Feb 3, 2009, 14:54 GMT
Los Angeles - The nominees for this year's Oscars were warned to prepare for surprises at the February 22 ceremony as the show's producers look to shake up the awards presentation and reverse a declining viewership.
The warning came Monday at the nominees' traditional pre-award luncheon, where Sidney Ganis - president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the movie awards - told the group of 112 nominees that this year's show would be quite different and would carry 'many, many risks.'
He told the acting nominees that the show's producers had asked him to 'tell them to stay alert' during the award presentations although he did not say exactly for what.
'Your categories are being presented in a completely different way. Heads up,' Ganis said. 'Cinematographers, editors, composers - all of you guys - you're in for a big surprise.'
The major change to the show has already been announced. Instead of choosing a comedian as host, the producers opted for actor Hugh Jackman, whose song and dance ability were expected to play a big role in the telecast. Other reported changes are the scrapping of the monologue and doing away with the traditional presentation style.
The luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel was attended by many of the leading nominees, including actresses Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet, director Danny Boyle and actors Mickey Rourke and Robert Downey Jr.
Missing, however, was the first couple of Hollywood, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, both of whom are nominated for acting Oscars.
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