I was fascinated and curious regarding what was actual, physical set and what was video wall. All the sets looked fantastic in HD, but I kept thinking the stage (especially the 'lobby/foyer' set with the chandeliers) couldn't possibly be as deep as it appeared to be. Very well done!

RippedMan

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joined:8/14/05

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Prettiest Oscars? #7
Posted: 3/5/18 at 1:02pm

Exactly gorgeous use of a video screen. I loved when they layered and made it look expansive. And how they used the elevator lift for the Call Me By Your Name song, etc. It was just all very well done. I don't remember the Oscars ever looking so glam.

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joined:11/19/05

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Prettiest Oscars? #8
Posted: 3/5/18 at 1:26pm

^Really? It's mostly looked the same for the past 6 years that McLane has designed it...

RippedMan

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joined:8/14/05

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Prettiest Oscars? #9
Posted: 3/6/18 at 5:10pm

Really? I guess it just made more of an impression this year.

John Adams

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joined:4/1/13

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Prettiest Oscars? #10
Posted: 3/7/18 at 10:39am

Tag said: "^Really? It's mostly looked the same for the past 6 years that McLane has designed it..."

Well, I'll bite... Curious to know what elements beyond the permanent, structural characteristics of the stage and the proscenium arch you found to be "the same".

2016 Oscars Designs

2017 Oscars Designs

2018 Oscars Designs

Someone in a Tree2

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joined:10/9/12

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Prettiest Oscars? #11
Posted: 3/11/18 at 10:42am

So glad this year's sets made the rest of you happy. I'll be the naysayer here-- I thought Derek brought class and elegance to the past several seasons of Oscar shows, but this year seemed to me like a wet dream from some failed Trump Casino, all baroque ostentation and bad fake Beauty and the Beast architecture, and very little elegance. Hated that monstrous faceted portal that put the whole show in a tacky crystal cave, and I pitied any actress who had to thread her way through that hideous porcupine tunnel without snagging her gown.

The only exceptions were the stunningly simple sets and images for the beautiful nominated song presentations-- those sequences were hands down the most moving series of song performances I can remember in many many years of Oscar watching. I actually greatly enjoyed the show this year (and my favorite movie won, which helps), but I squawked horrified shrieks to my honey each time a new set piece was revealed.

Derek is a brilliant designer and I can't wait to see how he reconceives the look of the show in 2019.

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