What happens onstage at the Oscars may be scripted, but backstage it is all about raw emotion. The green room at the prestigious event is as important as the show itself and like every other year, it is getting a makeover.
Architectural Digest has been sponsoring the designs of the Oscar green room for the past 12 years and this time, they have roped in famous designer David Rockwell to do the honors. That's not all. Susan Sarandon, the Oscar-winning actress, will be collaborating with the star designer to oversee an art installation in the room.
So what will the green room look like?
Citing Rockwell, who has designed the Oscar stage twice, The Associated Press reports that the paparazzi-free "enclave of the stars" will be a complete "Urban Loft." One of the walls will be filled with a digital photo display using "86 screens - smartphones, tablets and TVs - one for each year of the Academy Awards."
The display will pay tribute to the rich Oscar history, glorifying tinsel town heroes throughout the years. Black-and-white framed portraits will adorn another wall.
The place will also have a prominent bar and a fantasy garden with outdoor plants that can be used as a smoking patio.
While most of the design inputs are Rockwell's, Sarandon also gave her suggestions, saying high stools would be better because "when you're in your dress and it's tight, you can't sit down so low on the couch."
A five-time Oscar nominee herself, Sarandon's input comes from years of personal experience.
"It's a long evening, especially if you're nominated toward the end, and (this is) someplace where you can take a breath and not worry if you're picture-perfect and smiling every second. It's a great opportunity just to say hi, to tell people how happy you are for them that they've been nominated and how much you loved their performance and ask questions and laugh. It's probably the only relaxed place that is there, really," Sarandon told the AP over the phone.
The Architectural Digest has released one rendering of the green room, which shows dark brown furniture and a white carpeted floor. You can see the rendering, here.
The 2013 Oscars green room was designed by Madeline Stuart, daughter of the late award-winning filmmaker Mel Stuart. The room was dedicated to production designer Cedric Gibbons.
The 86th Academy Awards will be held March 2, 2014 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles. They will be hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.
Check out the nominations here.
