Hollywood figures have already begun to respond to the Academy’s Friday announcement that it would make major changes to promote diversity.
Director Ava DuVernay was the first to weigh in. The “Selma” director tweeted, “One good step in a long, complicated journey for people of color + women artists.” She added, “Shame is a helluva motivator. … We’ve all felt shame even when we didn’t believe we were wrong. It’s the fact that EVERYONE ELSE thinks you’re wrong. Fix it mode kicks in.”
DuVernay went on, “Marginalized artists have advocated for Academy change for DECADES. Actual campaigns. Calls voiced FROM THE STAGE. Deaf ears. Closed minds.”
Just received from @TheAcademy. One good step in a long, complicated journey for people of color + women artists. pic.twitter.com/CDB3ro2E4Q
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 22, 2016
Shame is a helluva motivator.
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 22, 2016
We've all felt shame even when we didn't believe we were wrong. It's the fact that EVERYONE ELSE thinks you're wrong. Fix it mode kicks in.
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 22, 2016
Marginalized artists have advocated for Academy change for DECADES. Actual campaigns. Calls voiced FROM THE STAGE. Deaf ears. Clòsed minds.
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 22, 2016
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences approved a series of major changes in terms of voting and recruitment, also adding three new seats to the 51-person board — all part of a goal to double the number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020. The changes were approved by the board Thursday night in an emergency meeting.
Academy member Bruce Feldman suggested that members of the Academy should have been consulted before such steps were taken.
And how about telling members what options are being discussed and asking them for feedback before deciding? https://t.co/fhrdbVWmMZ
— Bruce Wake-Me-When-This-Mess-Is-Over Feldman (@BruceRFeldman) January 22, 2016
Chaz Ebert, Roger Ebert’s widow and editor of RogerEbert.com, said, “The Academy took the first step. Now let’s have the studios, production companies, agencies, unions & financiers follow suit for diversity.”
The Academy took the first step. Now let's have the studios, production companies, agencies, unions & financiers follow suit for diversity.
— Chaz (@ChazEbert) January 23, 2016
Other notables responded to Charlotte Rampling and Michael Caine’s assertions that the backlash against the lack of diversity in this year’s nominations was actually “racist to whites.”
Charlotte Rampling & Michael Caine think they're Oscar-nominated owing purely to the merit of their work. How clear it all seems from there.
— Jeffrey Vote Out This Gameshow Clown Wright (@jfreewright) January 22, 2016