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Looking for diversity, Hollywood PEOPLE & ARTS A29
could simply just turn on the TV Saturday 23 January 2016
AP Newsbreak:
Film academy announced reforms to diversify
JAKE COYLE portunity, including cable SANDY COHEN 51-member board of gov- The organization also plans
AP Film Writer and streaming networks AP Entertainment Writer ernors unanimously ap- to diversify its leadership
NEW YORK (AP) — As Hol- with deep pockets and a The film academy is pledg- proved a series of reforms beyond the board of gov-
lywood continues to be willingness for riskier mate- ing to double the number late Thursday to “begin ernors by adding new
battered by a backlash to rial. of female and minority the process of significantly members to key decision-
the lack of diversity in the Though the television land- members by 2020, and will changing our membership making committees, and
Oscar nominations and in scape was less diverse just immediately diversify its composition,” Isaacs said. further diversify its mem-
the film industry at large, a few years ago, it’s — for leadership by adding three The number of minorities bership with a global cam-
it doesn’t have to look far now — flush with the likes new seats to its board of currently serving as mem- paign to identify and re-
for inspiration: Just turn on of Lee Daniels’ “Empire,” governors. bers of the academy has cruit diverse talent.
the TV. Aziz Ansari’s “Master of Academy president Cheryl not been revealed. Reaction came swiftly. Ava
Where the movies have None” and Jill Soloway’s Boone Isaacs announced Other changes include lim- DuVernay, director of last
lagged, television has “Transparent.” the changes Friday, fol- iting members’ voting sta- year’s best picture-nomi-
recently exploded with “How you fill up the vol- lowing a weeklong storm tus to a period of 10 years, nee “Selma,” tweeted that
diversity across the dial. ume is by writing more nar- of criticism and calls for an to be extended only if the the changes were “one
Now, the film industry will ratives,” said Davis. “And Oscar boycott after acad- individual remains active good step in a long, com-
be playing catch-up to the narratives have got emy members nominated in film during that decade. plicated journey for people
the small screen, where to be varied. Everything an all-white slate of actors Lifetime voting rights will of color and women art-
some of the most talent- can’t be the same. And for the second year in a be granted only to Acad- ists.” She added: “Shame is
ed people of color have therefore, it gives people row. “The Academy is go- emy Award nominees and a helluva motivator.”
turned for greater artistic the opportunity to come ing to lead and not wait for winners, and to members And director Rick Famuy-
freedom and the chance in and show what they the industry to catch up,” after three ten-year voting iwa, whose films include
to tell more varied stories can do.” To compete in she said in a statement. terms. Previously, all active “The Wood” and “Brown
that don’t require capes an increasingly crowded The Academy of Motion members received lifetime Sugar,” commented: “The
or marketability in China. media landscape, studios Picture Arts and Sciences’ voting rights. devil is in the details.” q
Many previous Oscar now bankroll fewer films
nominees are already and instead focus on big- Actress Dash: BET lies to black people
there. ger blockbusters that can
Ava DuVernay, director sell tickets around the DAVID BAUDER Stacey Dash attends the “American Sniper” premiere in New
of last year’s best picture- globe. It’s a strategy that AP Television Writer York. Dash wrote on her website that BET lies to its viewers and
nominee “Selma,” is cur- has been largely working NEW YORK (AP) — Don’t promotes segregation.
rently at work on “Queen (2015 set a record of $11.1 look for actress and Fox
Sugar,” a drama series billion at the box office), News Channel contributor (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN. but it has put a strangle- Stacey Dash to be working
John Ridley, the Oscar- hold on distinct voices, of on any more BET shows for Lee said the network was and Sam Smith, the net-
winning screenwriter of any color, who find little a while. created to give African- work said.
“12 Years a Slave,” is in daylight between hulking Dash questioned the Americans and lovers of On TV One, commentator
the second season of his franchises. black-oriented network’s black culture a place on TV Roland Martin showed how
acclaimed ABC series, As a producer, Whitaker very existence this week where they could consis- Dash has appeared on the
“American Crime.” For- twice found rejection at and wouldn’t back down tently see themselves rep- cover of several magazines
est Whitaker, who won the studios before raising despite criticism. She wrote resented and celebrated. geared to black audiences
best actor for 2006’s “The money independently for on her website that BET lies “African-American contri- and called her “a damn
Last King of Scotland,” is 2013’s “Fruitvale Station” to its viewers and promotes butions to American culture fool.” Dash, who was sus-
part of a “Roots” remake (the breakout debut of di- segregation. are countless and we can- pended from Fox for two
for A&E. Two-time Oscar rector Ryan Coogler and The dispute stemmed from not and should not wait for weeks last month for using
nominee Viola Davis is on star Michael B. Jordan, Dash’s “Fox & Friends” in- anyone to acknowledge an obscenity in a descrip-
Shonda Rhimes’ “How to who reteamed for the Os- terview Wednesday when them,” Lee said. tion of President Barack
Get Away With Murder” car-overlooked “Creed”) she was asked about the Several non-black artists Obama, wrote on her
for ABC. and Rick Famuyiwa’s 2015 lack of black nominees have either received BET website that most people
“TV cares about its audi- teen comedy “Dope.” for Academy Awards. The Awards or performed at have never heard of “The
ence,” says Davis, who “We’re taking a leap on former “Clueless” star said the annual awards show, Game” because it’s on BET.
in September became stories that maybe some- people need to make up including Robin Thicke, Jus- “I’m thankful for all of the
the first African-American body else says they just their minds between seg- tin Beiber, Eminem, Justin acting jobs I had,” she
to win an Emmy for best don’t get,” Whitaker said regation and integration, Timberlake, Ariana Grande wrote. q
actress in a drama. “TV when releasing “Dope.” “and if we don’t want seg-
wants to cater to the de- New streaming platforms regation, then we need
mographics of what is have provided new ave- to get rid of channels like
America.” nues for some filmmakers. BET and the BET Awards
Television is a faster, more Spike Lee, who has said he and the (NAACP) Image
nimble medium than film, won’t attend the Oscars, Awards, where you’re only
where movies regularly found a home for his lat- rewarded if you’re black.”
take years to make; but est film, the gang violence A tongue-in-cheek BET
it also has some structural takedown “Chi-Raq,” with tweeted a picture of Dash
advantages. Power in Hol- Amazon. The child sol- appearing in the network’s
lywood is still largely held dier drama “Beasts of No sitcom “The Game” and
by the six major studios Nation,” which provided asking, “can we get our
and a handful of other the much-praised but un- check back?”
large production compa- nominated performance More seriously, BET Chair-
nies. In television, there’s by Idris Elba, came from man and CEO Debra
a veritable ocean of op- Netflix.q
