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The nation has long since figured out that affirmative action is a failure, but elitist Hollywood liberals out of touch with mainstream America apparently didn’t get the memo.
Surrendering to the left’s #OscarsSoWhite campaign, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided awards will no longer go to the best movies, actors and production staff, unless the films includes an acceptable representation of people of color.
In an effort to increase representation and inclusion in Hollywood, the Academy has announced a set of diversity requirements for films to be eligible for an Oscar.
Change starts now. We've announced new representation and inclusion standards for Best Picture eligibility, beginning with the 96th #Oscars. Read more here: https://t.co/qdxtlZIVKb pic.twitter.com/hR6c2jb5LM
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) September 9, 2020
In a statement released online, Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson said: “The aperture must widen to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them. The Academy is committed to playing a vital role in helping make this a reality. We believe these inclusion standards will be a catalyst for long-lasting, essential change in our industry.”
Beginning with 2024’s slate of entries, the Academy is limiting Best Picture award nominees to those who meet requirements that “encourage equitable representation on and off screen,” according to Fox News. The goal is to ensure people of color fill more positions on a set, from the starring role to interns and everything in between.
For 2022 and 2023, a confidential Academy Inclusion Standards form is required to be submitted, though there may be some leeway in fully complying with established thresholds.
Probably a good time to rewatch thispic.twitter.com/fQdV4AJrNz#OscarsSoWhite #Oscars2020 #Awards #Diversity
— Bleeding Fool (@BleedingFool) September 9, 2020
Turns out, Hollywood looked to the Brits for guidance.
“Academy governors DeVon Franklin and Jim Gianopulos headed a task force to develop the standards that were created from a template inspired by the British Film Institute (BFI) Diversity Standards used for certain funding eligibility in the UK and eligibility in some categories of the British Academy of Film and Television (BAFTA) Awards, but were adapted to serve the specific needs of the Academy,” the Academy said in a release. “The Academy also consulted with the Producers Guild of America (PGA), as it presently does for Oscars eligibility.”
Requirements are from four categories, with films being required to adhere to two of the four to be deemed eligible:
On-screen representation, themes and narratives
Creative leadership and project team
Industry access and opportunities
Audience Development
Films must meet one of three requirements, which are to have at least one lead actor or significant supporting actor from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups — a list of acceptable racial demographics is included, have 30% of all actors in secondary and minor roles from these groups, or that the main storyline, theme or narrative of the film is centered on underrepresented groups.
Entries must also meet one of the following requirements: Two underrepresented groups are represented in creative leadership positions and department heads; film crew and technical positions include six people; or 30% of the film’s overall crew is either women, racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ or people with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing.
And that’s just scratching the surface of the detailed requirements shared.
As for the reaction from rational-minded actors, James Woods responded with just one word: “Madness.”
Madness. https://t.co/Drp7QxZjJx
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) September 9, 2020
Actress Kirstie Alley was a little more vocal in her opposition, labeling the changes as “dictatorial,” and “anti-artist.”
I’ve been in the motion picture Academy for 40 years. The Academy celebrates freedom of UNBRIDLED artistry expressed through movies. The new RULES to qualify for “best picture” are dictatorial .. anti-artist..Hollywood you’re swinging so far left you’re bumping into your own ass
— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) September 9, 2020
In responding to a tweet from Richard Grenell, the former Acting Director of National Intelligence, actor Nick Searcy took it further: “Hollywood has destroyed itself. It will never recover.”
Hollywood has destroyed itself. It will never recover. https://t.co/cUZb3QNCQG
— Nick Searcy, INTERNATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) September 9, 2020
Here’s a quick sampling of some other responses to the story from Twitter:
Movies are art. Try going to a gallery and telling a painter what elements MUST exist in their art. You’d be run out of town with paintbrushes held like pitchforks.
— Carney B (@KristenCarney) September 9, 2020
This isn’t change. This is telling artists how to make movies, who they should cast, what characters they should write. It’s like telling the recording academy that only certain types of songs can be up for a Grammy. It’s a terrible precedent.
— John Iglesias (@JohnDiglesias) September 9, 2020
Under this, you’ll exclude many movies based on historical/fantasy works simply due to the time & personal standpoint the author was drawing from. The Lord of The Rings movies wouldn’t have even been considered for an Oscar despite them being the greatest trilogy ever made. (c)
— SciFiFantasyGirl (@MySciFiFantasy) September 9, 2020
As a POC, I disagree with these standards. I believe it encourages discrimination by forcing employers to take into account a persons ethnicity instead of just their skill, which is what minor groups have been fighting against for so long. Also how will they police this?
— Jess (@UthinkUhaveTime) September 9, 2020
“Best Picture” is now “Most Politically Correct Picture”. Is it still the most important Oscar category?
— Alexus Forbis (@AlexusForbis) September 9, 2020
I assume “audience development” means preaching to the unenlightened all the wonderful things we need to learn. In other words, all the things I don’t go to movies for. Thanks for saving me money in the future.
— Just Tom (@thomasa56) September 9, 2020
How about we just give it to the best movie?
— Zoomer Nat (@zoomernat001) September 9, 2020
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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