The Academy has just introduced major changes to increase Oscar diversity.
In response to the overwhelming backlash of this year’s Oscars, and as promised by president Cheryl Boone Isaacs following their secret meeting, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has introduced a major overhaul to their membership process.
In a new statement on their website, the Academy outlined the changes they plan to make to ensure that the voting population of the organization, comprised of mostly old filmmakers.
Variety reports that the so-called “emergency board meeting” took place on Thursday night with the leaders of The Academy deciding not to wait until the next scheduled board meeting to make the following changes.
The steps they plan to take are designed to increase the diversity of the Academy members, as well as ensure that those who are inactive in the film industry are no longer allowed to vote.
Here’s a breakdown of the new changes:
- Each new member voting status will last 10 years
- Every member’s voting rights will only last if the member has been active in motion pictures during that 10 year timespan
- Members will receive lifetime voting rights after three ten-year terms, or if they have won or been nominated for an Academy Award
- Members do not qualify for active status will be moved to “emeritus status” – Emeritus members do not pay dues but enjoy the “privileges of membership” except voting
- This new rules will not start this year.
The Oscars also plan a “global plan to recruit new members and add three new seats to the Board of Governors.
Currently, The Academy board has 51 members, and every single one except two people are white, while only 17 are women. They also plan to add new members to their executive boards and committees as soon as possible.
We will have to wait to see what benefits these decisions will bring. But, it is hard to deny the impact Will Smith, George Clooney and Jada Pinkett Smith’s opinion on The Academy has had the past few days. Additionally, the Twitter hashtag has been a major player in the call for more representation with millions of people everyday voicing their opinion and their frustration with the film industry.
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