The Oscars 2016. Criticisms rained down. For two years in succession, no colored actors were nominated despite the outstanding performance of actors like Idris Elba in the biographical movie, Straight Outta Compton (2016). Even Stephen Spielberg was convinced that this role would bring the British actor with African origins the Oscar. Jada Pinkett Smith, wife of Will Smith, was the first on Twitter to vent her displeasure about the nominations and proclaimed the Oscar Boycott. George Clooney and Lupita Nyong complained publicly, as well.
Consequently, many Hollywood stars boycotted the ceremony, which according to critics turned out “whiter than ever” in February 2016.
How was the exclusion of colored artists within the Academy Awards for two consecutive years possible? No one can name the exact reasons with great certainty. But the fact is that the composition of the 6000-membered jury of the so-called Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are grounds for criticism, as this is about 90% white, with 75% who are male and the average age of 60 years. These conditions surely build a breeding ground for wrong or insufficiently differentiated decisions…
Now, those in charge of the Academy Awards react with the establishment of new professionals in the Board of Governors, which is responsible for the organization and supervision of the ceremony and the precautions that must be taken in advance.
Included are now the African-American producer Reginald Hudlin and Korean-born director Jennifer Yuh Nelson, who are now more or less seen as symbolic figures of the efforts of the Academy Awards for increased variety and diversity.
Critics, however, remain adamant in their opinion that this effort won’t be sufficient. The composition of the Grand Jury must fundamentally change, as it is demanded by a lot of actors, directors, producers and other experts and professionals in the film industry in Hollywood and beyond.
Because of the heated controversy, movie fanatics are even more curious about the Oscar ceremony in 2017 and hope that the nominations will turn out to be fair.
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