Academy governor Jeffrey Kurland worked with longtime event producer Cheryl Cecchetto and Sequoia Productions to produce and design this year's Governors Ball, which took place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom of the Dolby Theatre immediately following the ceremony. The night drew 1,500 Oscar winners and nominees, show presenters, and other A-list talent, and was decorated with a “magical transformation” theme, with red, gold, and white colors. Starburst light fixtures and irregular-shaped decor pieces, illuminated with white lights, comprised a cloud-like ceiling installation that served as the evening’s focal point.
Another new aspect to the Essence awards was a Facebook Live stream of the red carpet, as well as a new Snapchat Discover partnership where fans could follow along live. Agenc and the Essence event team created a teal-colored step-and-repeat adorned with stars, which added a glamorous effect to the arrivals area.
“[We wanted to] put women first throughout every element,” said Montgomery. “Yes, the event and the brand are built on celebrating women, but my goal was to also focus on the production elements being female-first as well—kind of like Beyoncé's all-girl band."
