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It seems like conservatives have just learned the Oscars will be different going forward — namely, having new inclusivity rules for eligibility … and, yes, the outrage is in full swing.
Here’s the deal … the Post ran a story citing unnamed Academy voters who are apparently angry about AMPAS’s forthcoming rule-change for Best Picture contenders. Starting in 2024, there are certain requirements films will have to meet to be considered for the category.
Oscars voters: new diversity rules for Best Picture ‘completely ridiculous’ https://t.co/EbhubyUg7T pic.twitter.com/QVb5MaqINE
— New York Post (@nypost) June 16, 2023
@nypost
As the article notes … there’s revamped criteria for Best Picture nominees starting next year, not to mention every year after that. Those rules, in a nutshell, include — 1) having a lead or significant supporting character from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group; 2) having a main storyline that focuses on an underrepresented group; or 3) at least 30% of the cast must come from underrepresented groups (be it ethnic, LGBTQ+, disabled, etc).
There’s more to it — which you can read on AMPAS’s site — but essentially … this is what the new classification boils down to. Movies have to reflect a diverse melting pot and POVs.
So it’s no longer Best Picture then.
It’s now the film that appeases diversity tsars the most that wins.
Award ceremonies are meaningless, Hollywood has slaughtered them on the altar of woke. pic.twitter.com/4EzUGdMzwM— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) June 18, 2023
@darrengrimes_
Right on cue, several right-wing media/Twitter personalities jumped on this news (which isn’t actually new, but more on that later) and started to accuse the Academy of going “woke.”
One such dude, Darren Grimes, writes … “So it’s no longer Best Picture then. It’s now the film that appeases diversity tsars the most that wins. Award ceremonies are meaningless, Hollywood has slaughtered them on the altar of woke.” Clearly, he isn’t onboard.
Under new rules for the Academy Awards, no film can win Best Picture unless it hits arbitrary diversity quotas. Under this rule, The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, or Saving Private Ryan would all be ineligible.
This is what they mean by “diversity” but it’s the opposite of…
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 17, 2023
@charliekirk11
Another conservative figure, Charlie Kirk, reflected this position himself … “Under new rules for the Academy Awards, no film can win Best Picture unless it hits arbitrary diversity quotas. Under this rule, The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, or Saving Private Ryan would all be ineligible. This is what they mean by ‘diversity’ but it’s the opposite of diversity. They want a uniform, politically correct monoculture devoid of any creativity or free expression.”
If you hop into the ‘Best Picture‘ trend that’s on Twitter right now … you’ll see more takes like this — anger, indignation, outrage … and on and on. Strangely enough, word of these changes have been reported on for a few years now … so everyone’s late to the party here.
As to their point about former Best Picture winners not being eligible under these new guidelines — yes, that is technically correct. Whether that helps or hurts the film industry, at large, though is certainly debatable … and we’re sure this convo will continue as we get closer to the 2024 award show. Ya gotta figure … AMPAS’s heart is in the right place here.
BTW, a few notable celebs have actually sounded off on this issue too of late — including one Richard Dreyfuss … who was recently asked about it on a PBS-ran program.
“They make me vomit,” says @RichardDreyfuss of new cast and crew diversity standards for Best Picture #Oscar eligibility.
Plus he praises Laurence Olivier’s 1965 performance of Othello in blackface.
“Am I being told that I will never have a chance to play a Black man?” (1/2) pic.twitter.com/NcmpZoXe1c
— Firing Line with Margaret Hoover (@FiringLineShow) May 5, 2023
@FiringLineShow
The guy didn’t bite his tongue on how he felt — however, if you listen to his response closely … it becomes clear he either misunderstood the question or conflated it with another topic in Hollywood … namely, accurate casting. In any case — RD isn’t a fan of this either.
Time will tell if AMPAS sticks to its gun, or give a little. They’ve tried instituting big changes in the past — like adding the reviled “Fan Favorite” category — and reversed course then.