Hollywood Boulevard is looking more and more like the welcome stage for the Academy Awards. Workers rolled out the early pieces of the famous red carpet for the Oscars on Wednesday (February 22). 　　Preparations of the 84th annual Academy Awards began on Tuesday with the construction of tents and bleachers. Approximately 1500 man hours are required to lay the 25,000 square feet of the regal rug. 　　Robert Rang, who designed this year's red carpet area, says that putting the first pieces of the carpet on the ground marks a turning point in the preparations for the awards show. 　　Robert Rang: "Well when they roll out the red carpet it means that we're on out way, that we go into the next phase. Once the carpet is out, then we start finish tying up the entire red carpet area with our rope and stanchions and bring out the oscars and stuff. It means we're on the home stretch." The red carpet will welcome some of Hollywood's biggest stars for the annual awards show on Sunday February 26. (John Russell/ Reuters)