Oscar statues get a fresh coat of paint Monday morning at an undisclosed Los Angeles location ahead of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ inaugural Governors Awards, to be held Nov. 14 in the Grand Ballroom at the Hollywood & Highland Center. The Governors Awards ceremony will present the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to John Calley, plus honorary awards to Lauren Bacall, Roger Corman and Gordon Willis. The statues will also be at the Academy Awards, of course, on March 7, 2010. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Scenic artist Dena D’Angelo sprays a fresh coat of paint on the statue. All the statues get a new coat of paint that will have more shine this year, with a darker base that more closely resembles the statuette. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
D’Angelo works on a pair of 24-foot Oscar statues. The awards winners receive measure only 13 1/2 inches. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Dena D’Angelo, left and Gayle Etcheverry prepare to paint one of the big guys. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
New York Times photographer Monica Almeda takes a shot of the statues. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)