By LEELA de KRETSER
February 25, 2007
Three maestros of film are expected to unite tonight for the first time to present the Oscar for Best Director - but the question on everyone's lips is will the Academy finally recognize Martin Scorsese?
Hollywood buzzed yesterday with the news that directors Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg would take the stage together to present the statuette, according to a report by Deadline Hollywood Daily. Also presenting tonight will be Al Gore, whose film "An Inconvenient Truth" is nominated in the best documentary category - and performing will be Beyoncé, Celine Dion, James Taylor, Randy Newman and Melissa Etheridge.
In an effort to stem the decline in viewers, organizers have imposed strict limits on speeches this year, hoping to avoid a long-winded ceremony.
Oscar producer Laura Ziskin said she is banking on short acceptance speeches, young stars, music, and comedy from show host Ellen DeGeneres to charge the atmosphere.
"We want to have a big party and a big celebration," Ziskin said.
She said the usual long, boring acceptance speeches in which winners thank talent agents, managers, limo drivers and a bunch of Hollywood insiders wouldn't cut it.
Last year, the Oscars drew 38.8 million viewers in the United States, which marked a three-year low. Ziskin said she has warned nominees that if their speeches go long, music will play, prompting them to leave the stage.
She has installed a camera backstage dubbed the "Thank-You-Cam," where they can thank anyone.
With Post Wire Services
