Preparation for the 83rd Academy Awards

Tom Hanks, right, talks with stage manager Dency Nelson.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Carpenter Shawn Schull works to cover the giant Oscar statue at the corner of Hollywood and Highland. The statue is to remain covered in plastic until Sunday morning.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The producers of this year’s Oscar ceremony, Bruce Cohen, right, and Don Mischer, flank Academy President Tom Sherak as they answer questions from the media during a news conference under a tent on the red carpet Friday afternoon.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Members of the prop crew work on moving one of the large Oscar statues to its resting place along the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard at the entrance to the Kodak Theatre.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Security guards Frank Amador, Danny Peralez and Ricardo Beltran, from left, use umbrellas to stay dry during a light rain that fell in Hollywood on Friday morning.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, director of the Oscar-nominated “Biutiful,” from Mexico, talks to media during the Foreign Language Film Award directors photo op and press conference.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Images of Oscar are waiting to be hung as background scenery along the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Dena D’ Angelo, lead scenic artist, touches up the crown that is suspended over the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Hollywood and Highland complex.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Scenic artist Sam Costa applies black touch-up paint on background scenery along the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Lead scenic artist Dena D’Angelo touches up the crown that is suspended over the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Hollywood and Highland complex.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Images of Oscar are waiting to be hung as background scenery as chefs, food workers adn others mill about near the Kodak Theatre.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Scenic artist Sam Costa continues his touch-up work on background scenery along the red carpet for the 83rd Academy Awards.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Laffey shows photographers the smoked salmon on Oscar flatbread with caviar and creme fraiche created by Wolfgang Puck during the food and beverage preview for the 83rd Academy Awards Governors Ball.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Charlie Farfell pours Moet & Chandon Champagne during the food and beverage preview for the 83rd Academy Awards Governors Ball on the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The 24-karat chocolate Oscar created by Wolfgang Puck gets its close-up.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Wolfgang Puck talks to the media crowd during the food and beverage preview for the 83rd Academy Awards Governors Ball during the news conference on the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Cheryl Cecchetto, producer of the Governors Ball, chats with the media during the food and beverage preview for the 83rd Academy Awards Governors Ball.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Workers from American Turf and Carpet roll out the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard as workers from Classic Party Rentals install a rain canopy in front of the Hollywood and Highland Complex in advance of Sunday’s ceremony.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

American Turf and Carpet workers make sure the red carpet fits snug on Hollywood Boulevard.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The red carpet is rolled out in front of the entrance to the Kodak Theatre.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The lighting crew’s Eric Hansen, right, and Lee Howard string and check lights along Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Hollywood and Highland complex.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Workers from Classic Party Rentals install a rain canopy in front of the Hollywood and Highland complex from Highland Boulevard to the Kodak Theatre entrance.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Workers continue to install a rain canopy over the red carpet in front of the Hollywood and Highland complex.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Classic Party Rentals’ Juan Carlos helps install the rain canopy near the entrance of the Kodak Theatre.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Classic Party Rentals workers continue to install red carpet and a rain canopy in front of the Kodak Theatre.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The sign says it all as workers prepare the Hollywood and Highland complex from Highland Boulevard to the entrance of the Kodak Theatre for the 83rd Academy Awards.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Geoffrey Doleman, with the art department, carries Oscar statues covered with plastic for protection from their holding tent to the outdoors where the statues will be detailed with gold paint by scenic artists.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Scenic artist Gayle Etcheverry sprays gold paint to touch up one of many Oscar statues.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Oscar statues covered with plastic have signs with their designated locations around the Hollywood and Highland complex. The statues stay in a holding tent until they are detailed with gold paint by scenic artists.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Geoffrey Doleman carefully supports Oscar statues as Jeremy Tominberg drives the cart.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Workmen erect tents and move equipment into place as construction continues on Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Kodak Theatre.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A worker inspects, cleans and details one of many Oscar statues before applying spray paint as a touch-up. The statues will be placed around the Hollywood and Highland complex.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Scenic artist Gayle Etcheverry inspects, cleans and details one of many Oscar statues before applying gold spray paint.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Equipment moves materials into place near the Kodak Theatre as preparation continues for the 83rd Academy Awards.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Scenic artist Gayle Etcheverry looks to be wiping off Oscar’s chin as she prepares to apply a fresh coat of paint.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Riggers prepare to raise a giant ring that will fly above the red carpet as construction continues on Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Kodak Theatre.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)