My Oscars Red Carpet Bleacher Experience
Thanks to everyone who followed me for my Oscars coverage. It was a long week with long days, but ultimately it was a lot of fun. Like my GRAMMYs experiences, I learned quite a lot about what goes into the show.
I had credentials that allowed me access to the red carpet area all week but come Saturday night at 8, I was the same as any other fan wanting to see more. Sunday morning I woke with a feeling of excitement. I had seen the preparations all week inside and outside the theatre and I was ready for the big show!
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We were lucky enough to have a later call time which meant two things: (a) I didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn to make a 6:00 a.m. call and (b) we were going to have decent seats. We had better than decent! Once we checked in and were escorted to the bleacher experience area, we picked up our new credentials for the day. After that, we were shown our seats.
There are basically five sections of the bleachers. A small set at the end (nearest the theatre entrance, a larger grandstand area, and then two smaller sections. My group and I were in the second-to-last smaller set not too far from where the stars first entered. Our area was less crowded and had a good angle as we were directly across from ET, E!, CNN, and other major outlets.
This was the grandstand area:
And this was our area. There are a few bodies missing, but we had a lot of room to maneuver our cameras and phones. We had a group of Dolby staff and influencers that Dolby invited. Can you tell we are all technophiles??! Also, we were catching up on the free People magazines that were handed out!
Of course, on the other side, they had Modern Family's Rico Rodriguez to keep them company!
The appearance of cancer survivor and ex-Good Morning America staff member, Robin Roberts elicited loud applause.
After watching the media make their final preparations and photos of their own gowns, the red carpet was ready for arrivals.
Charlize Theron, stunning in white, waved to the fans as they shouted her name.
Bridesmaid's Melissa McCarthy. The people behind us were from Chicago so she gave them a Chicago thumbs-up right after this shot.
This was MY view some of the time (being under 5 feet tall definitely has its disadvantages).
So I had lots of photos like this:
But luckily, as is noted in a lot of these photos, my trusty community manager, Thom Brekke (who is 6'2″!) was able to capture them for me. (I was also doing a lot of Instagramming with my iPhone which made it difficult to use my camera).
Here is Kristen Chenoweth captured, but going the wrong direction!
Les Miserables Amanda Seyfried with Dustin Hoffman and (Best Actress winner) Jennifer Lawrence being interviewed by Nancy O'Dell in the back.
Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress Anne Hathaway thanks the fans and Jennifer Hudson looks on.
Jennifer Hudson waves as Joseph Gordon-Levitt walks by (Jennifer Lawrence is just above him as well).
But then Joseph stops to speak with Jennifer, what do you think they spoke about?
Adele with a big smile for the fans, she is so beautiful!
Best Actor nominee, Bradley Cooper also waves.
And we got a thumbs up from Hugh Jackman.
Chris Pine making his way through the crowd.
Channing Tatum doing the same although I can't quite look at him in the same light since Magic Mike.
Mr. Robert DeNiro.
Power couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
America's sweetheart, Reese Witherspoon.
My favorite moment of the evening. Best Actor winner Daniel Day-Lewis completely skipped the media and decided to walk along the “fan-side” of the red carpet.
And he offered big smiles and thank-yous.
I missed seeing his wife, Alexandra Lamy, but saw Jean Dujardin (last year's Best Actor).
Ben Affleck trying to catch up with his wife.
Jane Fonda REALLY stood out in this dress!
Look at the arms on Sandra Bullock!
Kristen Stewart enters on crutches…
Best Original Screenplay winner, Quentin Tarantino.
Chris Tucker always has a good time!
Best Actress winner Jennifer Lawrence.
Gabriel Gael Garcia (on the left) gives my boss a big smile after she yells, “Viva El Mexico!”
The last hour of the red carpet was a complete frenzy and such an adrenalin rush, at the end of it all I was completely exhausted and completely elated!
Shortly after we were escorted inside the El Capitan theatre where we were treated to dinner, popcorn and drinks as we watched the Broadcast live on the big screen.
