There’s usually some manner of poster and, increasingly these days, video to remind us all that the Oscars are on their way as awards season barrels towards its conclusion. This year, the Academy and host Ellen DeGeneres have gone with a big, lip-synced production number to get things started. Check out the clip.
The footage features the host leading a dance group down a street to the track The Walker by Fitz And The Tantrums. Her backup dancers eventually form the giant Oscar statuette you can see in the image lower down the page. It was conceived and directed by** T****he Heat**’s Paul Feig, with choreography by Stephen “tWitch” Boss (yes, he really spells it like that).
“I had the best time making this,” said DeGeneres in a statement on the Academy’s site. “I love Paul, I love tWitch, I love Fitz and I like most of the Tantrums.”
“To work with Ellen, tWitch Boss, Allison Holker and 250 amazing dancers to the music of Fitz and The Tantrums to promote the Oscars for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences was an absolute dream come true,” said Feig. “Just typing that sentence made me giddy and exhausted. I’m going to lie down now.”
March 2, 2014 is the date to scribble in your diaries if you want to keep abreast of who wins what on the night itself. Nominations will be announced on January 16 - and as ever, we'll be covering all the run-up to the big night, and the evening itself.