Count Down to the Academy Awards
As I sit here about an hour or so before the Oscars is about to be broadcasted, I am thinking about the Academy’s first African American President, Cheryl Boone who is propelled into a spotlight of controversy is not much different than Gregory Peck in the 70’s. Both were forced to step up and demand a change in the membership of its members. The academy consists of 51 members. We know a majority is white and male. It would imply that they are only going to vote on white issues. That I am not sure of, I think that they vote on what is available. There are just not a lot of stories being told reflecting the multicultural canvas of America. This is a direct result of the movie-making machine. There is no outcry about the people that actually green light what is produced, and what and whose story will be told. The decision makers of filmmaking are on the other extreme of the Academy members. They are young and white with a bottom line mentality.
All educators that work with children can tell you that the face of the winner matters. So is this action one of bias. I think many assumptions are being made as to what it considered the best. If you ask my son what movie should win he would tell you Star Wars or any of the Marvel superhero movies. When I look at the list of nominees I would change or add to the list is Idris Elba for “Beasts of No Nation”, and Ryan Kyle Coogler, director of "Creed". Nevertheless, I am thinking of a winner where the outcry is simply for a nomination. I believe that Selma directed by Ava DuVernay for directed Selma should have been nominated last year.
I like what Ice Cube said in an interview. “We made this movie for the people, to hell with the Oscar’s.” I thought the movie “Straight out of Compton” was one of the best movies that entertained me, but I don’t necessary agree it was an Oscar contender. Maybe the soundtrack because the music was a major change in how the voice of inner city black’s was using music to express themselves with the treatment of African Americans in contemporary times. However, this is my opinion and only my opinion. I feel if you are going to make a docudrama or a movie about a music group that literally reflected systemic racism, I feel the was the movie did not go far enough into the lives of the groups and tell more truths about the members. That to me hands down would be an Oscar contender. I will be honest with you, when Spike Lee did not get the award for Malcolm X. I was done with the Oscars. I don’t expect a lot of Black nomination just like to don’t expect to see a lot of White Americans in the NBA.
But this year is different because the of the amount of African American’s involved in the production of the Academy Awards. The president Cheryl Boone is African American. The producer Reginald Hudlin is African American and the host is Chris Rock is African American. That in itself is a first and with this, change in the future of the Academy is evident. However, obviously, not fast enough. When Jada Smith made a short video clip protesting the lack of diversity of nominees it what like the shot heard around the world. Everything that was perceived to be wrong with the voting methods overshadowed the award ceremony. This is a case of someone saying what no one wanted to say. There was the discussion that everyone of color should protest the Academy. Chris Rock should quit in protest. That to me seem counter productive. Why? Because the show would go on with or without them.
The cynic that I am feels that with the demand to for protest is in some ways just what the academy award shows needs. Remember, for years, the show’s African-American audience has been declining for years. It seems that there was no entertainment value that would draw the community back. Well except now with Chris Rock as the host who can be a comedian that can tell a racial joke that not only makes you laugh but makes you thank. This is a Madison Avenue dream come true. It is like watching the news and they tell you to turn away because the next clip may be graphically offensive. What will be the response of the audience, not only look, but to turn the sound up. This is what Chris Rock is for the Academy Awards. He is expected; yes, he is now expected to take the conversation over the top. I would suggest that the show’s African-American audience would increase for tonight’s show. What I am hoping is that it does not become the focus point of the show to the point where the nominees have to feel guilty about winning. If the question is truly about diversity then it is not just a Black thing it is a lack of a female thing, it is a lack of diversity thing, not just in the filmmaking but in those that make the decision what films are made. This is beyond the Academy. As for the academy members, I feel that they should be required to see the movies, all the movies that have the potential to receive a nomination. What was positive is that Ms. Boone expedites the planned changes to the membership system without waiting for the members to voice opposition to her plan.
However, in the end, if this is done with any class it should be one on the best and most entertaining ceremonies. If it becomes too offensive, I believe even the audience that the show needs to revenue will bow out. This is where Chris Rock comes in, there is no one that I think could deliver the joke with a slight taste of venom and move on to keep the show alive.
