Set Decorators Society of America Condemns Academy Over Oscars Broadcast Cuts: ‘We Are All Diminished by This Action’

variety.com:

J. Kim Murphy The Set Decorators Society of America has penned an open letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expressing its “extreme disappointment” regarding the decision to not broadcast certain categories — best production design, particularly — live during this year’s Oscars ceremony.The letter, addressed to Academy president David Rubin, CEO Dawn Hudson, the AMPAS board executive committee and the AMPAS awards committee, expresses solidarity with other branches that the “Academy has elected to demote from equal recognition” during its upcoming ceremony.“The diminution of these specific awards, which you declare to be ‘the fat in need of trimming’ from the broadcast in order to make it more entertaining, is punitive not only to the individual artists singled out for this treatment, but to entire industries represented by each one, who take enormous pride in their part in the creation of each nominated and winning film in the Academy competition,” the letter reads. “We are all diminished by this action, and infuriated by it.” The SDSA’s letter is attributed to president Gene Serdena, board chairman Chase Helzer and executive director Gene Cane.

The organization stands to promote and celebrate excellence in the craft of set design, preserving the field’s legacy in motions pictures and television.The Academy first confirmed its decision to present several Oscar categories outside of the live March 27 telecast on Feb.

22, via a letter from Rubin that was sent to Academy membership. The letter explained that these awards will instead be given out an hour prior to the on-camera ceremony, with clips from the speeches being incorporated into the telecast.