ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

9 years, 9 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Well, it's a racist world and the Academy is no different. Look, black filmmakers didn't get nominated because of overt racism, but because of institutional racism.

Think about "Straight outta Compton." When you have old white guys as the vast majority of Academy members, they aren't even going to watch a film they'll never understand, and is so far from their rich white privilege that it doesn't even cross their radar. A friend of mine was in "Colors." It was about gangs in Los Angeles. One executive told Dennis Hopper (the director) that it wouldn't work, because there were no gangs in Los Angeles. They are as out of touch now as they were then. But now it's: "nobody goes to see movies about black people." Even though "Straight Outta Compton" was made for 30 million and has grossed over 165 million so far. In the end, more people of color need to be behind the scenes as well as in front of the camera. The ratio of non-white characters has simply got to go up and make money before anyone in the Academy will take notice, and that's a hard row to hoe.

9 years, 9 months ago - Richard Woodburn

IMHO. The Oscar's will always be the Oscars and if anyone has just noticed then that's a sad reflection on the state of humanity. What about all the other years? They don't count!!? All my energy is put into producing and writing good content, but what I don't want is people to recognise me for my Hue, rather than the story as that is equally as insulting. The oscars will be the same next year and for the foreseeable future but I don't write to win gongs or statue's. I do it for the love of it and one day maybe just one day, someone will say, Wow that really moved me. That's good enough for me:)

9 years, 9 months ago - Chris Bogle

I may be being controversial here but I think the furore over the Oscars is utterly misplaced and risks drowning out the real problem. They are simply a mirror for the industry elites. My view is that awards - Oscars or otherwise - should be free from discrimination either positive or negative, and work should be judged on merit alone. Ethnicity should play no part whatsoever in the criticism of artistic output.

However, I do believe there is a huge diversity problem in the film industry, especially at entry level, and that is why we don't see diversity at the Oscars. It's not because the Oscars are racist, it's because the opportunities for minority groups are pulled away at the grass roots.

Film is an elite sport, it is expensive, and generally only possible to play at the levels required to get an Oscar by people with good resources, incredible talent or/and lots of luck. It also requires career choices that are difficult for women who want to take time out to raise families.

Demographically speaking, film at an elite level is a game available largely white men.

Want to fix Oscar diversity? Fund and train more film-makers. Get more talent through the system and make it a hell of a lot easier for people to get to film school. Fixing Academy membership is not going to make the Oscars more diverse.

Just my tuppenceworth.

9 years, 9 months ago - Chris Bogle

*Ethnicity or gender* that should have read.

9 years, 9 months ago - Chris Bogle

I agree wholeheartedly.

9 years, 9 months ago - Stuart Wright

Although the white writers of straight outta Compton got nominated for best screenplay ... So resonated enough with the academy to not be overlooked ... Or Syvester Stallone receiving best supporting actor nomination for Creed ... I think those two examples plus the perceived institutional racism tipped the scales enough for people to cry foul this year when considering a usual lack of diversity

9 years, 8 months ago - Garry Clarkson

I think WHEN Asif Kapadia wins the oscar for documentary feature people are going to have to look at the facts rather than what they 'feel'. We are bombarded with equality and diversity everyday. How about we recognise film makers and stop picking holes in nominations because of colour. I'd like to see more creatives from the working class get Oscars - that will happen when Kapadia wins!

9 years, 8 months ago - Graham Bradshaw

HI,
Just reading this now, sorry I'm late to the party.
I think these comments from all are quite interesting - The OSCARS are really a Hollywood thing; The Bafta's are a predominantly British and Hollywood thing.
Hollywood especially has a criteria as a system and a machine and nowadays the films that win aren't 'Classics' or anything much different to the year before. I would say there are filmmakers and actors of all age, race and gender that COULD and arguably SHOULD have won but they didn't and often some are nominated who could and arguably should have been...

It's not very often a film gets a Palm d'Or and a best picture Oscar...

That's not racism. Or Sexism - They undoubtably have different agendas.

I agree that more films should be considered for more film festivals more seriously...more(refer) :)

But take 2012, 2013, 2014 - all very varied years and all very varied talent - and varied backgrounds

The Hollywood system creates more of a kind of film for money, and what will sell more DVD's of their films is being mentioned at the Oscars.

Shame but true.

This doesn't apply to film, all industries have their skewed representations and cages...its a huge shame so many people have an issue with the nominations but maybe Straight Outta Compton wasn't as good as The Revenant maybe a lot of things, I don't know

I hope that the world makes stories that everyone enjoys and we can all share by whoever and for whatever reason i hope they entertain and enlighten and inspire everyone

Whoever they are