How war will change the Oscars

How war will change the Oscars

The glitz of previous years will be absent on Sunday

The eruption of war in Iraq is now almost certain to alter the tone and style of Sunday's Oscars ceremony in Hollywood.

Already, the red carpets have been packed away and the stars' grand entrances scaled down to reflect the public's mood.

Will Smith has become the first high-profile name to withdraw as Hollywood tries to decide what is appropriate behaviour for the circumstances.

Here is what the impact of war on the 75th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre will mean for the stars, the world's media and the city of Los Angeles.

The stars

Nominated Finnish director Aki Kaurismaeki has withdrawn from the ceremony, citing the war.

Ali star Will Smith, who was due to present an Academy statuette, has also pulled out.

Best actress nominee Nicole Kidman says she is in two minds about attending.

Best actor nominee Daniel Day-Lewis says it would be obscene for stars to be seen "grinning and waving" while war is waged.

Artists United to Win Without War, a group of 130 celebrity protestors, has created a special peace sign pin badge.

It will be worn by Dustin Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Jim Carrey, Ben Affleck, Michael Moore and Kirsten Dunst, among others.

A scaled-down show could hit Los Angeles' economy hard

A string of A-listers have already condemned the war, including Kevin Spacey, Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese, Martin Sheen, Salma Hayek and Sean Penn.

Designers Matthew Williamson and Donatella Versace say they will not travel to Los Angeles because of travel concerns.

Many who do attend are expected to wear more sombre couture than originally planned - with black at a premium.

"I think it's a good idea to try to eliminate the red carpet and also try to eliminate all the political speeches," says action star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The show

A National Guard unit will protect the ceremony, employing a mobile testing laboratory to detect chemical or biological attack.

Police expect at least 2,000 peace protestors outside the venue. The LA branch of Not In Our Name is urging campaigners to attend.

Oscar organisers have refused to rule out postponing or even cancelling the show all together.

On arrival, actors and guests will not carry out their traditional red carpet meet-and-greet with journalists and fans.

Red carpet seating for the public known as the "bleachers" has been dismantled.

Interviews from the fashion parade will be replaced in US TV coverage by historic film clips of past Oscar glories.

Stars are expected to arrive via a more discreet side entrance on Hollywood Boulevard.

Vanity Fair, which hosts one of the biggest post-Oscar parties, has cancelled its own red carpet and media access.

ABC, the US TV network screening the ceremony, may switch its coverage to follow developments in the war.

ABC presenter Barbara Walters has withdrawn her Sunday night Oscar special - a staple of the US coverage.

"It's going to be very difficult juxtaposing images of a nation at war with images of an awards show," says Bryce Zebel, producer of the Emmys, which was cancelled on the day bombing started in Afghanistan in 2001.

The cost

The red carpet will not be rolled out this year

A scaled-down or postponed Academy Awards could cost the LA economy hundreds of millions of dollars.

LA economist Jack Kyser says the ceremony is worth $118m (£74m) to the city each year.

The Academy spends about $41m (£25m) staging the show, while studios spend $54m (£34m) on pre-awards publicity for nominees.

Another $4m (£2.5m) is spent on gifts for nominees and presenters.

Businesses potentially losing out include caterers, fashion designers, jewellers, photo agencies and limousine rental companies.

Security firms are also expected to be hit by a downturn in business.

The cinema industry would also suffer. Maine-based economics professor Randy Nelson estimates an Oscar nomination is worth about $8m (£5m) in extra box office receipts.

An Oscar win brings in an extra $16m (£10m) for movies already in cinemas.

The ceremony is broadcast in 157 countries - resulting in millions of dollars in knock-on tourism.

ABC could lose millions in advertising revenues. It charges up to $1.5m (£950,000) per 30-second commercial spot, generating up to $80m (£50m).

"I really was stunned and very disappointed. We've let Saddam Hussein push us around one more time," says TV host Johnny Grant, known as the unofficial "mayor of Hollywood".