The Oscars 2020 Fans Who Flooded the Streets of Los Angeles
Just after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Oscars were nearly underway, and the streets surrounding the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles were closed off—police officers patrolled on bikes, fire fighters whipped around in golf carts, and a trio of helicopters kept watch from the sky. Large groups of people, meanwhile, flooded Hollywood Boulevard, trying to catch sight of the celebrities walking the red carpet a few hundred feet away. Some even went on FaceTime with their friends and relatives, showing off their proximity to the awards ceremony. Nearby, a fleet of black SUVs arriving to the show passed through. In one of them, Adam Driver rolled down his window and stuck his head out to smile and laugh, causing a cluster of young women to cheer with delight. From lifelong Angelenos to out-of-towners with selfie sticks, these were the fans watching the Oscars unfold from the ground.
1
What’s your name? Ana
Where are you from? I’m originally from Russia, but I’ve been living in LA for two months.
How long have you been here? For one hour. My two friends are meeting me here to hang out.
2
“We aren’t with an organization. We just want to thank Joaquin Phoenix for helping the animals. He’s a real winner.”
3
What’s your name? Darian Sixx
Did you see any celebrities on the red carpet? I had my binoculars with me, and I saw Quentin Tarantino, Tom Hanks, and Margot Robbie.
What are you going to do with the photos you took here? Just post them on Facebook.
4
What’s your name? My name is Lyo.
My name is Ryunosuke.
Where are you from? Japan.
How long have you been waiting here? All day.
Who are you looking to see? Just people gathering. That’s why we came here. We don’t know who’s going to come.
5
What’s your name? My name is Denes Kovacs.
My name is Vivi Nagy.
Where are you from? Hungary.
How long have you been standing out here? Just for a half an hour, maybe an hour.
Who are you hoping to see? We’re interested in these celebrities, but we don’t know everybody.
What are you going to use the photos for? Just for myself.
6
What’s your name? Fantastic Fig
“I go to the Oscars every year. I’ve got two more events to go to and do my magic: one at the Beverly Hilton, and one at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.”
7
What’s your name? Vivian, but if you have Instagram, I’m @oscarssuperfan.
What brings you to the Oscars tonight? I wanted to try to see if I could catch some celebrities over there.
Did you get anyone? I was a little bit too far, they have the big fence, you can’t get close.
Tell me about your outfit, did you make it yourself? Yeah! I did everything myself, I got pieces of the red carpet they gave me.
Every year, do you add a patch? Every year I add stuff. This is a patch from the curtains. There were only 15 of these made. I get stuff online. This one, they gave me, because everybody knows me now.
8
What’s your name? Monika Ekiert.
What brings you to the Oscars tonight? I’m an actress and I just finished a film about Marilyn Monroe, because before, I was in a play, The Seven Year Itch.
Are you looking to see any celebrities on the red carpet? I am not looking, I’m an actress. I was famous in Europe, so when I came here it was different, it’s not the same system. Maybe someday soon I can be like them, at the Oscars.