Lily Gladstone, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Jessica Alba among newest members of film academy

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As a movie enthusiast with a passion for the behind-the-scenes workings of Hollywood, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and optimism upon reading about this year’s new Academy members announcement. Having followed the industry’s ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts closely, it’s heartening to see such a significant stride towards greater representation.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Hollywood’s elite membership, has decided to expand its ranks by inviting 487 fresh members.

Among the attendees are 57 representatives from various countries, including notables like Lily Gladstone, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Jessica Alba, and Catherine O’Hara. This eclectic mix also includes accomplished actors, directors, producers, and crew members, many of whom have earned Academy Award nominations (71 in total) or even taken home an Oscar (19 winners).

The Academy continues to prioritize diversity beyond its #OscarsSoWhite targets, announcing that over forty percent of the newest members identify as women, and nearly forty-one percent belong to underrepresented ethnic or racial groups. This represents an improvement from previous years with thirty-four percent and forty percent representation, respectively.

Approximately 50% of this year’s attendees are from countries outside the US, demonstrating the academy’s ongoing effort to broaden its horizons globally. This addition increases the academy’s international membership to comprise 20% of its total members.

As a movie critic, I’m excited to share that this year, we’re privileged to welcome a new batch of immensely skilled artists and professionals into the Academy’s fold. Hailing from various corners of the globe, they have left indelible marks on our filmmaking community with their exceptional talents.

The academy’s latest class is smaller than previous decades’ invitees, which typically numbered around 100 individuals. However, this year’s group is still larger than the all-time record class of 2018, with 928 members. Following its commitment to doubling the representation of women and people of color since 2020, the academy has scaled down recent classes to manage its expanding membership effectively.

Approximately one-third of the academy’s new and existing members identify as women, while around twenty percent come from ethnically or racially diverse backgrounds. This representation aligns with last year’s figures, and we have made minor progress towards our goals.

As a woman of color who has worked tirelessly to break into the film industry, I am elated to see that six branches of the Academy have invited more women than men this year. Branches such as actors, casting directors, costume designers, documentary filmmakers, executives, and makeup artists and hairstylists, have recognized the importance of gender diversity in their respective fields.

In the acting category, Gladstone from “Killers of the Flower Moon” – the first Native American actress ever nominated for an Academy Award – and Sandra Hüller, nominated for “Anatomy of a Fall,” are among those invited. Additionally, Randolph, who received the supporting actress accolade for “The Holdovers,” is also included.

In the director category, we extended invitations to a number of deserving individuals. Among them are Justine Triet, recognized this year with an Oscar for the “Anatomy of a Fall” screenplay, and her co-writer Arthur Harari. Additionally, S.S. Rajamouli (“RRR”), Celine Song (“Past Lives”), Cord Jefferson (“American Fiction”), and Boots Riley (“Sorry to Bother You”) have been invited as well.

Significantly, two pivotal figures in last year’s groundbreaking writers and actors strikes were extended invitations to join the executive branch: Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s lead negotiator, and Ellen Stutzman, head negotiator for the Writers Guild of America.

Should every guest RSVP with a yes, the academy’s entire membership would expand to 10,910, comprising 9,934 who have the right to vote.

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2024-07-18 20:25