IATSE Boss Matthew Loeb Decries “Detrimental” Pre-Taped Oscar Categories: “Behind-The-Scenes Workers Get Little Recognition As Is”

deadline.com:

IASTE president Matthew Loeb pushed back today against the plan to pre-tape several categories in an attempt to tighten up Sunday’s Oscarcast, saying, “We believe a deviation for some crafts and categories but not others is detrimental.”“By the nature of our jobs, behind-the-scenes workers get little recognition as is, despite being the backbone of every production,” Loeb said in a statement. “The Academy Awards has been virtually the only venue where the very best on and off the big screen, above and below the line, gather to honor each other’s incredible contributions through their crafts, inspiring millions who tune into the TV broadcast in the process.

We believe a deviation for some crafts and categories but not others is detrimental to this fundamental purpose.”The Academy announced a month ago that eight Oscar categories will be taped in the audience during the hour before the telecast and edited into the show later.

IATSE represents craft workers in more than half of the affected categories: Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Production Design, Animated Short and Sound.

The others are Original Score, Documentary Short and Live-Action Short.The plan drew criticism from several groups, the Academy’s Music Branch Governor Laura Karpman and at least directors whose films are up for Best Picture: Steven Spielberg, Jane Campion and Denis Villeneuve.