Swarovski Set Design At The Oscars®: A Sparkling Glimpse Of The 85th Annual Academy Awards®

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Feb 22, 2013, 11:25 ET

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Swarovski is honored to be the key creative ingredient on the world's most revered stage for the sixth year at the Oscars®. This year, Tony Award-winning Production Designer Derek McLane will add a fresh perspective to the set of the Dolby Theater, incorporating over 100,000 Swarovski crystals into the Oscar's® stage design and theater decor.

McLane has incorporated over 1,500 pounds of Swarovski crystal into the stage and auditorium design. It took over one month to realize his vision of a spectacular 80 feet wide and 40 feet high crystal curtain among other dazzling elements. The full design concept and visuals of the Oscars set will remain a closely guarded secret until the live telecast on Sunday, February 24^th, when the Oscars® will be broadcast across the globe on ABC at 7 pm EST.

Production Designer Derek McLane commented: "I have always loved crystal chandeliers, and marvelled at the amazing way they act like prisms and refract light when you turn them on. When I was asked to design the 85th Academy Awards, I immediately began to think of ways to use crystals to bring some of that magic to the stage. For me, Swarovski crystals have always represented the height of elegance and glamour. Their association with the Academy Awards show has become one of the signatures that defines the grandeur of the evening. This year we have an extraordinary guest performing on the show, and I have designed a crystal curtain as her signature environment."

Swarovski will also add sparkle to the show-stopping costumes created by Oscar-nominated costume designer Julie Weiss, who has incorporated over one million crystals in her breath-taking designs which are set to be one of the highlights of the show.

Weiss describes, "The Oscars! The Oscars! An evening of the stars. Swirling starts. Their brilliance forming. Comet-like clusters. Dancing against the darkness of evening sky. And I am only speaking of the use of Swarovski crystals illuminating Oscar gowns."

Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Executive Board, Swarovski Crystal Business commented. "Swarovski is delighted and honored once again to play a supporting role on the incredible Oscars stage. The Academy Awards represent talent, creativity and glamour - values that lie at the heart of Swarovski. Derek McLane's stage design is magical and Swarovski is thrilled that he chose crystal as his key creative ingredient."

View exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the creation of the 85^th Academy Awards® set at https://swarovski.sharefile.com/d/s5843b21fc254ec4a

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About Swarovski
The Swarovski story began in 1895 when Daniel Swarovski invented a machine for cutting and polishing crystal. This machine not only revolutionized jewellery manufacturing, it has inspired the worlds of art, design, fashion and cinema for over a hundred years. Today Swarovski is the world's leading producer of precision-cut crystal and gemstones and operates nearly 2,000 retail outlets in over 120 countries. The company has a rich history of working with internationally acclaimed designers including Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior. Since joining the family business in 1995, Nadja Swarovski has built on this heritage by implementing a series of visionary design initiatives which have transformed the company's image, turning crystal into a much desired component in the creative industries. Nadja Swarovski is committed to supporting and celebrating design and the arts by collaborating with established and emerging designers - including Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Lacroix, Shaun Lean, Tom Dixon, John Pawson, Zaha Hadid, Mary Katrantzou, Marios Schwab, Erdem and Giles Deacon - challenging them to push the boundaries of crystal across fashion, jewelry, stage and screen, art, architecture and design.

SOURCE Swarovski