Internet protests all-white Oscar acting nominees for 2nd yr in row

The representations of black people in art, fashion, the media and in films set societal norms, and societal norms ultimately can end up, affecting, say, legislation.

But hey, at least The Weeknd beat out Ellie Goulding for a nomination in the Best Song category for “Earned It” in “Fifty Shades of Grey”.

A tweet from the official account for Tribeca, the New York City film production company co-founded by Robert De Niro in 1988, said: “Zero nonwhite actors have been nominated for Oscars”. Idris Elba was also considered a nominations favourite for his role in Beasts of No Nation.

Sylvester Stallone, who is white and revived his role as Rocky Balboa in Creed, did however score a nomination, as well as a Golden Globe award for the role.

Films “Straight Outta Compton” and “Creed” – featuring largely black casts and lauded by critics – have also missed out.

Last year, Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in an interview with the Associated Press that those behind the Oscars are “committed to seeking out diversity of voice and opinion”.

With Idris Elba, Will Smith and Michael B Jordan failing to get any recognition in the coveted acting categories at the 88th Oscars, the Academy is again facing controversy for ignoring black talent.

The Academy voter ship that is 94 percent white, 76 percent male and on average 63 years-old. We have nothing to do with hiring.

Contenders: Redmayne will most likely get his second consecutive nomination, enough people saw Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs to get him in there, and Bryan Cranston (Trumbo) starred in a movie about the movies. Additionally, LGBT films Dallas Buyers Club and Philomena were up for the top prizes. It’s a competitive category when this guy is on the outside looking in, but The Revenant’s resident villain marks one of his best efforts. Latino, African American, Asian and other people of color now make up 51 percent or more of movie-goers in the USA, which means that Hollywood could be casting them as heroes and heroines in somewhat equivalent numbers and still do well domestically. After nominations for the 2016 Oscars were announced on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, many expressed surprise that the lack of diversity persisted despite the huge backlash a year ago when all acting nominees were white.

There are many theories as to why film is falling behind television in this way – including the nervousness and conservatism of risk-averse film studios in an age of piracy and streaming – but given the commercial and critical success of shows like Empire or Orange is the New Black, its hard not to conclude that film studios are simply behind the curve of when it comes to who and what audiences want to see. Now a little more than 20 years later, same-sex marriage has been legalized on a federal level and supporting AIDS charities is as socially acceptable as buying Girl Scout cookies.

Unless, of course, you’re the Academy, in which case you refuse to acknowledge child actors unless they are the Hollywood version of Jesus Christ himself.

Joseph Anthony, CEO of the marketing agency Hero Group, thinks there needs to be more pressure put on the Academy than there already has been.