|
The Man Who Puts on the Show
With Gil Cates
Producer, 73rd Annual Academy Awards Telecast
Thursday, March 8, 2001; 2 p.m. EST
The Academy Awards telecast is one of the most watched television events worldwide. This year's program, Sunday, March 25 at 8 pm. EST/5 p.m. PST, will be hosted by Steve Martin and is the 10th time it has been produced by award-wining producer/director Gil Cates. He's the "man behind the curtain." Cates has set the record for the most Oscar shows produced and has the highest number of Emmy Award nominations for his presentations.
What goes into putting on a show like this? How is it all coordinated? What does the producer do to make it all work?
Cates has also produced and directed for film, Broadway and other theatrical venues as well as television. He holds the Syracuse University Chancellor's Medal for his distinguished service in the theater and is also a recipient of the NAACP Image Award as Television Producer of the Year and the Christopher Award for "I Never Sang for My Father."
He will be online to take your questions and comments Thursday, March 8, at 2 p.m. EST.
A transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
D.C.:
Yo! What can you tell us about a possible appearance/performance, either in person or otherwise, by Bob Dylan at this year's show?? I know he has shows scheduled in Australia at the time, but rumors abound. Thanks!
Gil Cates: We are in final negotiations with Bob Dylan to present him on the Academy Awards show via satellite. He is touring in Japan and Australia and the tour was set several months ago and he can't get out of it, so we're gonna try to work it out where we satellite him.
Chicago:
As producer, how much voice do you have in setting the program and picking the host?
Gil Cates: The producer selects the host with the approval of the Academy and the network.
Arlington, Va.:
Gil,
What is being done to protect Russell Crowe at this year's ceremonies?
Gil Cates: The Academy Awards security is very good and all our presenters/nominees and audience are in good hands.
Muskegon Heights, Mich.:
What aspect of the show best features what we love most about the movies?
Gil Cates: I think the film packages that we put together present major movie moments that we can see nowhere else.
DMM in D.C.:
The awards show typically spends a lot of time on things other than presenting awards, which I suppose is meant to make the show more "interesting" to the viewer, but then it seems that EVERY year time runs out and the recipients of the top awards are not allowed to give more than a 5 second thank you speech before they are rudely cut off (while some people earlier in the show are allowed to ramble on and on).
It is an awards show after all, not a variety hour. Can you plan it so there is less fluff taking up valuable time (in that line, THANK YOU for getting rid of those awful dance numbers a few years back!).
Gil Cates: Each Academy Award winner has 45 second to complete their thank you. In my knowledge, no one has been cut off before 45 seconds. I appreciate your comments and am eager to hear what you feel about this year's show.
Rosslyn, Va.:
I am sure you'll get asked this question over and over... but is it possible to move the show along any quicker? Remove a couple of the musical numbers? Anything? After seeing the Grammy's this year - I'm ready to tape the Academy Awards and just watch them the next day so I can fast forward through all the commercials (the grammy's had 1 award, 1 performance and then 3 mins of commercials).
I love watching the show but cutting it down to 3 hours would be such a blessing and make it more enjoyable!
Gil Cates: I think if the show were three hours long, only the awards and commercials would be left. While some folks might like that, I think spreading the awards and including the "entertainment" pieces, make the show seem lighter and breezier. Tell me what you think after this year's show.
Muskegon Heights, Mich.:
What is the chance the best song nominees will be eliminated from the show and feature more MOVIES?
Gil Cates: None.
The Oscars:
What can we expect from the ceremony this year? Will it be over by midnight?
Gil Cates: I hope the show will be at least 15 minutes shorter than last year's.
Laurel, Md.:
Hi,
One thing I just can't understand, is when I watch the Oscars, I want to see actors, and film clips and maybe even bloopers. What I get is dance routines and singing. Last year I thought I was watching the Grammy Awards.
The five nominated songs usually get sung. That's about 15 minutes, 12 minutes going to LOSING songs. And sometimes, those songs only play during the closing credits or in the beginning of a film.
Then an Oscar WINNER takes the stage, and gets pushed off after 45 seconds. Why not let them speak? And why so much emphasis on songs?
Gil Cates: Some people like speeches, some people like songs, some people like dances, most people like film clips and most people like to see stars. I try to balance all of these elements as best I can. I'd be curious what you think of this year's show.
Arlington, Va.:
Did you not use Whoopi this year because she was too "blue"? Does using Steve Martin mean you're going back to when Johnny Carson ran the show as a kind of eminence grise? Or is that you? Congratulations on daughter Phoebe. she seems to have married well.
Gil Cates: My answer is Phoebe is my niece. Thank you for the nice words. Neither Billy or Whoopi were available this year. I love Steve Martin and asked him to do the show once before, but he was not available. I'm happy he's doing it this year.
Gil Cates: I have to go back to work now. There are many things I have to figure out ... How to make the show shorter, funnier and please everyone that e-mailed me. Have a great day. Your humble servant, Gil.
washingtonpost.com:
You can e-mail Gil Cates at www.oscars.com.
Automatically Update Page
|
Get New Responses
|
Submit Question
© Copyright 2001 The Washington Post Company | 
