The Oscars controversy surrounding the lack of diversity

[A2K78]

First off I don't believe in the concept of diversity however this is far the best response to the issue:

http://variety.com/2016/film/news/john-singleton-oscar-diversity-reaction-1201682288

To add my 2 cents, there is also a good reason why don't see many film staring minorities let alone films by minorities get nominated and it come down to the concept of supply and demand, in this case demand. That said there just aren't any real demand for films or TV shows with minorities in the starring role and to make things even worst the US domestic market represent a shrinking fraction of the global market. It doesn't also help that alot of the financing for American film and TV are coming from foreign investors.

 

[TenEightyOne]

First off I don't believe in the concept of diversity...

That blinkered approach is probably how you feel comfortable writing this;

That said there just aren't any real demand for films or TV shows with minorities in the starring role

...which is bollocks, I think.

to make things even worst the US domestic market represent a shrinking fraction of the global market. It doesn't also help that alot of the financing for American film and TV are coming from foreign investors.

Which seems irrelevant.

 

[Famine]

That said there just aren't any real demand for films or TV shows with minorities in the starring role

Does anyone really care about the skin colour of the person in the leading role? Really?

 

[Dennisch]

Does anyone really care about the skin colour of the person in the leading role? Really?

Just look at the horrible visitor numbers of Star Wars VII.

 

[squadops]

It's Star Wars, the leading role could have been a pink elephant and the numbers would be the same.

IMO whatever actor best fits the role regardless of anything else would make the most sense as the movie would be of better quality. Quotas are never a good idea.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Does anyone really care about the skin colour of the person in the leading role? Really?

I suppose that it depends on what you judge to be a "quality" film. If ethnic and racial diversity were the only criteria, then I suppose that - in theory at least - you could wind up with Transformers: Exploding Alien Robot Dinosaurs winning Best Picture.

Winning an award like Best Picture/Actor/Director/etc. is an open acknowledgement of the quality of the film. But it's also a statement of what we found to be important or worthwhile at the time. For the nominations to be so one-sided misrepresents state of society at the time. A film like Selma should not be included on the short list of nominations just because it has a cast made up of minorities, because that just trivialises its subject matter. But if it's a well-made film, one that is worthy of recognition - and it is - then by all means it should be included.

 

[Speedracer8218]

there is also a good reason why don't see many film staring minorities let alone films by minorities get nominated and it come down to the concept of supply and demand, in this case demand. That said there just aren't any real demand for films or TV shows with minorities in the starring role and to make things even worst the US domestic market represent a shrinking fraction of the global market.

I'm guessing you don't watch too much TV... Here are some new shows that are pretty popular that have mostly minority actors:

Empire
Black-ish
Fresh off the Boat
Telenovelas
Cristela

Not sure what you mean by

It doesn't also help that alot of the financing for American film and TV are coming from foreign investors.

Care to elaborate? Or maybe provide source...

 

[JKgo]

...I was wondering when this topic might show up in here. Well, here it is, and it's off to a great start, really.

Idris not getting nominated for an Oscar this year is a major snub. I know Beasts of No Nation's a Netflix movie so it falls on that grey area of "TV" movie, but it did receive limited release in cinemas. He is really, really good in that film.
Also, Straight Outta Compton not getting a nod for Best Pic? Huh.
Can't wait for Chris Rock to crack me some jokes during the ceremony...

 

[Tornado]

Michael B. Jordan most certainly should have gotten a nomination for Creed like Sly did, but he probably shouldn't have agreed to be in Fantastic Four either. It wouldn't be the first time that a great piece of acting was completely ignored because of another movie that came out at around the same time.



And I'm guessing Straight Outta Compton didn't get anything because it sucked more than because of any underlying racism on the Academy's part, not that underlying racism helped its chances any.

 

[Swagger897]

Empire
Black-ish

If you live where I do, these are viewed as racially target programs (which they are).

Sorta lick McDonald's McPick 2 advert.. who are they exactly trying to target?

