MUMBAI: While the full design concept of the Oscar set will remain a secret until the live telecast on 25 February, the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences and Swarovski unveiled a first glimpse of the stage set for the 79th Annual Academy Awards – a sparkling Swarovski Crystal Curtain.

Each year the Academy’s set production team creates a new masterpiece for the Oscar stage and this year, the piece de resistance will be a one-ton, 34-foot custom designed Swarovski crystal curtain sparkling with over 50,000 crystals flown in especially from Austria – valued at $ 1 million.

The Academy joined forces with Swarovski, to create a dazzling piece of art to adorn the stage
for Hollywood’s biggest night.

J. Michael Riva, 79th Awards production designer, explains, “The idea was to return to a simpler Hollywood glamour look for the Oscars this year – something that would sparkle on camera along with the gold of the Oscars. I was inspired by moving bursts of light on my office walls – it was sun reflecting off a facetted Swarovski crystal paperweight on my windowsill. Suddenly, I was on the phone looking for crystals, enough of them to make a curtain we could feature on stage. I turned to Swarovski, with their dazzling crystal and technical expertise, and they came to the rescue to make this dramatic and challenging design concept come to life. The sparkle of the Swarovski crystal curtain helped create our vision of glamour and return to old Hollywood elegance. I will be joyfully reminded of Swarovski every time the sun happens to shine through my window!”

Nadja Swarovski adds, “Swarovski is honored to partner with the Academy on such a prestigious and glamorous occasion. Swarovski crystal has adorned stars from the red carpet to the silver screen, and now, for the first time, we are delighted that Swarovski can shine center stage at the 79th Annual Academy Awards.”