As the days count down to the Oscars, more people continue to back those who are boycotting the ceremony. This reaction has been caused by a “whiteout” of nominations. Many are appalled by the selections of the, recently reported, mostly white and male academy. In 2012, it was found in a Los Angeles Times study that membership to the academy was 94% white and 77% male. The Academy’s first African American female president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, responded quickly to this debacle. She said, “The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership. In the coming days and weeks, we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond” (Fox News). Actions have already been taken as of Thursday night, where the Academy unanimously voted to make changed to its members. They are going to be making more efforts to accept diverse voting members; their goal being to double the number of female and diverse members by 2020. More members are also being added to the executive board to allow them to become active, and give new insight to the movie selection processes. Though Isaacs’ efforts are appreciated by the boycotters and all of those offended; they still want this problem to be spread nationwide for everyone to see.
Pictured above is Cheryl Boone Isaacs, President of The Academy (blogs.indiewire.com)
Jada Pinkett Smith is one of the people boycotting the ceremony. Her husband, Will Smith, is the lead actor in the movie Concussion that received no nominations. She took a leveled approach when explaining her discontent with the nominees, “Begging for acknowledgment, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power…and we are dignified people and we are powerful” (Fox News). She doesn’t want to ask the Academy to nominate her husband, or any other nonwhite actors, actresses, directors, and so on; she wants to bring attention to it. She, as well as Will, think it is unjust and unfair. Spike Lee, an actor, also agrees with them; though he was more direct, “Forty white actors in two years…we can’t act?” (Fox News). Many others like last year’s Oscar winner, Lupita Nyong’o, and George Clooney also agree that improvements must be made.
Pictured are Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith for the Movie Concussion (justjared.com)
Though many are agreeing with the words of the actors and actresses, others aren’t so sure. For example, the director of Boyz N’ the Hood, John Singleton, spoke about the difficulty of being nominated, “There’s only so many slots, though…It’s all subjective. It’s almost like the lottery” (Fox News). Actress Jane Hubert, who played Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air seemed to be sickened by the outcries of her fellow actor’s wife. She said that there are other things to be concerned about regarding racism, saying, “People are dying. Our boys are being shot left, and right…And you’re talking about some [expletive] actors and Oscars” (USA Today). She went further and said that some people, like Will Smith, just don’t deserve a nomination for the movie they are in.
On the other hand, British director of 12 Years A Slave, Steve McQueen, said that not only the Academy to blame. He said that the industry doesn’t represent minorities well enough in their films to begin with, so there is a smaller selection when it comes to choosing; though he does admit that Creed, Straight Outta Compton, Concussion, and Beasts of No Nation should’ve been nominated for more. He realizes that this is a work in progress, and as time goes on, there will be more inclusion for all.
Pictured is Steve McQueen, director of 12 Years a Slave, accepting an Oscar for Best Picture in 2015 (auditions.com)
With new rules and members being added to The Academy, there is certainly a cry for change among the out dated film industry. It will be quite interesting to observe the film industry for years to come as decisions are made. The Oscars will also be the subject of many people's intrigues as February draws closer. Though Isaacs has taken action, it won't apply to this year's Oscars, and many people are still viewing this ceremony as negative. To say the least, this year’s Oscars will be an event many won’t want to miss; even if they aren’t necessarily watching.
