Members of the Academy are Racists?

[Forty Two]

Here is the basic process for picking nominees for the Academy Awards (AKA the Oscars). http://mentalfloss.com/article/54560/ho ... ees-chosen

Some folks are boycotting the Oscars because the films nominated are too white.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainmen ... -1.2500532

So, they are, either expressly or by implication, saying that the 6,028 members of the Academy who vote on the films chosen for awards are, in fact, collectively racist. They are not nominating quality black films, actors, directors, etc. for the awards. Thousands of Hollywood actors, tending to be politically liberal, are discriminating against black people.

[Seth]

Well, it appears that this crop of black actors just didn't show extraordinary talent this year.

Although Samuel Jackson could have gotten screwed merely because he made the mistake of working with that delusional fuckwit Quintin Tarantino. Way to sabotage your own movie dude!

[JimC]

Here is the basic process for picking nominees for the Academy Awards (AKA the Oscars). http://mentalfloss.com/article/54560/ho ... ees-chosen

Some folks are boycotting the Oscars because the films nominated are too white.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainmen ... -1.2500532

So, they are, either expressly or by implication, saying that the 6,028 members of the Academy who vote on the films chosen for awards are, in fact, collectively racist. They are not nominating quality black films, actors, directors, etc. for the awards. Thousands of Hollywood actors, tending to be politically liberal, are discriminating against black people.

How many of the 6,028 members of the Academy are white, and how many are black? It doesn't need to be a conscious bias...

[pErvinalia]

Exactly. And the number black non white actors to select for awards is way less.

[Animavore]

I haven't seen most of the black 'snubs' yet, but one I have to disagree with is Idris Elba in Beast of No Nation. His accent may have sounded OK to an untrained ear, like many thought Brad Pitt sounded good as an Irish traveller in Snatch, but to a person like me who has worked with many Africans over the years, socialised with them and at the beginning often strained and listened intently to understand some of the more difficult accents, Idris, who I usually love in things, I thought was terrible. Every time he was on the screen I just found him distracting. He sounded less like an African and more like Idris Elba talking funny. He was jarring against the rest of the African actors and sullied what I thought was an otherwise great film.

[Rum]

Perhaps the problem originates further back along the supply chain. Films with Oscar worthy black actors in them would seem to be a pre-requisite no? So that is an industry issue rather than just an academy one.

[Animavore]

The film Beast of No Nation itself should've got an Oscar nod. It was better than The Revenant and almost certainly better than fucking Joy!

[rachelbean]

Agreed with both of Ani's points. I think that what black actors and film makers should take away from this is the same thing that others should: The Oscars are shit and meaningless.

[cronus]

Maybe the industry knows the sort of folks who'll invest in a movie through various formats? or the cash to do that?

[laklak]

My first thought was "does anyone give a shit about the Oscars?" Apparently the answer is yes, though I don't understand it.

[pErvinalia]

Clearly people still do as it's one of the biggest events every year.

[Forty Two]

Here is the basic process for picking nominees for the Academy Awards (AKA the Oscars). http://mentalfloss.com/article/54560/ho ... ees-chosen

Some folks are boycotting the Oscars because the films nominated are too white.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainmen ... -1.2500532

So, they are, either expressly or by implication, saying that the 6,028 members of the Academy who vote on the films chosen for awards are, in fact, collectively racist. They are not nominating quality black films, actors, directors, etc. for the awards. Thousands of Hollywood actors, tending to be politically liberal, are discriminating against black people.

How many of the 6,028 members of the Academy are white, and how many are black? It doesn't need to be a conscious bias...

I'm not sure of the proportion. I did a quick google, and apparently as of about 2 years ago they were 94% white, 76% male. Average age is 63.

The average age, I think, is a function of how hard it is to become a member of the Academy. Only those young folks that were nominated for academy awards could join.

Well, if we all have unconscious bias to vote for our own race, then there doesn't seem to be a solution. If the proportion of blacks in the population is, what? 13 or 14%? And assuming the employees on films are approximately that same percentage, then only around 13 or 14% of the Academy would, in a proportionate world, be black. Would that change the outcome of voting?

[Forty Two]

Agreed with both of Ani's points. I think that what black actors and film makers should take away from this is the same thing that others should: The Oscars are shit and meaningless.

That's a very intersectionally insensitive comment, Rachelbean. The Oscars are the gay Super Bowl.

[pErvinalia]

[rachelbean]

No, pretty sure that's the Tony's