The 72nd Academy Awards telecast aired on March 26th, 2000 live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Over 46 million viewers tuned in, and it currently stands as one of the highest rated Academy Awards of the 21st Century. Critically acclaimed and technologically advanced, it was produced by Richard and Lili Fini Zanuck and hosted by Billy Crystal. The press wrote: "It was clean, snappy, high-gloss, and very well produced. And this year Billy didn't have to save the show." It was directed by Louis J. Horvitz who is one of the most prolific live TV directors in the world. Over the course of 4 days, the director's assistant's Steve Race and Micah Kwamina were granted unprecedented access to film the behind the scenes action. Armed with only a Canon GL1 Digital Video Camera, no sound equipment, and not even a tripod they captured what goes into the making of the biggest show on earth.