In the newest episode of The Cinematic Schematic, hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman return to continue the annual Oscar predictions episode for our fourth year.



Let’s admit it. The Academy has struggled to stay relevant in the mainstream for at least the last decade which has led to frequent programming shakeups for better and (mostly) worse and the 94th Academy Awards is no exception.



Firstly, the decision was made recently that not all categories would be airing live during the telecast ceremony for the 94th Academy Awards. Eight awards including Best Documentary (Short Subject), Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Short Film (Animated), Best Short Film (Live Action), and Best Sound, will instead be presented an hour before the telecast ceremony and then edited into the live broadcast.



Secondly, a hotly discussed show item is always “will there be a host and if so, who should it be?” Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, and Regina Hall were announced to be the host, alongside many other celebrity presenters.



Lastly, how could we forget what is perhaps the most blatant (desperate?) attempt to draw in mainstream audiences, the “Oscar Fan Favorite” category.



Love it or hate it, record low ratings now withstanding, the Academy Awards still marks the biggest celebration of movies within the film industry and the 94th Academy Awards is no exception. In this year’s Oscar predictions special episode, we discuss all of these changes before looking into our guild award-powered crystal ball to select what we think should win and what will win this Sunday night.



Who should you mark as the winner on your Oscar ballot? Tune in to hear our full list of expected winners.







Special Guest







Laron Chapman



Award-winning Oklahoma filmmaker



Follow Laron on Instagram @blackmoviemagic







The 94th Academy Award Nominees



Best Adapted Screenplay



* CODA (screenplay by Siân Heder)* Drive My Car (screenplay by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe)* Dune (screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth)* The Lost Daughter (written by Maggie Gyllenhaal)* The Power of the Dog (written by Jane Campion)



Best Original Screenplay



* Belfast (written by Kenneth Branagh)* Don’t Look Up (screenplay by Adam McKay; story by Adam McKay & David Sirota)* King Richard (written by Zach Baylin)* Licorice Pizza (written by Paul Thomas Anderson)* The Worst Person in the World (written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier)



Best Cinematography



* Dune (Greig Fraser)* Nightmare Alley (Dan Laustsen)* The Power of the Dog (Ari Wegner)* The Tragedy of Macbeth (Bruno Delbonnel)* West Side Story (Janusz Kaminski)