Hollywood’s biggest night keeps getting smaller and smaller.
Any respect for the art of cinema and storytelling The Academy once upheld is falling just as fast as the award ceremony’s viewership.
Oscars viewership plunged to a record low of about 24 million during the 2020 broadcast compared to about 50 million viewers in 2000, according to a Feb. 15, 2020 CNBC article.
On Sept. 8, 2020, the Oscars unveiled new guidelines for films hoping to qualify for best picture, but the standards won’t go into effect until 2024.
These new guidelines were implemented after the Oscars came under fire for its lack of diversity.
According to a Sept. 9, 2020 Vox article, the lack of diversity has “for a long time, had a visible effect on which stories get told, who gets money to tell them, who gets to fail and continue working, and . . . which movies get rewarded at the Oscars.”
Films must meet two out of the four criteria categories to be considered for a best picture statue beginning from the 2024 ceremony.
The first category requires films to have at least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors come from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group, according to the official Oscars website. Another criteria in the same first category requires at least 30% of actors in secondary and more minor roles to also come from minority groups.
It also stipulates that the main storyline or theme of the film must be centered on underrepresented groups.
Movies based in different time periods, now a popular plot trend as movie-goers crave an escape, wouldn’t make sense if filmmakers used today’s diversity standards to depict a time that was historically less diverse.
But don’t worry, the remaining three categories focus more on what happens behind the scenes.
The second standard requires at least two creative leadership positions to have minority representation, as well as 30% of the crew to be composed of underrepresented groups.
The third criteria, says internships must be offered to certain marginalized groups including women, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ and those with disabilities to allow more industry access and opportunities.
The last standard requires studios and film companies to have multiple in-house senior executives from minority groups on marketing, publicity and/or distribution teams.
But how does the race, gender or sexual orientation of those behind the scenes affect the quality of a film? It doesn’t.
Some might say diversity in Hollywood is needed, but is setting silly standards to the best picture category in a dying award show going to mean anything?
A film should be judged by its acting, storyline and the quality of its production. A core principle of art is not abiding by rules.
In a viral segment of Bill Maher’s talk show, “Real Time with Bill Maher” posted to YouTube on Sept. 18, 2020, Maher slammed The Academy for forcing artists to “abide by a to-do list.”
“Some of the best movies ever made were by refugees from communist and fascist countries who got out because they didn’t like being told
what art was acceptable,” Maher said.
Absurd stipulations such as racial and sexual orientation quotas deflate the value and desirability of the accolade. Restricting artists and demanding on-and-off-screen quotas to be filled before letting the work be judged for itself won’t raise the Oscars’ recent embarrassingly low ratings.
It shouldn’t matter what the color of the cinematographer’s skin is or the sexual orientation of Channing Tatum’s hair stylist.
How many best picture winners can give a shout out to interns of their production company for making it all possible because of their skin color or what gender they’re attracted to?
If the Academy Awards want to restore both its ratings and respect, it should judge films not by the color of the cast and crew but by the compelling nature of the story, quality of acting and its exceptional craftsmanship.
