Oscar producer Craig Zadan talks to Gay Star News about preparing for the awards

Craig Zadan was at the Television Critics Association's annual winter press tour in Pasadena this week to talk about the NBC series Smash which he executive produces with longtime professional partner Neil Meron. But the prolific producer of such movies as Chicago and Hairspray took some time out to chat with Gay Star News about another little project that has been taking up just about all his time: producing, with Meron, the 85th Annual Academy Awards. ''We're working seven days a week, 24 hours a day and having the best time of our lives,' says Zadan. This year's Oscar nominations will be announced in Beverly Hills on Thursday (10 January) and the winners will be unveiled next month (24 February). So far, little has been revealed about their plans for the ceremony except that Seth Macfarlane will host and there will be a 50th anniversary tribute to the venerable James Bond franchise. Will Daniel Craig be there? 'Maybe,' Zadan said, smiling, but refusing to divulge a thing.