There has always been the conventional way of using videos to remind us all that the Academy Awards are around the corner as awards season have almost come to an end. This year, the Academy and host Ellen DeGeneres have gone with a big, lip-synced production number to get things started.
The clip features the host leading a dance group down a street to the track The Walker by Fitz And The Tantrums. With her backup dancers forming a giant Oscar statuette you can see in the image lower down the page. It was directed by The Heat’s Paul Feig, with choreography by Stephen “tWitch” Boss.
“I had the best time making this,” said DeGeneres in a statement on the Academy’s site. “I love Paul, I love tWitch, I love Fitz and I like most of the Tantrums.”
“To work with Ellen, tWitch Boss, Allison Holker and 250 amazing dancers to the music of Fitz and The Tantrums to promote the Oscars for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences was an absolute dream come true,” sqaid Feig. “Just typing that sentence made me giddy and exhausted. I’m going to lie down now.”
March 2, 2014 is the date you have to clear your schedules, with the nominations being announced on January 16.