If you only know Brentwood native Adam Shankman from his work as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, you don’t really know him. The selfproclaimed workaholic has directed and produced box-office hits, including Bedtime Stories, Bringing Down the House and the remake of Hairspray. He’s a top choreographer, having worked on more than 35 films, and he even danced onstage at the Academy Awards 20 years ago. He’s heading back to the Oscars this year, but this time it’s in the role of coproducer.
BEN LYONS: You told me with this awards show, you were going to do it your way.
ADAM SHANKMAN: I am. You don’t usually hear about the show until afterward, when they criticize it. There’s no anticipation of the actual show. I’m calling a spade a spade—aside from sports obviously, it’s the biggest reality-competition show on the air.
BL: That’s how you look at it?
AS: Well it is! You have winners and losers and people competing.
BL: Is the show going to be four hours long?
AS: No, it will be three. I’ve watched hundreds of hours of Oscar broadcasts; we’re not reinventing the wheel here—it’s still the Oscars. We’re using the two-host format to tighten things up, and the walking time after introductions is going to be drastically cut. There are the Governor’s Awards now, so all the honorary awards are off the show. It’s just the pure 24 awards now. What’s really a challenge is keeping everyone in that room engaged when halfway through the show it’s a roomful of losers. They’re cranky.
BL: I’m glad all the technical awards are still included in the main broadcast, because while people might not be familiar with these nominees, they know their work, and it’s the one time they are recognized on a big stage.
AS: We are trying to educate people on these lesser-known categories with an online campaign. We’re doing some behind-the-scenes promotions with those nominees so people can get to know them, because if you don’t know them, how can you root for them?
BL: Where will you be during the actual show?
AS: I want to be back with the writers, tracking how the show is going and making sure the jokes are going properly. There are 12 or 13 acts in the show, and the big goal is keeping a high volume of entertainment, anticipation and story in every act.
BL: Are you nervous?
AS: Of course. I just want to get it right. I don’t want mess it up for everybody. The Oscars has relit a fire in me. It’s incredibly exhilarating. It’s one shot, and you have to get it right.
