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The Academy’s New Inclusion Requirements Won’t Color-Correct Hollywood
The new standards will do little to solve #OscarsSoWhite
Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.
On Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences joined the growing list of organizations that have finally caved and established a comprehensive inclusion program. As an extension of its Academy Aperture 2025 initiative, the Academy announced new criteria for submission in the Oscars’ best picture category, including requirements for casting, story content, crew personnel, and publicity, all of which reflect people underrepresented based on race, sexuality, gender, and ability. The policy change makes for great PR. But if you tilt your ear toward Hollywood, that sound you hear is the high-pitched squeal of air exiting the teensiest hole in the equality balloon. Let’s not get it twisted: This change isn’t going to kill #OscarsSoWhite. Here’s why.
It won’t necessarily translate to change
Beginning in 2024, a film submitting for best picture has to meet at least two of several new standards: The lead or a significant supporting actor must come from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups; at least 30% of the…
