The Oscars deserve lots of blame for this situation, but the problems go deeper than one awards show. It’s not just that movies like “Creed” or “Straight Outta Compton,” or actors like Michael B. Jordan or Will Smith were snubbed. It’s that, once you stop talking about “Creed” or “Straight Outta Compton” or Michael B. Jordan or Will Smith, you’re not left with much for the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to choose from.
2 comments:
I am a big fan of the Oscars, as a movie buff, but this year... I am at a loss for their choices. The last few years, the Oscars have chosen some of the most bland, cinematically twinkly and boring bio pics about white people I have ever seen. It's like if there were a formula it would be, a white person (preferably Eddie Redmayne), with some sort of society perceived problem, ie. physical disabilities, or being LGBTQ, lives in a period time, with some okay dialogue, with a movie that looks like its shot through an Instagram filter. And even the movies that break that mold, Mad Max, or last year's Birdman, and Boyhood, were still literally only about white people. The UCLA study mentioned in the article has been conducted for many years, and the last report in 2011 reported the white percentage in movies as 84%, so 73%, is terrible, but still at least progress. Can Hollywood, the directors who have actually said things along the lines of "People of color don't bring in the box office that white people do" (I'm looking at you Ridley Scott), not see the financial success of Star Wars, a movie about a black man, a hispanic man and a woman? Or, the commercial and critical success of Empire, as mentioned in the article. I am dumbfounded at the industry for not taking a second to look at the people who are watching their movies, and the people of color who are desperately auditioning for roles. They better soon, or the Oscars will begin the lose more respect than they already have.
I completely agree with Jamie on this issue. It has been quite a talk here at CMU as we have a great variety of ethnicity and race in the school of drama. Unfortunately their aspirations to become successful actors to the point of academy awards, are slowly diminishing. Star Wars and Empire are an great example of how successful minorities can make film and television. As we are in 2016, the times are changing and not everyone appreciates a white washed award ceremony when others also deserve a chance to win and commemoration for their outstanding film work. It's sad to see extremely talented people not be recognized for their accomplishments just because of the color of their skin or where they come from. There's gotta be a change, as I said, it's 2016. C'mon man!
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