Inside the Dolby Theater: What the Oscars Are Like in Person

There are two Oscars ceremonies each year: the televised show that’s rehearsed and edited, and a messier, warmer version that happens around it. I attended the latter and saw how different the evening looks behind the scenes. There are two red carpets — one for nominees and a secondary one for the creative crews, documentary subjects and press — and the crowd on that secondary carpet ranges far beyond Academy members and filmmakers.

Once the ceremony begins the Dolby Theater is in constant motion, and the bar inside becomes an unofficial second venue. People rotate in and out knowing the running order, watching the show on monitors with drinks in hand. When a winner walks into that bar the room erupts: the cheering feels genuine, grounded in the effort it took to get there.

Even teams who lost were visibly moved for their colleagues. Certain moments carried a different weight in person than on screen.

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