Academy responds to Oscar nominations’ lack of diversity with ‘substantive changes’

Reeling from criticism over two straight years of all-white Oscar acting nominees, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a series of changes to its voting and membership procedures today with the aim of doubling its female and “diverse” membership by 2020.

Finally, the Academy has also taken immediate action by adding new members who are not Governors to the executive and board committees, which is where key decisions regarding membership and governance are made.

The organization is also instituting new rules affecting voting status: Each new member’s voting status will last 10 years; renewal is dependent on that new member being active in motion pictures during that decade. The modification will also apply retroactively to all current members-if he or she has not been active in motion pictures over the last decade, they will be moved to emeritus status, meaning they will neither pay dues nor have the privilege of voting. In other words, if a current member has not been active in the last 10 years they can still qualify by meeting the other criteria.

The Oscar nominees for Best Actor are announced by actor John Krasinski and Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs during the Academy Awards Nominations Announcement on January 14, 2016. “These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact and begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition”.

Several of Hollywood’s most prominent African-Americans, including Will Smith and Spike Lee, have said they won’t attend this year’s Oscars, which is to be hosted by Chris Rock.

When asked if he was attending, Will said: “No, my wife’s not going”.

On the board of governors itself, there are now 17 women among the 51 members, making up 33 percent of the board, which has the ultimate authority in determine Academy policies.

In a release, the Board of Governors says it has approved “substantive changes” regarding the Academy’s membership, governing bodies and voting members.

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs promised change, and change is coming.

With some small exceptions, this year’s nominations for acting Oscars are largely the same as those for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which are usually a strong indicator of winners on Oscar night.

Along with Boone Isaacs, the Board’s Membership and Administration Committee, chaired by Academy Governor Phil Robinson, led the efforts to enact these initiatives.

“It goes further than the Academy Awards”.