ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, February 16, 2019
East Oregonian
C3
THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING OSCARS
A week before
showtime, a full-
on revolt
By JAKE COYLE AND
LINDSEY BAHR
AP Film Writers
Would anyone — anyone
at all — like to thank the
academy?
This is normally the time
of year when Oscar hope-
fuls are readying accep-
tance speeches that almost
always begin with a few
words of gratitude for the
Academy of Motion Pic-
tures Arts and Sciences. But
that sentiment has been hard
to come by in the torturous
and troubled lead-up to the
91st Academy Awards.
After a litany of pub-
lic-relations disasters, back-
tracks and missteps, the
latest dust-up surrounds
the film academy’s plans
to remove four categories
from the live portion of Feb.
24’s broadcast, including
cinematography and edit-
ing, arguably the two most
foundational components
of moviemaking. The acad-
emy, desperate to reverse
sliding ratings, says a short-
ened show must go on.
On Wednesday eve-
ning, dozens of Hollywood
heavyweights — including
Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee,
Brad Pitt, cinematographer
Roger Deakins and director
Damien Chazelle — issued
an open-letter to the acade-
my’s leadership blasting the
decision to not air the four
awards, which also include
live-action short and hair-
styling and makeup, live on
the ABC telecast.
“Relegating these essen-
tial cinematic crafts to
lesser status in this 91st
Academy Awards cere-
Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision
Oscar statuettes appear backstage at the 2017 Oscars in Los Angeles.
mony is nothing less than
an insult to those of us who
have devoted our lives and
passions to our chosen pro-
fession,” the group wrote.
“When the recognition of
those responsible for the cre-
ation of outstanding cinema
is being diminished by the
very institution whose pur-
pose it is to protect it, then
we are no longer upholding
the spirit of the Academy’s
promise to celebrate film as
a collaborative art form.”
The academy responded
with a letter of its own,
blaming “inaccurate report-
ing and social media posts”
for “a chain of misinforma-
tion.” Signed by academy
president John Bailey, a cin-
ematographer, and other
officers from the academy’s
board of governors, the let-
ter sought to assure mem-
bers that the four winning
speeches will be included in
the broadcast (just not live,
or with a walk to the stage)
and that in future years, four
to six different categories
will be similarly truncated.
After years of #Oscar-
SoWhite backlash, one infa-
mous envelope mix-up and
the reckoning that followed
the expulsion of Harvey
Weinstein from the acad-
emy, this year’s Academy
Awards drama has been
self-inflicted. In response
to last year’s all-time low
of 26.5 million viewers, the
Oscars — the grandest and
most glamorous award show
ever created — are shrink-
ing. And nobody likes it.
“People in general have
a hard time with change.
Change is sometimes hard
to swallow. And I think the
way that the news came out,
it came out in the wrong
way,” says Mary Zophres,
one of the 54 members of
the board of governors and
a costume designer nom-
inated this year for “The
Ballad of Buster Scruggs.”
‘’But there is a need to make
sure that the ratings are
competitive.”
The academy’s head-
aches began after it last
summer trotted out the
induction of a “popular film
Oscar.” The plan sparked
such outrage (Rob Lowe
pronounced the film indus-
try dead, “survived by
sequels, tent-poles and ver-
tical integration”) that the
new award was scuttled
within a month.
Then
Kevin
Hart
announced, himself, that
he was hosting this year’s
awards. When many took
issue with his old homopho-
bic tweets, the comedian
initially “chose to pass on
the apology,” inflaming the
backlash. Within hours,
he withdrew as host and,
finally supplied an apology
to the LGBTQ community.
The Oscars are now host-
less for only the fifth time in
its 91-year history. The most
recent, in 1989, resulted in
an infamous duet between
Snow White and Rob Lowe.
Other plans to tweak tra-
dition also backfired. After
first planning to limit the
best song nominee perfor-
mances, the academy con-
firmed that all songs will
indeed be performed. “They
made the right decision to
include all the songs,” said
Diane Warren, a nominee
for the “RBG” song “I’ll
Fight.” “It wouldn’t be fair to
just have two songs. That’s
basically saying those other
songs don’t matter.”
Some have blamed ABC,
which owns the Oscar
broadcast rights for the next
decade, for pressuring the
academy into some of these
measures. ABC declined to
comment.
Still,
the
negative
response from prominent
academy members was
more than the academy’s
leadership was expecting.
Alfonso Cuaron, who’s
nominated for four Oscars
including best cinematog-
raphy, has been among the
most vocal critics, declar-
ing: “No one single film has
ever existed without CINE-
MAtography and editing.”
Guillermo del Toro, whose
“The Shape of Water” won
best picture and best direc-
tor at last year’s ceremony,
said cinematography and
editing “are cinema itself.”