And there's a difference between targeting and showing the story of something, but when the former shows the stereotypical nuance of society, then you've just shot yourself in the foot.

 

[Speedracer8218]

If you live where I do, these are viewed as racially target programs (which they are).

Sorta lick McDonald's McPick 2 advert.. who are they exactly trying to target?

And there's a difference between targeting and showing the story of something, but when the former shows the stereotypical nuance of society, then you've just shot yourself in the foot.

To be honest I don't watch any of those shows, I was just pointing out to OP that minority TV shows are in demand nowadays.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

And I'm guessing Straight Outta Compton didn't get anything because it sucked more than because of any underlying racism on the Academy's part, not that underlying racism helped its chances any.

It wasn't great, but it did try to tackle an interesting issue - the point where freedom of expression and social responsibility collide. But I doubt that the Academy would have looked favourably on the way large parts of NWA's history were neglected. One could call it creative licence or the time constraints of the film, but the implication is that the film deliberately misrepresented the individual members of the group at their request, censoring questionable aspects of their lives, which in turn undermines the main thematic concern. It's hard to question where freedom of expression and social responsibility intersect when the story revises history so extensively.

 

[Swagger897]

To be honest I don't watch any of those shows, I was just pointing out to OP that minority TV shows are in demand nowadays.

In demand by who? That's the question.

I don't share the same views as the OP, but I understand why this debate exists. It will get out of hand once someone goes on to compare it to the civil rights movement being denied what they think is theirs (not that I don't think it isn't their right to do what the civil rights grants them, but the comparison of and the "entitlement" factor).

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I don't think that anyone will argue that they have a right to be nominated or ein because of their background, but rather that they have a right to be recognised for their contributions to cinema. I am really struggling to understand why Selma missed out, given that it depicts the civil rights movement at a time when race relations - particularly between minority communities and law enforcement - has been such a topical social issue.

 

[Dennisch]

. I am really struggling to understand why Selma missed out,

Because, just like Straight outta Compton it wasn't all that great of a movie. And if my memory serves me correct, Oscars are given for performances and such, not for picking a hot topic.

 

[Northstar]

I really think this is just more making a mountain out of a mole hill. They would have a point if there was some long running trend where they snubbed "black" films but it's just not the case.

I am really struggling to understand why Selma missed out,

It was nominated for "best film" last year, unless you are talking about something else.

Of course there is the bigger issue of why people are putting so much focus on a celebrity circle jerk.

 

[FoRiZon]

Just asking, who is the "minority" exactly?

Remember the 12 Years of Slave got an Oscar 2 years ago and A Nigerian born Lupita Nyongo got one for the best actress.

 

[Joey D]

Can we address the real controversy? You know the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio is yet to win an Oscar. I mean the damn bear in The Revenant will probably win the award.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Winning an award like Best Picture/Actor/Director/etc. is an open acknowledgement of the quality of the film. But it's also a statement of what we found to be important or worthwhile at the time.

Agreed, however, it should be noted that most of the voting bloc that make up the Oscars are film critics who have watched these movies a few times just so that they get to know the film.

For the nominations to be so one-sided misrepresents state of society at the time.

I disagree. If anything, it does show equality in the sense that black actors are now judged just as equally as their white peers. I have a "proof in concept" in that anything that requires the "Rooney Rule" (the infamous NFL rule regarding head coaching jobs), is probably the wrong profession to be in.

A film like Selma should not be included on the short list of nominations just because it has a cast made up of minorities, because that just trivialises its subject matter. But if it's a well-made film, one that is worthy of recognition - and it is - then by all means it should be included.

Two things:

1. Selma was nominated for Best Picture last year (as someone previously stated earlier)

2. I don't know what you are trying to argue here. A great picture should be the sum of its parts, not necessarily what skin color the actors are.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Every year "deserving" people in the film industry get snubbed. It's highly political and it's a popularity contest and sympathy plays a large part. I used to watch a lot when I was younger but the movies I actually really liked and went to see never seemed to win anything, it seemed like it was always some artsy film that crapped out at the box office but was the darling of the critics.

