Calls for Boycott of Oscars Grow Over Diversity of Nominees

[IDemo]

Source: ABC News

Calls for a boycott of the Academy Awards are growing over the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences' second straight year of mostly white nominees, as Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith each said Monday that they will not attend this year's ceremony.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Lee said he "cannot support" the "lily white" Oscars. Noting that he was writing on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lee — who in November was given an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards — said he was fed up: "Forty white actors in two years and no flava at all," he wrote. "We can't act?!"

In a video message on Facebook, Pinkett Smith also said she wouldn't attend or watch the Oscars in February. Pinkett Smith, whose husband Will Smith wasn't nominated for his performance in the NFL head trauma drama "Concussion," said it was time for people of color to disregard the Academy Awards.

"Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power," she said. "And we are a dignified people and we are powerful."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/calls-boycott-oscars-grow-diversity-nominees-36359282

[katsy]

1. Good for them.

I won't be watching.

And it's as she said, insulting, that this is an issue, or that it needs be pointed out.

[roguevalley]

15. plus a zillion

[xocet]

2. Someone should ask, "Ok...Who should have been nominated and for what movies?" n/t

[Undah Covah Brotha]

9. The following...

Actors:
Will Smith - Concussion
Idris Elba - Beasts of No Nation
Michael B. Jordan - Creed

Movies:
Straight Outta Compton

[xocet]

24. Is that a comprehensive list? n/t

[Blue_Adept]

25. Beasts wasn't going to get anything because of the Netflix aspect

Theatrical run first and all, but the industry is still looking to punish them for thinking they can compete.

I didn't see Concussion so I can't state on Smith's performance.

Jordan should have gotten something for Creed.

As good as Compton was, it's not best picture material.

The awards are a symptom, not the problem is what it comes down to.

It's also something of really understanding how the awards work, and both Pinkett and Lee know that. They know it's how hard a studio is going to push. Warner Bros has Mad Max and Creed in the mix. The critical acclaim for Mad Max was brewing for months since it came out in May and they knew they could get screeners (and release copies) to academy voters. Creed hit right in the midst of the voting period and they didn't push it as hard because they had no idea if it would resonate.

There's also the problem that most of the academy voters only vote for movies they see. They may get three dozen screeners, watch a dozen, and vote based off of that.

So it's not exactly a black/white situation. It's something that needs a wholesale reworking.

[Calista241]

30. i can see a nomination for Straight Outta Compton and Michael B Jordan

and I think they both got stiffed. I wasn't too impressed with Concussion or Beasts.

I kinda think the Academy is in a tough situation. Like it or not, the black population is 15% of the total US population. Movies that are made to specifically target this audience are marketing to a maximum attendance of around 40m viewers.

Movies made specifically to target the white population have a potential viewership of 200m people. It's simple economies of scale, more movies are made to appeal to white people because there's more potential revenue.

[CBGLuthier]

31. There is also Lee's new film Chi-raq which has gotten excellent reviews.

There are definitely not enough roles and movies being made which is another issue altogether. I don't think Mr. Smith deserved a nomination this year but Jordan sure did.

[Action_Patrol]

37. I thought Creed was a top tier Rocky sequel

He did fine. I enjoyed the movie but I don't think he did anything spectacular with the role. I don't see anyone looking to give him an award for Fantastic 4 and I feel he brought the same to each role.
On the other hand, he was great in Fruitvale.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. 2015 Hollywood Diversity Report: Flipping the Script, from the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African

American Studies at UCLA is at the following link, 60 pages for those who really want to get into the meat of the matter...in many ways the 'Hollywood' problems and solutions are microcosms of our national paradigms. This study shows that more diverse entertainment products tend to make more money, and that will eventually motivate changes but at the same time the fact that there is money on the table not being absolutely lunged at by the biz demonstrates the entrenched and systemic nature of what is in the end simple discrimination.

http://www.bunchecenter.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2015-Hollywood-Diversity-Report-2-25-15.pdf

[MuseRider]

4. I stand with them.

There are many incredible actors who are not white. This is not right.

[Lizzie Poppet]

5. But did any of them give top 5 performances last year in their category?

If someone was left off who gave an obviously Oscar-caliber performance, then that's certainly worth raising a fuss about. But if no such standout performance is there in a given category, then so what? As another poster has asked, I'd want to know what are the glaring omissions?

[MuseRider]

7. All I can say to this from my standpoint

is that there are many many very talented AA actors. It seems hard for me to believe we would have a totally white top of the list.

I don't know but knowing how things are in this country I don't really care all that much. Make the noise, if they feel they are not considered then they probably are not so make the noise and get people to pay some attention. It takes all of us. Do you really think this community would be upset and making noise if there was no reason?