“I don’t like it. I don’t
think that’s a cool deal. I’m
an artist so I believe we’ve
all worked really hard,
we’ve nurtured our gifts
and we should all be able
to celebrate them with the
world,” says Regina King,
a nominee for best support-
ing actress. “It just doesn’t
seem like 15 minutes is
gonna make that big of a
difference.”
But the academy is insis-
tent on getting the normally
four hour-plus telecast down
to three hours. Ratings
for all award shows have
declined in recent years, but
it remains to be seen whether
a shorter show will have any
effect on larger viewing
habit transformations.
WHAT TO DO
FESTIVALS
Prestige Wrestling: Tower of
Snakes
•Friday, Feb. 22; 7-11 p.m.
www.prestigewrestling.net
•Eastern Oregon Trade and
Event Center, 1705 Airport Road,
Hermiston
$15-$50. Features King Khash,
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Simon
Grimm, DJZ, Sonico, No Lives Mat-
ter, Team C4, Mike Santiago, Julian
Whyt and more to be announced.
ART, MUSEUMS & AUTHORS
Raven Chacon
•Sunday, Feb. 17; 5-7 p.m.
•Crow’s Shadow Institute of
the Arts, 48004 St Andrews Road,
Mission
www.crowsshadow.org
$10/suggested donation (no
one will be turned away). The art-
ist-composer-performer will pres-
ent prints made during an art-
ist-in-residence, as well as present
a matinee performance of a newly
commissioned composition. Mem-
bers of the Nixyaawii Community
School Drum Circle also will per-
form. Reception follows.
“On the Tip of my Tongue”
•Tuesday-Fridays,
10 a.m.-4 p.m.;
Saturdays,
noon-4 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the Arts,
214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free. Features the collage art-
work of Cory Peeke, professor of
art at Eastern Oregon University
and director of Nightingale Gal-
lery. Also, latest work by Emily Tay-
lor Cress is displayed in the Loren-
zen Board Room Gallery. Runs
through March 2.
“ArtWORKZ Junior Art Show
& Competition”
•Monday-Saturdays;
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
•Tamástslikt Cultural Institute,
near Wildhorse Resort & Casino.
www.tamastslikt.org
$10/adults, $9/seniors, $7/
youths & students. Youths through
age 18 compete for awards.
Awards presentation is March 9 at
1 p.m. Exhibit runs through March
30. (Randy Melton, 541-429-7720).
“History in Photos from Wal-
lowa County”
•Monday through Saturdays;
noon-4 p.m.
•Josephy Center for Arts and
Culture, 403 N. Main St., Joseph
www.josephy.org
Free. Highlights historical pho-
tos and photographers in Wal-
lowa County. Runs through Feb.
25.
“How it Looks on Paper”
•Monday-Thursdays,
9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
•Betty Feves Memorial Gal-
lery, BMCC, 2411 N.W. Carden Ave.,
Pendleton.
Free. Features the work of
Marie Noorani, who both creates
and destroys as she takes apart
and reassembles each piece. Gal-
lery also open by appointment by
calling 541-278-5952. Runs Feb. 18
through March 14. Artist recep-
tion is Thursday, March 14 from
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Expertease
•Friday, March 1; Saturday, March 2;
8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wildhorse
Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission.
NIGHT LIFE
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Saturdays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501 Sixth St.,
Umatilla
Thirsty Thursdays
•Third Thursday; 6 p.m.
•Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N. First
St., Hermiston
No cover. Hosts a local brewery
offering tastings and food pairings.
LOL Comedy Jam
•Thursdays; 8 p.m.
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit
216, Mission.
BRIEFLY
Chacon creates prints during
artist residency
MISSION — People are invited to see the lat-
est creative works of composer-performer-artist
Raven Chacon.
The Navajo Nation man has been working
with Judith Baumann, master printer at Crow’s
Shadow Institute of the Arts. Leading up to
the world premier of a commissioned piece
by Crow’s Shadow and the Oregon East Sym-
phony, Chacon has been participating in an art-
ist-in-residence. The fine arts prints are based
on his unique compositional notations.
The public can view Chacon’s work, as well
as hear a matinee performance of the commis-
sioned piece. The event is Sunday at at 1 p.m. at
Crow’s Shadow, 48004 St Andrews Road, Mis-
sion. Members of the Nixyaawii Community
School drum circle also will perform. There is a
suggested donation of $10. However, marketing
director Nika Blasser said no one will be turned
away.
Chacon is the recipient of the United States
Artists fellowship in music, The Creative Capital
award in visual arts, The Native Arts and Cul-
tures Foundation artist fellowship and the Amer-
ican Academy’s Berlin Prize for music composi-
tion. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
MUSIC
Winter Chamber Music Festival
•Saturday, Feb. 16; 6:30 p.m.
•Vert Club Room, 345 S.W.
