Academy Desperate for Black Talent to Present During Oscars

The Oscars have received a lot of criticism in the past two weeks for the lack of diversity in their nominees, as well as their voting methods, to which they responded with a plan to overhaul the system. Disagreements over why the Oscars lack diversity at the highest level are common, but the most common explanations are that the membership of the Academy is too white, too old and too male, and that there are simply too few films made which employ non-white actors or are produced by non-white executives. “Are you saying that I have voted (consciously or unconsciously) to exclude women, members of the LGBT community and other minorities?” “You must be employed in the same kinds of quality films that got you into the Academy in the first place”, the document says, adding, “The intention is to be inclusive”. Director Spike Lee said he wouldn’t attend, Jada Pinkett Smith called for a wider boycott (possibly miffed at husband Will Smith’s snub), and previous winners Lupita Nyong’o and George Clooney called for more inclusiveness.

Despite last week’s announcement by the Academy of a landmark campaign to diversify its voters ranks, a chapter of Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network is moving ahead with protest plans. I think the issue is much more systemic and I hope that’s what changes, hearing more diverse stories, but I feel like finally there’s some steps going in the right direction. “Please explain to me how denying me my right to vote makes the academy membership and the Oscar nominees more diverse?” For instance, she worked on a yet-to-be-released film for which she’s supposed to receive onscreen credit as a character designer. I resent being discriminated against in this matter. “That’s what’s going to make the change”. So if they define it only as theatrical features, then they will be out.

Last week the academy announced that from now on, each new member’s voting status will last 10 years, to be renewed if the member is active in the industry during that decade.

In an open letter to Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs published by the Hollywood Reporter, long-time publicity veteran Mark Reina slammed efforts to take away his voting privileges.