Academy Concerned with Oscar Security

By Stephen M. Silverman

Wednesday September 19, 2001 11:24 AM EDT

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Organizers of next year's Academy Awards ceremony have threatened to hold the event at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium rather than at the brand new Kodak Theater in Hollywood if developers of the new site do not approve certain logistical and security stipulations by Oct. 15, reports Variety. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has confirmed that it had set the deadline for TrizecHahn Corp. The two parties have been in lengthy negotiations about all elements of the March 24 broadcast, slated to be held for the first at the Kodak. The theater anchors a nearly $600 million development at Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. Among the sticking points, according to the trade paper: the extent of security sweeps of stores lining the route from Hollywood Blvd. to the theater; parking spaces for press members; and the amount of time allowed for the customary "orchid walk" into the theater. Academy spokeswoman Leslie Unger insisted that last week's attacks on the East Coast did not play a role in her organization's decision to set a deadline. "What did spark our reaction," she said, "was that we thought these things were farther along and then there were some big steps backward late last week."