Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 16 augusT 2018

Diversity-focused academy program boots Hollywood dreamers

By LINDSEY BAHR University of Southern Cali-
Associated Press fornia’s Annenberg Inclu-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The sion Initiative, across 1,100
diversity crisis in Hollywood of the top grossing films
may rage on, but the over the past decade, 64,
Academy of Motion Pic- or 5.2 percent, had black
ture Arts and Sciences con- directors and 38, or 3.1
tinues to try to open up ac- percent, had an Asian or
cess to the entertainment Asian-American director.
business for people from Academy Gold is an in-
underrepresented commu- dustry-wide effort to infuse
nities and give some a foot the entertainment business
in the door at the most criti- with diverse talent at the
cal moment — when col- early stages of a career.
lege graduation is in sight The film academy, which
and the job market is loom- puts on the Oscars, has
ing. been criticized in the past
For seven weeks this sum- for the lack of diversity in
mer, 107 college students its membership ranks, and
from across the nation con- has been making strides to
vened in Los Angeles for in- correct over the past two
ternships at places like HBO, years.
Warner Bros., Dolby Labo- In addition to inviting new
ratories, Universal Pictures, In this Feb. 21, 2015 file photo, an Oscar statue appears outside the Dolby Theatre for the 87th members with an eye to-
IMAX and AMC Networks, Academy Awards in Los Angeles. ward inclusion, the Acad-
in addition to film screen- Associated Press emy Gold program is ad-
ings and weekly panels on You” director Boots Riley The program, now in its the entertainment business dressing the issue at an ear-
various aspects of the film and actress Lily Collins, second year, continues to job market for anyone who lier stage.
industry from people at the who dished on the casting evolve. In addition to giv- isn’t a white, straight, able- Academy Gold wrapped
top of their fields. process. Cinematography ing spots to over 30 ad- bodied male. A survey from its summer program this
Notable speakers this sum- and production design stu- ditional students, this year the Center for the Study of past weekend and sent
mer included cinematog- dents even got to work with Academy Gold added a Women in Television and its second class of alumni
rapher Janusz Kaminski Daryn Okada, an acad- Production Track program Film found that of the top back to finish their college
(“Schindler’s List”), produc- emy governor, to recreate for students interested in 100 grossing films of 2017, educations armed with
tion designer K.K. Barrett a scene from “Mean Girls,” cinematography, produc- two percent had female a designated mentor for
(“Her”), “Sorry to Bother which Okada shot. tion design, post-produc- cinematographers and 14 eight months, contacts,
tion and film editing. percent had female edi- peers and even a few new
The statistics remain dire in tors. And according to the career ideas.q

Jim Lauderdale is consistently

grand on ‘Time Flies’

George Strait to Rodney “While You’re Hoping,” with
Crowell and from the Dixie echoes of Leon Russell and
Chicks to George Jones — Dr. John and mentions of
at a steaming pace. everyone from Cleopatra
Being prolific, however, to Monet.Maybe as a coda
would not mean much to his Beatle-inspired 2017
if Lauderdale’s songwrit- album, “London Southern,”
ing and singing weren’t as there’s gentle psychedelia
consistently great as “Time on “It Blows My Mind,” on
Flies” once again dem- which Lauderdale sounds
onstrates. The first half of a bit like Stan Ridgeway
the album explores classic on the verses. On the final
This cover image released
by Yep Roc Records shows and contemporary coun- tune, “If the World’s Still
“Time Flies,” a release by Jim try sounds: the melancholy Here Tomorrow,” Lauder-
Lauderdale. title track, the environmen- dale vows that, if we all live
Associated Press tally conscious “The Road Is to see another sunrise, “I’ll
By PABLO GORONDI a River,” the Willie Nelson- still be loving you,” dooms-
Associated Press like “Slow As Molasses” and day be damned.
Jim Lauderdale, “Time “When I Held the Cards,” Also seeing its long-delayed
Flies” (Yep Roc) Jim Lauder- a tear-jerker of a hard-luck release simultaneously with
dale is a steady geyser of story. There’s even more “Time Flies” is Lauderdale’s
Americana, releasing over variety later, including the first full album, a 1979 col-
two dozen solo albums and noir-ish “Wearing Out Your laboration with bluegrass
collaborations and writing Cool,” sax solo included, great Roland White which
for and with many mostly and two swinging tunes they recorded in Earl
country musicians — from in “Wild on Me Fast” and Scruggs’ basement.q