that asked: “How will you contribute to the future of film?”
More than 1 100 students submitted essays and videos, and six were chosen. The winning students each turned in an essay and a 30-second video about their aims in the film industry, and all said the opportunity to appear on the Oscar show is life-changing.
Mbudzi said: “The producers of the show said ‘How would you like to be on the Oscars? What would that feel like if we told you that?’ And I was like ‘that would feel great’. They had to tell me five times before it really sank in. I’ve always loved entertainment; I guess I’m doing okay so far.”
An audience of over 40 million people watched Mbudzi – whose mum, sister and brother stayed up all night – and five other students being introduced during the Oscars show. The lucky six were each given a makeover and formal tuxedo for the event.
Meron said he hopes the student-presenters become an annual Oscar tradition.
“There’s a legacy that we bring. And if we never do the show again, we would love for this to continue,” he said. – New Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter