After the constant complaints and controversies surrounding the lack of diversity at the Oscars, the Academy have decided to do something about it.
The Academy has invited nearly 700 people – a record-breaking number – to join the ranks of the voters for the iconic film awards.
The demographic invited focuses mainly on women and people of colour, and if everyone who has been asked accepts that invitation, there will be significant changes in the overall demographic of the Academy. With the male membership slipping from 75 per cent to 73 per cent, and the white membership slipping from 92 per cent to 89 per cent, the change shows positive progress for the previously dominant white male Academy.
This change has been enacted after two years of what is commonly referred to as ‘Oscarssowhite’; the controversy and backlash that came from all of the actors in the performance categories consisting entirely of caucasian people. This prompted many people to review the way in which the industry denies the people racial equality, with many showing disdain at the state of things.
Among the new members invited to join, we see the likes of John Boyega, Alicia Vikander, Mary J Blige, Emma Watson and Amma Asante.
There seems to be a positive response to this push for more diversity, with Boyega tweeting: “always a blessing to be one of the many Oscar voters that will hopefully spark change.”
America Ferrera, known for her show Ugly Betty, also showed her gratitude via twitter saying: “it is a chance to create opportunity for others.”
Watch Oscars 2016 host Chris Rock make light of the problem below:
