The Oscars 2020 Titles

I was commissioned to create The Oscars 2020 opening title sequence for broadcast across all the BBC News networks, including the international channel, BBC World.

My immediate reaction was, I didn’t want to create a glossy opener with no substance, it had to tell the viewer a story.

Sometimes as a creative you find yourself inspired by objects that may not have an immediate link until you dig deeper. Having researched the history of the Oscar statuette, its creation was central to the 1930s Art Deco movement. It was this that suddenly sparked a creative thought as I stood inside the BBC Broadcasting House Art Deco elevator one morning, suddenly, it all came together. Using all the features of the original 1930s BBC logo, I created an Art Deco elevator that takes you to the greatest of heights possible. There is no greater accolade in the world of film than the Oscars.

I found inspiration from the gold accents of the Great Gatsby, the decadent Art Deco lobby of the Chrysler building with attention to lighting design as well as how the actual light emitted a scene of that same era. Everything was considered to the finest detail, from the colour of the marbled walls to how it reflected against the light. When the viewer arrives at the top level, the red carpet is rolled out towards a larger scaled Oscar figurine to greet you. Its stand opens out to reveal an Oscar in miniature on its own stage. This is to express how it feels inside to achieve that moment, as often when one receives such an award on stage, the first reaction is to move it closer to the body, an elation of inner fulfilled happiness.

The title sequence was 3D rendered to give it that hyperreal feel whilst maintaining the brand of the BBC News simple typographical style.