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Oscar Producer Says Chadwick Boseman Was Part of the Key Reasons for Switching up Awards Order

Afouda Bamidele
By Afouda Bamidele
May 07, 2021
07:10 A.M.

Oscars executive producer, Steven Soderbergh, has opened up about the events that unfolded during the 93rd Academy Awards. Soderbergh gave insights into the changes seen during the award.

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Following the internet uproar that ensued due to this year's Oscars Award organization, the show's producer, Steven Soderbergh, has spoken about the switches made.

Soderbergh, known for his unpredictable production methods, joined fellow producers Jesse Collins and Stacey Sher to bring this year's Oscars to TV and Movie lovers.

Steven Soderbergh at the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 | Photo: Getty Images

Steven Soderbergh at the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 | Photo: Getty Images

Many changes were effected during the planning and execution stage of the star-studded ceremony, mostly in line with safety precautions for the novel coronavirus.

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However, Soderbergh and his team also perked things up regarding the usual order of awards and programs. There was also a prohibition on Zoom award acceptance speeches.

What caught most people's attention was the switch between the best picture award that usually came last and the leading actor category. This year the latter came last.

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ABC executive Rob Mills also gave his take on the changes.

The "Contagion" producer made it known that the switch was made because he believed that actors' speeches were usually more dramatic than producers'. He added that the late Hollywood star Chadwick Boseman was also a factor.

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Soderbergh pointed out that the plans to switch the awards positions were made before the nomination list came out. However, when he saw Boseman's name in the leading actor category, there was hope that he might win.

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The producer reaffirmed that he did place focus on who the winner might be, but he still made sure Boseman's category came last so there would be provision for his wife to give a speech possibly.

The end of the prestigious event turned out anticlimactic. Anthony Hopkins won the Leading Actor award for his role in "The Father" and was not present to give a speech. Therefore the event ended on an unsettling note.

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ABC executive Rob Mills also gave his take on the changes. He relayed that there was a switch-up of things so the viewers would not have a notion that the show's arrangement was something they had seen before.

During the event, some moments were quite memorable, while others were considered drab. Many were excited for the history-making duo Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson. The pair won the Best Makeup and Hairstyling for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."

This made them the first African-American women to ever win in that category. However, many frowned upon the lack of music, the lack of clips of nominees, and the organization of the In Memoriam segment.

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