As I sit here about an hour or so before the Oscars is about to be broadcasted, I am thinking about the Academy’s first African American President, Cheryl Boone who is propelled into a spotlight of controversy is not much different than Gregory Peck in the 70’s. Both were forced to step up and demand a change in the membership of its members. The academy consists of 51 members. We know a majority is white and male. It would imply that they are only going to vote on white issues. That I am not sure of, I think that they vote on what is available. There are just not a lot of stories being told reflecting the multicultural canvas of America. This is a direct result of the movie-making machine. There is no outcry about the people that actually green light what is produced, and what and whose story will be told. The decision makers of filmmaking are on the other extreme of the Academy members. They are young and white with a bottom line mentality.
All educators that work with children can tell you that the face of the winner matters. So is this action one of bias. I think many assumptions are being made as to what it considered the best. If you ask my son what movie should win he would tell you Star Wars or any of the Marvel superhero movies. When I look at the list of nominees I would change or add to the list is Idris Elba for “Beasts of No Nation”, and Ryan Kyle Coogler, director of "Creed". Nevertheless, I am thinking of a winner where the outcry is simply for a nomination. I believe that Selma directed by Ava DuVernay for directed Selma should have been nominated last year.
I like what Ice Cube said in an interview. “We made this movie for the people, to hell with the Oscar’s.” I thought the movie “Straight out of Compton” was one of the best movies that entertained me, but I don’t necessary agree it was an Oscar contender. Maybe the soundtrack because the music was a major change in how the voice of inner city black’s was using music to express themselves with the treatment of African Americans in contemporary times. However, this is my opinion and only my opinion. I feel if you are going to make a docudrama or a movie about a music group that literally reflected systemic racism, I feel the was the movie did not go far enough into the lives of the groups and tell more truths about the members. That to me hands down would be an Oscar contender. I will be honest with you, when Spike Lee did not get the award for Malcolm X. I was done with the Oscars. I don’t expect a lot of Black nomination just like to don’t expect to see a lot of White Americans in the NBA.
But this year is different because the of the amount of African American’s involved in the production of the Academy Awards. The president Cheryl Boone is African American. The producer Reginald Hudlin is African American and the host is Chris Rock is African American. That in itself is a first and with this, change in the future of the Academy is evident. However, obviously, not fast enough. When Jada Smith made a short video clip protesting the lack of diversity of nominees it what like the shot heard around the world. Everything that was perceived to be wrong with the voting methods overshadowed the award ceremony. This is a case of someone saying what no one wanted to say. There was the discussion that everyone of color should protest the Academy. Chris Rock should quit in protest. That to me seem counter productive. Why? Because the show would go on with or without them.
The cynic that I am feels that with the demand to for protest is in some ways just what the academy award shows needs. Remember, for years, the show’s African-American audience has been declining for years. It seems that there was no entertainment value that would draw the community back. Well except now with Chris Rock as the host who can be a comedian that can tell a racial joke that not only makes you laugh but makes you thank. This is a Madison Avenue dream come true. It is like watching the news and they tell you to turn away because the next clip may be graphically offensive. What will be the response of the audience, not only look, but to turn the sound up. This is what Chris Rock is for the Academy Awards. He is expected; yes, he is now expected to take the conversation over the top. I would suggest that the show’s African-American audience would increase for tonight’s show. What I am hoping is that it does not become the focus point of the show to the point where the nominees have to feel guilty about winning. If the question is truly about diversity then it is not just a Black thing it is a lack of a female thing, it is a lack of diversity thing, not just in the filmmaking but in those that make the decision what films are made. This is beyond the Academy. As for the academy members, I feel that they should be required to see the movies, all the movies that have the potential to receive a nomination. What was positive is that Ms. Boone expedites the planned changes to the membership system without waiting for the members to voice opposition to her plan.
However, in the end, if this is done with any class it should be one on the best and most entertaining ceremonies. If it becomes too offensive, I believe even the audience that the show needs to revenue will bow out. This is where Chris Rock comes in, there is no one that I think could deliver the joke with a slight taste of venom and move on to keep the show alive.
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