Oscar Shakes Up Best Picture Eligibility Standards; Strict New Diversity Requirements

[malaise]

Take Full Effect In 2024
https://deadline.com/2020/09/academy-shakes-oscar-best-picture-eligibility-1234573172/
<snip>
As promised when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its Academy Aperture 2025 initiative in June, new standards of representation and inclusion have been announced by AMPAS today that will gradually be put in place for the 94th (2022) and 95th (2023) Oscars but in full effect beginning with the 96th Academy Awards in 2024. In its most dramatic swing toward true diversity, Oscar is laying down significant requirements in order to be eligible for Hollywood’s most sought-after prize: Best Picture.

Having at least one Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, Black/African American, Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native, Middle Eastern/North African, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander or unspecified other underrepresented race or ethnicity as a “lead or significant supporting actor” is a potential requirement under the new guidelines, with those ethnicities also mentioned for prominent production and marketing jobs. Additionally, employing women, LGBTQ+, members of a racial or ethnic group, and people with cognitive or physical disabilities or who are deaf or hard of hearing might be required for at least 30% of actors in secondary and more minor roles; having a storyline centered on an underrepresented group; hiring creative leadership and department heads; maintaining least 30% crew composition; paid internships; and representation in marketing and distribution also are potential areas in order to be a Best Picture contender. Producers don’t have to meet all of the requirements of the new doctrine, just half.
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More at link

[Glorfindel]

1. Sounds like a great idea to me!

Should make movies more interesting and exciting. Thanks for posting this, malaise.

[RobinA]

4. I Can't Think Why

Nothing mentioned has anything to do making better movies, it's about the physical characteristics of the actors and crew. It just takes even more focus off making a decent product, which is a goal that doesn't seem to hold a lot of sway in most movie making these days anyway.

[obamanut2012]

6. lol

[LonePirate]

2. These requirements have very little teeth actually.

Films must meet two or four requirements. The two easiest ones have nothing to do with the film itself - strong, diverse studio internships and diverse marketing/PR staffs. The internships are easy to ramp up if not already in place. Almost all studios in California and foreign countries have marketing and PR teams that easily meet the diversity requirements. Changing the actual content of films or film production crews (the other two requirements) are rendered moot because of the internship and marketing requirements.

In reality, very little will change due to these requirements.

[Aristus]

3. Won't these guidelines just make 'tokenism' worse?

"It's all right, boys! Our nomination is secure! We got an Asian guy!"

[msongs]

5. quotas won't work nt