Commenting on the critics with Simon Columb…
Patrick Goldstein for the LA Times writes about diversity within the Academy Awards:
“[Will] Packer was one of 176 film industry luminaries who were invited today to become academy members. And even though most of the headlines will inevitably focus on such A-list talent as Terrence Malick, Jonah Hill, Jessica Chastain and Matthew McConaughey, the academy did something that had somehow eluded the hidebound organization in recent years: It took a significant step toward diversifying its new membership.”
Read the full article here.
The article continues to highlight talent including Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou), Kerry Washington (actress in Ray) and Octavia Spencer (Oscar-winning actress for her role in The Help). Other than African-American talent, the list also includes a much more diverse range of actors from across the world. French actors Jean Dujardin and Bernice Bejo (both from The Artist), Michelle Yeoh (from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha and Tomorrow Never Dies) and also Hong King film director Wong Kar Wai (director of stunning films In The Mood For Love and Chungking Express)!
This was an issue of great discussion pre-Oscars when John Horn, of the LA Times again, released a lengthy article exploring the old, white group of men who take up the vast majority of the academy voters. I even commented on that post in February myself.
It is something to be truly celebrated. This is a real step in the right direction. A direction that will (a) ensure that the Oscars play a major role across the worldwide cinema scene (opposed to merely the US market) and (b), ensuring that the dynamic of the voters are of a different background to the current group of voters. The LA Times explained further that, of the new voters offered, a whopping 30% were women whilst 14% are non-white.
The worry is how, as Goldstein notes, the industry itself doesn’t embrace of reflect such diversity. I have mentioned before the bigger issues that litter the output of Hollywood films, but as long as everyone is doing their part, slowly-but-surely, things should change.
I question if the press coverage of “Academy Awards don’t discriminate [as much]” is as big a story as the article, during Oscar season, stating the opposite. I doubt it.
Originally published July 1, 2012. Updated April 10, 2018.
