Appointing "diversity" members to the Academy leadership is not the answer
This past week the leadership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the appointment of three new members to their Board of Governors. Reginald Hudlin, Gregory Nava and Jennifer Yuh Nelson. This is part of their effort to respond to the #OscarsSoWhite campaign and the fact that the 20 acting nominees from last month's Oscars were all Caucasian.
Anyone who believes for a moment that this will make any changes to the composition of next year's group of nominees is sadly mistaken. That's because in order for anything to change in Hollywood, the people who need to change how they make decisions are those who have the power to "green light" a movie. These new Academy governors don't have that power and they don't have a lot of influence or control over those who do.
Take a look at the very early predictions in the Hollywood Reporter for potential 2016 Best Picture nominees for the awards to be held in 2017. The overwhelming majority of names and photos are of "white people." When they cast Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt in the upcoming "Passengers" were any people of color even remotely considered for either of the lead roles? I think not.
Until the power brokers change their positions and take risks on people of color in the "important" films in meaningful roles, changing governors of the Academy is an exercise in futility.
Talent is not a function of racial makeup.
Anyone who believes for a moment that this will make any changes to the composition of next year's group of nominees is sadly mistaken. That's because in order for anything to change in Hollywood, the people who need to change how they make decisions are those who have the power to "green light" a movie. These new Academy governors don't have that power and they don't have a lot of influence or control over those who do.
Take a look at the very early predictions in the Hollywood Reporter for potential 2016 Best Picture nominees for the awards to be held in 2017. The overwhelming majority of names and photos are of "white people." When they cast Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt in the upcoming "Passengers" were any people of color even remotely considered for either of the lead roles? I think not.
Until the power brokers change their positions and take risks on people of color in the "important" films in meaningful roles, changing governors of the Academy is an exercise in futility.
Talent is not a function of racial makeup.
posted by me at 8:04 PM
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