Behind every Academy Awards ceremony, there’s at least one producer yelling like crazy for at least three hours. This behind-the-scenes video, which comes from a documentary called Inside the Oscars, offers a rare glimpse of the complex production, as one of the show's producers directs the cameras in a TV van while Cuba Gooding Jr. gives his 1997 acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor.
The producer explains that the job requires constant last-second decisions, as he listens closely to the speeches and tries to predict where to point the cameras based on who he thinks the actor will thank. It's a stressful job, with millions and millions of home viewers ready to pounce on any slip-up:
Biggest takeaway: As you watch the 87th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday night, be happy you're watching from the comfort of your couch, and not a crowded production van.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.