Spike Lee slams Hollywood for colour discrimination

Boone Isaacs additionally talked of Hollywood’s want for extra ethnic and gender equality within the business, a name that struck house with Lee whose profession is marked by films coping with race relations in america.

Tight security following the Paris terror attacks was in effect at Saturday night’s seventh annual Governors Awards, where Spike Lee, Gena Rowlands and Debbie Reynolds were to receive the first Oscars of Hollywood’s award season.

“We need to have a few serious discussions about diversity and get a few flavour up in this (sic)”, he said.

“This industry is so behind sports, it’s ridiculous”, said Lee from the podium. “It’s easier to be the president of the United States as a black person than be the head of a studio”. “Honest. Or the head of a network”. People in positions of hiring, you better get smart. “Reflect what this country looks like”.

On the same night that Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, announced a new initiative, A2020, in an effort to promote diversity in Hollywood over the next five years, Lee also addressed the topic.

“All of us here stand in solidarity and support with France and the French people”, she said, noting that country’s long history of film making and its love of cinema.

As the awards were presented Saturday in Hollywood, she said, “we mourn those who died”.

Looking lovingly at the golden trophy, Rowlands thanked the academy governors for “introducing me to this fine fellow”.

Lee then brought attention to the latest census numbers in the United States and suggested that Hollywood executives should look more closely at the absence of black studio heads.

Reynolds’ granddaughter, Billie Lourd, accepted the Oscar, saying she thought Reynolds would put the statue “in a place she’s always secretly saved for it. I think it’s next to the ruby slippers”. “I think I’ll take him home”. It’s what allows unlikely conversations to happen as it did in the smoker’s area when Jane Fonda grabbed a cigarette with Johnny Depp, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and director Quentin Tarantino.

Rowlands was presented with her award by Cate Blanchett, Laura Linney and her son, director Nick Cassavetes.

‘So you could see how unbelievably happy you have made me.

Film star Debbie Reynolds, who did not attend the ceremony because she was recovering from surgery, received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her work in raising public awareness of mental health issues.

In fact, Blacnhett joked while urging everyone to smile for a group photo, “Say ‘Cheese, vote for me!'”