Tom Cross and Elliot Graham, who have received BAFTA award for the movie ‘No Time to Die’, have slammed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for removing eight categories from the live broadcast, including film editing.
Even though the ‘No Time to Die’ move hasn’t been nominated for best film editing at the Oscars, the duo claimed during the BAFTA winners press conference that they were dissatisfied with the Academy’s decision to eliminate craft categories from its live awards show.
Cross said, in response to a query on the Academy’s decision, “I’m delighted you brought it up. Speaking for myself, I’m not a fan of it. I believe it taints the entire process, and that is not, in my opinion, what the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is all about. I consider myself fortunate to have previously gone, and I believe that every Academy statue is gold. It’s neither silver nor bronze. All of those nominations, all of those folks, have earned the right to speak up in the same way that the rest of us have.”
Graham continued, “Agreeing to this, “It’s now our turn to say, “That’s not acceptable.” I always wanted to be a member of the Academy, and my wish was granted. I believe it is messed up. And I believe they should consider it.”
Apart from these two, Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Doug Hemphill, Theo Green, and Ron Bartlett, who all won a BAFTA for best sound for ‘Dune’ and are now in the hunt for an Oscar later this month, have also slammed the decision.
For the uninitiated, the Academy, in a letter to Academy members in February revealed that it will present many Oscar categories outside of the live March 27 programme. The letter was sent by the Academy president David Rubin.
Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Animated Short Film, Best Live-Action Short Film, and Best Sound are among the categories that have been impacted.
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