For Oscar nominees like Demi Moore and James Mangold, recognition amid the L.A. wildfires brings ‘deep humility’

As Oscar contenders woke up to exciting news, with nominations for the 97th Academy Awards announced Thursday morning, many were still dealing with the devastating wildfires that have consumed many neighborhoods across Los Angeles County.

“Life has been full of contrast with all that’s been going on, such incredible highs and devastating lows,” Demi Moore, who was nominated as Best Actress for her role in body-horror film The Substance, told Variety.

“Last night a new fire broke out in Los Angeles, and I was on alert all night because it wasn’t that far from us,” she added. “I’m feeling some deep humility on many, many levels.”

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Kris Bowers, who is nominated for Best Original Score for animated film The Wild Robot and who took home the Oscar last year for Best Documentary Short Film for The Last Repair Shop, said he was safe despite the fires that displaced him and his family.

“I am just returning home with my daughter and wife (who’s expecting!) due to the wildfires, but my family and my little basement studio where I wrote The Wild Robot is safe, thank goodness,” the composer told Yahoo Entertainment in a statement. “This morning’s nomination and outpouring of love from the audience has been a source of great strength and reassurance during what has been a supremely challenging year here in LA.”

James Mangold, who was nominated for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for A Complete Unknown, told Variety, “I was in my house with no power [because of the L.A. wildfires], with my wife looking at a cellphone on a single bar of data watching an infinitesimally small telecast.”

Composer John Powell, who was evacuated from his home, told Yahoo Entertainment in a statement that he was completely surprised by the nominations in general, saying he didn’t realize they were happening today.

“I actually thought it had been moved a week, so I was woken by my agent calling, then Jon Chu FaceTiming me (don’t worry, it was dark so he didn’t see me naked). All this while two large poodles were fighting for room on the pull-out couch I’m currently sleeping on after being evacuated,” Powell, who was nominated for Best Score for Wicked, said. “So definitely a weird time to get this news. But I’m just glad to have been part of a film that can bring great joy to people — it makes me feel somewhat useful.”

The show must go on?

Despite some calls from celebrities to either cancel the Oscars this year or reenvision the event as a fundraiser for wildfire victims, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has stated that the awards show will go on as scheduled on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with Conan O’Brien hosting the telecast on ABC.

“After consultation with ABC, our board, and other key stakeholders in the Los Angeles and film communities, we have made the carefully considered decision to proceed with the 97th Oscars ceremony as planned on March 2,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer told the Los Angeles Times in a statement published Jan. 15.

That’s not to say that the Academy is keeping to its usual script with the annual awards show. In addition to having postponed the nominations announcement twice, some changes will be made to the program itself.

“During this year’s ceremony, we will honor the talented filmmakers nominated today, pay tribute to our brave first responders and celebrate the enduring spirit of Los Angeles and the film industry,” Kramer said alongside Academy President Janet Yang at the beginning of Thursday’s nominations announcement.

No live performances of nominated songs

The ceremony will also drop the live performances of the nominated songs, according to Variety.

“We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life. All of this, and more, will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees,” Kramer and Yang wrote in a letter to Academy members, the outlet reported.

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