It was an amazing day, albeit long, and the entire week is one that I will never forget.
How about you? Did you watch the red carpet pre-show? Did you watch the Oscars? Likes? Dislikes?
I did not watch the Oscars. Not a fan and I don’t get all gushy if I run into an actor (famous) either. See them all the time in NYC and I lived in a town that was frequently used for filming movies, commercials and such. Glad you had a good time. Was this your first time at the Oscars?
@MD, yes it was.
Wow! Lucky you getting this close to such famous super stars! I watched bits of it on breakfast television the next morning and even though I like to think I’d be super cool if I met a celebrity in reality I’d be totally star struck! Great article x
Love all the photos…the never before seen (by me) behind the scenes shots!
You did a great job on this Oscar coverage. I think you beat out all the major coverage for this event and your pictures are just amazing! I can’t wait for your next event!
@Mel, wow what a compliment – thanks!
Great pictures! It sure looks like you had a fun time!
Now THAT is a party! Seems like everyone had a good time!
What a cool view point! Although I probably would feel second-hand claustrophobia just sitting there! You’re photos are great though! Thanks for sharing!
I would love to have this wonderful experience atleast one time. 🙂 I know you had a blast and will always remember it!
Oh MY GOODNESS! I am so green with envy. It looks amazing!
@Donna, thanks it was an amazing experience!
I did not watch the Oscars presentation but just by looking at these pics, you did an excellent job.
That was fun to see. Wish I could have been there-I’m such a movie junkie. Thanks for sharing!
@Linda, my pleasure it was so much fun!
What an awesome “wrap” (ha! ha!) to an amazing week for you. How can you ever top it?
@MD, at this point I am not really sure!
How cool!! It would be so surreal to see all of those movie stars in one place like that.
@Katie, it was. When I was processing the photos sometimes I had 5 or 6 celebs in one shot and it was hard to choose who to focus on!
That looks like it would have been a really fun experience. I feel you on being short and having crappy pics of pther peoples cameras 🙂
@Sam, but we can get into and out of tight spaces 😉
How much fun – I wish I could experience a red carpet from bleechers.
@Maria, anyone can you just have to submit your name to this website to be in the lottery: http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/bleachers/index.html
That is so cool! You got some really great pictures and what sounds like one unforgettable life experience! Thank you for sharing 🙂
@Caitlan, thanks it was fun!
I like watching the Oscars . I enjoy seeing what the ladies decide to wear for this event. I think watching these you also get to see them more how they normally would be . Lucky you that you got to be there. Free People magazine too – wow
@Ann, it was very interesting, but on the otherhand, it is a show about acting and not fashion 🙂
This sounds exciting would of love to have attended
Wow! That looks like it was a lot of fun. The pictures are great, thank you for sharing 🙂
You’re so lucky! I’d love to have experiences like you one day! 🙂
What an exciting trip! So jealous!
Looked like fun! I like Chris Tucker.
Hello, I am so sorry this is such an extremely late reply to your 2013 Oscar posting. I have 2 questions… Do the celebs sign (posters, pics, etc.) for the people at the Oscar bleachers? Also, for those who couldn’t get tickets to sit at the bleachers, is it worth it just to show up and see if we can get lucky in meeting a celeb by standing near the bleachers? I’ve never attended, and have always wanted to. I’m such a fangirl! 🙂
@Joanne, no problem, happy to answer your questions! If you are not sitting in the bleachers you will not be able to get anywhere near any celebrity and even sitting in the bleachers, only a few of the celebrities stop to talk to fans. The area is fenced off and you need a special badge to get in. If the poster is small you could bring, but anything large would be restricted. To get into the red carpet area there used to be a raffle every year, but this year they changed how they do it.
OMG! so envious. How exactly do you get bleachers seats? I’m from Australia and I’m going to be in LA at that time and I’d love to go.
@Selina, there is an online application that you can access to if you register here: http://www1.oscars.org/insider/ also you can try to be an extra.