DEADLINE:Congratulations on the show last night.
How was it for you?
ROB MILLS:It was really good.
(L-R) Sean Baker and ABC’s Rob MillsGetty/ABC
I work so close to Jimmy Kimmel so I love when we do the show with him.
But, my gosh, this was incredible, working with Conan and his team.
I started to describe it as TV executive fantasy camp.
Conan O’Brien at the OscarsFrank Micelotta/Disney via Getty Images
It was such a privilege.
So it was great.Raj and Katy, the producersare obviously first-rate.
DEADLINE:Conan has been receiving plaudits for his rolebeing compared to Bob Hope and Johnny Carson.
You must be thinking we should have done this before and you should bring him back.
Have you got an option on him for next year?
MILLS: Yeah, probably all of the above.
I certainly hope this is something we would have been doing again.
Everything was so great and thats no easy task.
DEADLINE:You said three hours, but lets be honest, it was 3 hours and 47 minutes.
Did you have the over or under for that?
MILLS: I dont know if thats a thing you’re able to place money on in Vegas.
I would have taken the over.
Its also hard when youre looking at things that we cant cut.
DEADLINE:Was there anything planned that you cut for time?
MILLS: No, I dont think there was anything major.
DEADLINE:Are you able to have a favorite winner or speech?
Any categories surprise you?
Should we play them off?
Should we not play them off?
I saw Quentin Tarantino getting ready to go on backstage.
The theatrical experience is so important, something for me as a movie lover, I take really personally.
DEADLINE:Adrien Brody had the third-longest speech in Oscars history.
Is there anything you might do when someone like that speaks for so long?
MILLS: Theres not much you’ve got the option to do.
Sometimes, when the speeches are so long, theyre less impactful.
You sort of go along with it.
DEADLINE:Last night was largely non-political, barConans Russia joke.
Whose decision was that?
This is a show for everyone.
DEADLINE:Lets talk about the musical performances.Cynthia and Ariana obviously kicked off the show.WhosThe Wizfan in the building?
Who decided to use a song Quincy Jones didnt write for that tribute?
MILLS: Certainly Im one of them.
I was not in charge of these decisions, but I love me someWiz.
Youre looking for songs that tie all of this in.
I actually think Home just happened to be fromThe Wiz.
It was great to see that progression fromWizardof OztoWiztoWicked.
It really was more of a coincidence.
The Quincy tribute … he was honored this yearat the Governors Awards.
This was a monumental loss, to say the least.
… Ease on Down the Road, it was great that Quincy produced that soundtrack.
DEADLINE:Why did you make the decision not to have the performances from Best Song?
Those numbers are very hard when you have to do five of them.
DEADLINE:It wasnt about the songs themselves?
MILLS: No, this [decision] was made before the nominations even came out.
DEADLINE:Will you look at that for next year?
What should we change?
What should we keep?
The Oscars definitely cannot live inside a vacuum.
Its got to innovate.
In two years, it will be 100 years, youve got to keep it moving forward.
DEADLINE:What about thatJames Bondmedley?Im assuming the timing with theAmazon dealwas a coincidence?
MILLS: That was interesting timing to say the least.
It was a new way to fete the winners of the Governors Awards.
Sometimes they get up and speak.
This was a way to put some great, entertaining moments in the show, roughly 90 minutes in.
Those are some of the most iconic songs of all time.
I think we probably could have done one each hour, and we still wouldnt have picked everything.
DEADLINE:I guess people were just surprised given that there was no Bond film out this year.
I understand its a little bit of a head-scratcher, but it did tie into the Governors Awards.
DEADLINE:Elsewhere, it was nice to see the costume designers and cinematographers get the star treatment.
Will you rotate that each time?
It was great to see them speak.
You really got a sense from those five how closely they work with their costume designers and the cinematographers.
Those are really heartfelt speeches, and that was great to see.
DEADLINE:What about the decision to have the previous winners speak about the supporting categories.
Was that anything to do with Karla Sofia Gascon?
MILLS: No, nothing to do with that.
If you noticed lead actor and actress had clips, supporting didnt.
I think well look and maybe mix that up again next year too.
How difficult is that?
They are all on the website, everybody is there.
DEADLINE:How bummed were you to hearabout the problems on Hulu?
MILLS: Obviously, its unfortunate.
You want it to work perfectly.
It should work perfectly.
Unfortunately, errors happen not just to us, but to others.
Its not the first time, and I would love it if its the last but it probably isnt.
But next year, Im sure itll be seamless.
DEADLINE:When do you start thinking about the 2026 Oscars?
MILLS: This one was really well-received.
When it’s possible for you to do that, its usually pretty easy.
Hopefully its as easy as that, but well definitely start thinking about it now.
I think were also looking forward to even the 100th in two years.
Were always thinking Oscars.
Its such an important night.
Its so meaningful, really, to everybody.
It is definitely a 365-day-a-year job that us, The Academy, everyones thinking about it.
