Oscars 2016

Me speaking at the Oscar luncheon.

Whew, the Oscars are finally over, I’m almost recovered so I wanted to document some of the high points with articles and pictures I was too busy to post while it was all happening.

All photos either by me or the Andrew Cooper.

The big board. This is the show. Each strip of paper is a moment, divided into 14 acts. We’ve sweated over this thing for months. Then it turned to paper, then actual events broadcast worldwide.

Me with AMPAS president Cheryl Boone Isaacs at the Sci-Tech Awards.

It’s a parking space at the Dolby Theater, where the Oscars are held. It’s not a big deal. But these little things make it very real to me.

Reserved parking at Capitol Studios where we worked with Sam Smith, Dave Grohl and Lady Gaga on their Oscar performances.

Me, Byron Phillips and composer Danny Elfman.

Now we’re in the final rehearsals.

The beautiful Oscar stage. We changed the look for every act, and every award.

Chris Rock gives my son Alexander valuable advice.

My son got chilly so I gave him my coat.

AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson, ABC Ben Sherwood, Chris Rock and I have a good time.

Rock and I work it out.

Meanwhile my daughter Helena plays on my phone.

She preps her Oscar speech while her mother Chrisette looks on.

The custom made floor for the Oscars. The detail is incredible.

We brought the band back from performing down the street at Capitol Records to back in the pit of the Dolby Theater.

The day before the show, the producers meet with all the presenters, fine tune their introductions, and rehearse on stage. JJ Abrams leaves us laughing. He has an amazing wit.

Quincy Jones was the first black producer of the Oscars. There were protests by Jesse Jackson the year he did the show. The more things change….

Whoopi was a staunch supporter of the show despite calls for the boycott. She hosted the show the year Quincy produced it.

Pharrell and Quincy rehearse on stage.

Security passes for special guests.

Security on the approach to the Oscars is air tight.

But they are still nice to mom as she approaches in the limo.

The Hudlin family on the Red Carpet. Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with.

Hanging with the family right before showtime.

Chris Rock – Oscar’s Monologue 2016 (Eng Subs)

Shot of my daughter Helena discussing the show with my wife Chrisette.

All the way to the far right, there’s my daughter, and a helpful viewer is pointing out my son Alexander.

The bear from Revenant waits for his time to shine.

I don’t know how they nabbed this shot of me moving through the crowd between acts, but I guess it was in the show.

While the show was going on, power couple Steve and Candace McKeever hosted an Oscar viewing party with a lot of our friends. So nice!

And just like that, it was over.