A Sneak Peek at the 2024 Oscars Set: A Vanity Fair Exclusive

Written by Kara Warner

As the 2024 Oscars are approaching in five days, almost everyone near the Dolby Theatre is hustling, with the show's production team under the most spotlight in the auditorium as well as worldwide.

The trio of executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor, and production designers Alana Billingsley and Misty Buckley, are set to showcase their nine months of hard work on Sunday night.

“Sometimes, the results of what we've been working on from last summer are more impressive than expected,” shared Kapoor, who is involved in the Oscars telecast for the seventh year. "At times, we still have to fine-tune some aspects."

You can take a peek at exclusive sketches of this year's stage to grasp the outcome of these persistent efforts to create an alluring, bright, and intimate stage environment.

“This year's idea was to create a modern space for mingling, exchanging and creating ideas, similar to a present-day plaza,” revealed Buckley. "Soft plaster finish, warm white color, and complementary tones are used."

The stage will subtly transform as the night progresses. The designs unveiled here are meant for the opening of the show and the awards presentations for visual effects, costumes, screenplays, and production design.

“Our aim is to render the design immersive, innovative, and occasionally intimate,” stated Kapoor. "The theater's overall ambiance is warm, and the curves of the screens and structures provide a comforting feel, similar to a hug. This is exactly how we want the audience to feel."

Billingsley and Buckley are the inventive pair actualizing this vision. “I mainly focus on logistics and maintaining architectural stability, while Misty infuses emotion into the designs,” noted Billingsley. “We intended to create a modern, intimate, and grand plaza. Raj immediately supported our idea and our director, Hamish Hamilton, maintained the theme of a human-scale plaza instead of a grand design without any purpose."

Buckley added, “I often come up with eccentric ideas and sketches. Alana and Raj are extremely creative and cooperative, which makes us a strong team."

The set is designed to not only welcome the audience but also to pay tribute to the nominees through its design. For instance, the screenwriting segment features images of genuine typewriters, while the costume-design category boasts many nominated costumes.

“We attempted to incorporate elements that appreciate individual crafts in our set design," Kapoor explained. "The idea is to leave the audience feeling amazed. We worked with costume designers and photographed their pieces in a gallery-like setting with perfect lighting."

One of the uncontrollable aspects of the stage are the presenters, who include nominees themselves to groups of previous Oscar winners. Despite being unaware of the winners’ names, presenters know how to match their attire with the stage design. “We always discuss the color scheme of the act and the presenters' outfits,” said Billingsley. "We aim to create an unforgettable moment."

In the days leading up to the Oscars, Hollywood and the production-design team are bustling with anticipation. “We spend nearly 10 or 11 hours a day on stage,” noted Billingsley. "After which, we head back to the production office to catch up with the work."

Kapoor echoed, “We can rest only the coming Monday."