[Undah Covah Brotha]

10. The following...

Actors:
Will Smith - Concussion
Idris Elba - Beasts of No Nation
Michael B. Jordan - Creed

Movies:
Straight Outta Compton

[brush]

13. I'd add the boy solder in Beasts of No Nation also. The story was told through his eyes.

It could also be added to the best picture category — watching it was quite a compelling experience.

[oberliner]

17. Will Smith's accent in Concussion was atrocious

Could that not find an actor of Nigerian background to play that role?

[Lizzie Poppet]

26. Thanks! I'll have a look.

I haven't been the movie junkie I once was...not for quite a while. I'll give these a look.

[tabasco]

28. Will Smith?

LMFAO.

[Action_Patrol]

14. Idris Elba

He's phenomenal in everything. He's the glaring omission on my list.

[MuseRider]

23. I agree. Oh yes. n/t

[Lizzie Poppet]

27. Cool, thanks!

I'll check him out!

[Lakerstan]

6. Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan, Will Smith would have been possibilities.

But the nominations come from the actors themselves via the actors branch of the academy. Annette Bening is the head of that branch. As far as I know, nobody is calling her racist. The president of the Academy is an African American woman. As one producer in the below article points out, the real problem may be the lack of movies and roles for black people to begin with.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-all-white-oscar-acting-nominees-20160114-story.html

[oberliner]

18. Any women?

Or just men?

[jeff47]

8. IMO, the problem is much earlier in the "pipeline"

Gotta green-light a movie with a minority actor before they can be nominated for an Oscar.

[Blasphemer]

20. I agree... the Oscars are a symptom of a greater problem.... nt

[Conch]

11. I won't watch...

Of course I am 44 and have never watched nor could I imagine me becoming interested in the future.

That said, I won't click a link tomorrow that has anything to do with the winners or the awards, which I might have done otherwise.

[Initech]

12. I'm incredibly disappointed that Straight Outta Compton wasn't nominated for best picture.

It's one of the best bio pictures ever made and the way it should be done - the artists telling their story, not some corporate board room. Huge snub... maybe worst since The Dark Knight?

[mcar]

16. Good

Ignoring the many fine performances by actors of color for the second year is just ridiculous.

[Snow Leopard]

19. Just looked

at the NBA player awards for 2015. All the winners were black. Not one latino, asian, or white guy in the mix. I'm suprised no one is outraged. :^)

[raindaddy]

21. Not sure the Oscars are to blame as much as an industry that needs to include more black...........

women and men in all phases of the creative process of making movies...

It would make more sense to start at the top, more black actors, directors, writers, editors and producers... we'd see more awards going to black people.

[romanic]

22. I agree 100% with what Jada said

"Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power," she said. "And we are a dignified people and we are powerful."

[IMG][/IMG]

Screw the Oscars and screw Hollywood.

[Kablooie]

29. It's not the Academy that neglected to nominate actors of color...

It's the actor branch of the Academy.

Everyone can vote for everything to select the winner but nominations for each category are voted on only by members of that branch.
Actors vote for actors, cinematographers vote for cinematographers, costumers vote for costumers, etc.

So the lack of nominations for actors of color does not necessarily reflect the whole of the Academy.

[LiberalLovinLug]

32. I think a boycott like this does more harm than good

Was it last Oscars or the year before that 12 Years a Slave won Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay for Ridley, and Best Supporting Actress for Nyong'o. And it was well deserved. But as someone else pointed out, AAs represent 15% of the population. And presumedly this is reflected in the Hollywood actor population. It is only logical that the odds are that white actors will end up with more nominations simply based on demographics. As are the odds of the best performance. And I just do not see a kind of forced affirmative action nomination requirement jiving with any kind of creative industry.

[Mosby]

33. Will Smith is not a great actor

He's the black Bruce Willis and that's being generous.

[Heeeeers Johnny]

34. Spike Lee?

I wasn't even aware that that angry, spiteful, little dickhead was still around.

I'll gladly sit in his empty seat, but only if he sends me the plane fare and provides the hotel accommodations
over there.

[leftyladyfrommo]

35. Which black actors do they think we're passed over?

Will Smith? I didn't see the movie so I don't know how good he was.

Is the real problem that there aren't enough really good roles for black actors?

We have some great black actors. Hollywood needs to use them more.

[Kurska]

36. Will Smith had a fantastic performance in concussion.

Absolutely amazing. Really a shame he wasn't nominated.

That said, I wasn't that into straight outta comptom.

[Mosby]

38. Have you seen the martian?

Really good performance by Damon.