LOS ANGELES — The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which represents about 160,000 behind-the-scenes workers in the entertainment industry, has weighed into the backlash against the motion picture academy’s move to cut eight categories from the Oscars broadcast.
IATSE President Matthew Loeb urged the awards show to reverse its plan to no longer have these awards categories — which include film editing, make-up and hairstyling and production design — as part of the live show — a move he suggested further reinforced the poor treatment of crew in Hollywood.
“Behind the scenes, workers get little recognition as is, despite being the backbone of every production,” Loeb said in a statement Monday. “The awards should put all the positions that make pictures possible on equal footing. If the winners walk away with the same trophy, then the winners deserve the same recognition. I urge the Academy to reconsider.”
