You can watch maybe the best possible version of the Oscars on Facebook tonight
Did your invite to the Oscars not arrive—again!—but you still want to watch and feel like you’re there? Well, thanks to Facebook Live, now you can.
In addition to regular camera footage of the event shot by Directors of Photography (DPs), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences will also stream live footage on Facebook… shot on smartphones by people at the show. Like celebrities. This will make Oscar attendees into unofficial DPs. So 2016, I know!
People watching Facebook Live can see as-it-happens, unedited footage, giving them the feeling that they’re actually at the Oscars (without even having to wear a million-dollar dress or suit or having to do their hair or… leave their house!).
And this is perfect for people who don’t want to go to an Oscar party. You don’t need to!
“Facebook is an extremely valuable partner, and this year we’re teaming up to deliver a unique behind-the-scenes experience to our millions of Oscars fans on the platform,” said Josh Spector, the Academy’s managing director of digital media and marketing. “By using Facebook Live, we’re going to show fans a fun new angle on this incredible event.”
This makes total sense, given Facebook’s INSANE popularity, i.e., approximately 8 billion video views daily. Daily! So why not livestream via the social platform?
“By embracing this new format, the Academy will give people at home a chance to go backstage, walk the red carpet and get an all access look at the show exclusively on the Academy’s Facebook page,” said Monica Austin, who leads Facebook’s movies and TV media partnerships.
Some celebrities who are said to be using Facebook Live today include: Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Hart, Wolfgang Puck, and Sylvester Stallone. Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight will use Facebook Live, too, for some of their shows.
Now, people like you and I can use Facebook Live, which was only available only to celebrities and public figures before. Aww. We’ve reached celebrity status! Anyone who uses it can feed live footage to their friends and followers. Pretty cool. (BTW, Facebook Live is not to be confused with “Oscars Backstage,” a live show which ABC produces.)
“Live video is one of the things I am most excited about, because it’s so raw and so visceral,” said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He also stated that Facebook Live will be available on Androids within the next week, and it’s already on iPhones. Impressive. I wonder what’ll be next…
You can check out Facebook Live here. When you follow the page, you’ll get a notification telling you when the Facebook Live show begins. “See” you there!