Fourth St., Pendleton
www.oregoneastsymphony.org
$25/general admission. Pre-
sented by the Oregon East Sym-
phony, program features the pre-
miere of a new work by Raven
Chacon. (tickets also available via
www.brownpapertickets.com).
Harmonious Funk
•Saturday, Feb. 16; 8 p.m. No
cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit
216, Mission.
Megs McLean
•Friday, Feb. 22; Saturday, Feb.
23; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit
216, Mission.
For more information, contact Blasser at
541-276-3954, nika@crowsshadow.org or
visit www.crowsshadow.org. For more about
Chacon, go to www.spiderwebsinthesky.com.
Woolery Project event wrangles
in Harms Way Band
PENDLETON — A Country Music Expe-
rience is set as a benefit event for The Wool-
ery Project.
Featuring Jodi Harms, the singer-song-
writer will offer people a chance to kick up
their heels. Taking the stage with the western
entertainer is the Harms Way Band, who will
provide live music for listening and dancing.
The Country Cowboy Experience kicks off
with a chuckwagon dinner Saturday, March
2 at 5:30 p.m. in the Let’er Buck Room at the
Pendleton Round-Up Grounds, 1205 S.W.
Court Ave. The music starts at 6:30 p.m. In
addition, there will be a no-host bar. Tickets
are $40 and are available at www.eventbrite.
com.
The Woolery Project is raising money for a
nonprofit event center in Arlington. For more
information, contact info@thewooleryproject-
inc.org or search Facebook.
Saturday Night Trivia
•Saturdays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N. First
St., Hermiston
Free. Show what you know for
fun and prizes.
Wino Wednesdays
•Wednesdays, 2-6 p.m.
•Echo Ridge Cellars, 551 N. Thiel-
sen St., Echo
Karaoke at the Packard
•1st/3rd
Wednesday,
9 p.m.-midnight
•The Packard Tavern, 118 S.E.
Court Ave., Pendleton
No cover.
Wine Wednesday
•Wednesday, Feb. 13, 5-7 p.m.
•The Gathering Place at Bell-
inger’s, 1823 S. Highway 395,
Hermiston
No cover. Features tasting and
music.
No cover. Feb. 21: Todd John-
son, Matt Erikson; Feb. 28: Monica
Nevi, Mike Coletta
Wine tasting
•Fridays, 4-8 p.m.
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W. Main
St., Echo.
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Fridays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501 Sixth
St., Umatilla
DJ and dancing
•Fridays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main St.,
Hermiston
Karaoke
•Fridays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Tavern, 1750 N. First
St., Hermiston
Cimmi’s Late Night Martini
Lounge
•Fridays; 9 p.m.-midnight
•Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s, 137 S.
Main St., Pendleton
No cover. Features martinis,
mixology and music.
THEATER, STAGE, FILM &
LECTURES
Sensory Friendly Movie
•Saturday, Feb. 16; 10:30 a.m.
•Hermiston Stadium 8 Cinema,
355 W. Theater Lane
w w w.w w w. fa ce b o o k . co m /
arcofumatillacounty
$5.50. In conjunction with
The Arc Umatilla County, senso-
ry-friendly screenings with lights
up a little and volume down.
Doors open at 10 a.m. “LEGO
Movie 2: The Second Part.”
“The House With A Clock In
Its Walls”
•Saturday, Feb. 16; 2:15 p.m.
•SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road,
Boardman
www.visitsage.com
$3/person. Children must be
accompanied by an adult. View
movie and receive free bag of
popcorn with admission. Water is
available for purchase.
“Renegotiation of the Colum-
bia River Treaty”
•Wednesday, Feb. 20, 6:45 p.m.
•Echo VFW Hall, 210 W. Bridge
St.
Free. Craig Reeder will share
about the importance of water
and the upcoming discussions to
take place about the treaty. The
Echo Kiwanis are hosting a lasa-
gna dinner at 6 p.m. for $5. (RSVP
by texting 541-379-6992). People
do not have to eat to attend the
presentation.
First Draft Writers’ Series
•Thursday, Feb. 21; 7 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the Arts,
214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free. Features Barbara Drake
(retired creative writing professor
at Linfield College) and Monica
Drake (currently teaches at Pacific
Northwest College of Art), moth-
er-daughter writers. Following the
headliner readings, there will be
short open mic sessions for audi-
ence members.
HOT TICKETS
•The Rolling Stones. No Filter
Tour. May 22, CenturyLink Field,
Seattle. Tickets ($94-$494+) via
www.ticketmaster.com
•Jackalope Jamboree. June
29, Happy Canyon Arena, Pendle-
ton. Early bird tickets ($35-$55+)
via www.brownpapertickets.com
———
Want to get your event listed in
our calendar? Send information to
community@eastoregonian.com,
or c/o Tammy Malgesini, 333 E. Main
Street, Hermiston, OR, 97838.