African Americans are are about 12.5% of the population of the U.S. according to Wikipedia.

21% of the last 15 Best Actors were black.
7% of the last 15 Best Actresses were black.
7% of the last 15 Best Picture winners featured black slavery.
7% of the last 15 Best Supporting Actor winners were black.
27% of the last 15 Best Supporting Actress winners were black.

13.8% = Average chance of winning over the past 15 years in one of the 5 major categories if you are black. Argue the merits of individual years all you want but the stats don't lie.

Seems to me the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is 1.3% prejudiced against white folks and other minorities. Much ado about nothing and just another opportunity for race Hustlers like Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to stir up trouble where none exists. IMO of course

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

(yup, she's black)

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Not really sure why Jennifer Jasom Leigh got nominated for The Hateful Eight, considering that she didn't do much in it.

 

[TenEightyOne]

African Americans are are about 12.5% of the population of the U.S. according to Wikipedia.

21% of the last 15 Best Actors were black....

The discussion is about this year's nomination list and last year's.

Last year, the hopes for diversity were based on one film, Paramount’s “Selma,” which earned two nominations, for best pic and song (winning the latter). This year, there were more opportunities, including “Creed,” “Straight Outta Compton” and “Chi-raq,” as well as “Beasts of No Nation” (directed by Cary Fukunaga). As with last year, the Hispanic/Latino filmmakers were represented only by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and his team in the “money” categories....If hiring reflected the U.S. population, Oscar voters would have weighed 150-plus films directed by women, 45 directed by blacks, 50 by Hispanics, and dozens of movies by directors who are Asian-American, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities and members of other minorities. Of course, the actual tallies were a fraction of those numbers.

As for this;

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (yup she's black)

She doesn't make the nominations. The mostly-white-male-over-60 Academy members do. She says she's "heartbroken and frustrated" by the situation and that the community's concerns are "very real".

Saying "Yup, she's black" seems to suggest that there can't possibly be any problem as long as the black community is represented somewhere, at least. Reminds me of this article, we were told it couldn't possibly have a racist premise as it was written by a Hispanic.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

African Americans are are about 12.5% of the population of the U.S. according to Wikipedia.

21% of the last 15 Best Actors were black.
7% of the last 15 Best Actresses were black.
7% of the last 15 Best Picture winners featured black slavery.
7% of the last 15 Best Supporting Actor winners were black.
27% of the last 15 Best Supporting Actress winners were black.

13.8% = Average chance of winning over the past 15 years in one of the 5 major categories if you are black. Argue the merits of individual years all you want but the stats don't lie.

Where is it written that the percentage of minority nominations and winners is capped at the percentage of the minority population?

 

[Jawehawk]

Just like with feminists, these idiots seem to have the idea that equality is about a 50/50 ratio, when in reality, it's about equal opportunity. But hey, as per usual, Hollywood is sure to cater to whatever side is most politically correct.

Skin color, background or gender should have zero impact on whether you are norminated for a role.

I don't think that anyone will argue that they have a right to be nominated or ein because of their background, but rather that they have a right to be recognised for their contributions to cinema. I am really struggling to understand why Selma missed out, given that it depicts the civil rights movement at a time when race relations - particularly between minority communities and law enforcement - has been such a topical social issue.

Are you saying that Selma deserves to be norminated solely because of the subject that it deals with, regardless of how bland the actual movie was?

 

[Pupik]

Here's what really bothers me; the lack of "diversity" issue seems to be focused on Best Actor, Best Actress, and...what else? Here's all the available Academy Awards:

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Animated Feature
Best Animated Short Film
Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Director
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short Subject
Best Film Editing
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Live Action Short Film
Best Makeup
Best Original Score
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Song
Best Original Story
Best Picture
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Mixing
Best Visual Effects

So this "issue" attempts to trivialize the importance of the other available awards.

