Under A New CEO, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Is Bringing Change To The Oscars
AMPAS
In a recent roundtable conversation with the press, newly appointed Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) CEO Bill Kramer made it clear that the 2023 Oscars will look towards the future and make corrections to the errors of the past. Since assuming the position in early June, Kramer has restated the AMPAS's commitment to continuing diversity and inclusion efforts. Bill Kramer also discussed the Academy's finances, inclusion standards, and ratings.
In response to years of low Oscars ratings, Kramer committed to changing that by making the entirety of the Oscars be televised live and ensuring that 2023 will have a host and a change in producers. His reasoning for this is citing the ratings success of the 2009 Oscars produced by Bill Condon and Laurence Mark and hosted by Hugh Jackman. Kramer believes that the Oscars should remain a live television event and promises to recruit producers with expertise in that area. Oscars with hosts have shown to have higher viewings than those without, thus, in Kramer’s opinion, it is imperative for the 2023 Oscars and future ceremonies to have a proper emcee.
Inclusion is also a goal Kramer has set his eyes on improving within AMPAS. For starters, Kramer wishes for all 23 Oscar categories to be televised live in direct opposition to the unpopular decision of the 94th Oscars to pre-tape the winners’ announcements in eight categories off the air and edit them into the ceremony. Kramer also encouraged the industry to incorporate the Aperture 2025 mandate’s representation and inclusion standards that the Academy previously dragged its feet on. He wishes onerous or punitive decisions to be nonexistent and, instead, strive for collaboration. He was pleased to announce that the Best Picture nominees of 2023 all qualify under Aperture 2025’s standards.
Another change to the inclusion standards for the 2023 Oscars was AMPAS restoring a version of its longstanding requirement for movies needing to be released into theaters to be eligible. Kramer intends to continue that rule in the future regardless of the health of theatrical releases. However, Kramer also acknowledged one exception to that rule, allowing Searchlight’s Sundance acquisition Good Luck to You, Leo Grande to qualify for Oscar consideration despite premiering directly through Hulu in June. This exception is from an agreement of the previous AMPAS administration.
On top of conducting plans to boost ratings and inclusion, Kramer moved to make the Oscars more profitable. He explains that there will be a close partnership with ABC to bring in big-name sponsors to increase ad sales connected to both the pre-show and the live ceremony. Kramer cited the watch company Rolex as an example; a partnership started during a fundraising event in 2013 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures where Kramer was once in charge. That past encounter has developed into a full-blown sponsorship of Rolex towards the Oscars and more AMPAS activities.
In short, Bill Kramer’s approach to the Oscars seems to cater to the audience while also laying the groundwork for future of the ceremonies.