Secondly, at what point do we get to say that race doesn't matter anymore? If everything is fair and equal, then yes? But if "we" are seemingly not included, then no?

I'm not a big movie fan; in fact, I've seen two new movies all of last year. And to be fair, I probably see one or two movies a decade which might garner a Best Picture/Actor/Actress. But what roles were African-Americans playing? Were they derivative roles? Anything ground-breaking? Anything which moved the Motion Picture Academy?

In the end, there's too much variable about this issue, and the issue doesn't really matter; it's forced outrage. An award doesn't really mean anything; are awards the only thing that matter? If they are, then chances of disappointment are always going to be high. Step back for a moment and see what an acting Oscar is: An award for pretending to be someone you are not.

There's always going to be great movies and roles which get snubbed. There's great and wonderful albums, songs, and performances which never get a shot at a Grammy nomination. That never stops them from being memorable or important. Scads of artwork, literature, architecture, design that changes our opinions, changes culture, changes our lives....most of it will go unrewarded and under-decorated. Same goes for scientific breakthroughs and discoveries, et al; not everything gets a Nobel Prize, let alone even be published in a timely manner.

Award decisions are constantly arbitrary, and the outrage at the arbitrary is utterly pointless.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Where is it written that the percentage of minority nominations and winners is capped at the percentage of the minority population?

Nowhere, but on the other hand, there is such a thing as misappropriation to the society. @Johnnypenso may have touched on some numbers related to acting, but here is some numbers that may shock you even more.

In the NFL, Blacks, as of the 2014 season, held 1,151 out of 1,699 position player jobs in the NFL, or about 68%. However, if we exploriate that to the number of total coaches in the NFL, which again as of the 2014 season, there is only 13% of Black coaches in the NFL. As of the current season, there are only four minority head coaches in the NFL.

Now what does that speak for? It says that not all good players can be good coaches, just take a look at some of the names being shuffled around each time an NFL coach gets fired, and it says that all great coaches can be not so good players, just take a look at Andy Reid. I mean, he has fantastic coaching skills that gets him very good job security.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Only if you assume that the trend is linear and constant. There is no reason why films made by people from minority backgrounds cannot dominate the Oscars.

 

[photonrider]

Nominations are made by Hollywood professionals who are usually 'pretty damn old'.

"They don't know what each other is doing. It's not as if there's an actual political process. The awards are just fine the way they are. Just don't take them too seriously." - Bart Testa, Senior Lecturer, Cinema Studies, University of Toronto.

The only problem being that some producers might do; nominations and awards help in a resume.

 

[zzz_pt]

I'll try to give my best and last comment on this topic because it's not something I want to spent time even discussing.

This is just regressive bee-ess.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Nowhere, but on the other hand, there is such a thing as misappropriation to the society. @Johnnypenso may have touched on some numbers related to acting, but here is some numbers that may shock you even more.

In the NFL, Blacks, as of the 2014 season, held 1,151 out of 1,699 position player jobs in the NFL, or about 68%. However, if we exploriate that to the number of total coaches in the NFL, which again as of the 2014 season, there is only 13% of Black coaches in the NFL. As of the current season, there are only four minority head coaches in the NFL.

Now what does that speak for? It says that not all good players can be good coaches, just take a look at some of the names being shuffled around each time an NFL coach gets fired, and it says that all great coaches can be not so good players, just take a look at Andy Reid. I mean, he has fantastic coaching skills that gets him very good job security.

It's clear the NFL is racist against white players and something must be done. I suggest a million white man March on NFL headquarters fueled by mass quantities of cheeseburgers, fries and watered down American beer (still hard to believe you call that stuff beer) with Confederate flags optional.

Where is it written that the percentage of minority nominations and winners is capped at the percentage of the minority population?

The same place where it's written that, although the recent historical percentages suggest that blacks are winning the major Oscars in line with their population, it means it's racist when an individual year or two of no Oscars means racism.