Boycotting the Oscars

[PrincessAbi]

That's one person's opinion. And hey, I love Samuel L Jackson, but he basically plays the same character in every film. Hey, John Wayne had the kind of scene presence nobody could top. But, he also played the same part in every film. That's why most feel his ONE Oscar was kind of a gift.

As someone who saw the film, he played an outstanding character that was not like his last role.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

As someone who saw the film, he played an outstanding character that was not like his last role.

Admittedly, I haven't seen this film. But, this is also the first time I've heard ANYONE brag about SLJ (or anyone else) in this film. Contrast that to when Glory came out and EVERYONE was talking about Denzel Washington (even though I personally thought Andre Brougher had THE best performance in the film). It's not even a comparison.

 

[Planogirl]

I see a lot of complaining but few solutions. What can be done exactly? People say that they don't want quotas but how do you force a group of voting people to pick the "right" candidates? Would it be fair to those who did a good job if they got snubbed because of some kind of quota?

This show is mostly about entertainment. I think that boycotts are silly but an easy way to complain without any real substance.

 

[VandVsmama]

There are too many 'microaggressions' in this thread. I'm going to go retreat to my safe space now.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I don't know exactly but maybe changing the demographic of the voters would be a place to start

 

[LuvOrlando]

A clip of Tracey Morgan was just on ET, from when he was on Jimmy Fallon. He'd be a funny host. Maybe if he's well enough next year, they will consider him. . . Of course, they could consider another minority. . .

Akkk if we are back to tokens it's time for a do-over. So offensive to think that's what it is but framed like this it's not unreasonable

 

[wilkeliza]

I see a lot of complaining but few solutions. What can be done exactly? People say that they don't want quotas but how do you force a group of voting people to pick the "right" candidates? Would it be fair to those who did a good job if they got snubbed because of some kind of quota?

This show is mostly about entertainment. I think that boycotts are silly but an easy way to complain without any real substance.

No easy fix and a quota is not the way to go. They could look at the Academy voting group though and try to make that more diverse so at least there are different perspectives are going into the nominees.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't know exactly but maybe changing the demographic of the voters would be a place start

How do you change the demographic? Kick out some of the white members and force minorities to join? Or only allow some people to vote which is just another quota?

I would hope that voters for the most part vote for whoever they think deserves it. This notion that each group only votes for people of that same group is a shame.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I see a lot of complaining but few solutions. What can be done exactly? People say that they don't want quotas but how do you force a group of voting people to pick the "right" candidates? Would it be fair to those who did a good job if they got snubbed because of some kind of quota?

This show is mostly about entertainment. I think that boycotts are silly but an easy way to complain without any real substance.

You can't even start to solve a problem until it's acknowledged. In this thread I see a lot of people who don't even see an issue.
Also, there are people speaking out who are talking about more than a boycott but they aren't getting the same attention.

 

[NewRVLady]

And I think that issue is because white people are most likely not going to go to a film that stars, let's say, a film that centers around a black family. Again, there are many exceptions to this.

But making a movie is all about the money. White people love to go to the movies. Look around the theater next time. How many black families do you see? How many Mexican families do you see sitting with their oversized popcorns and drinks? Do you see rows and rows of Asian people at the theater? No. You will see mostly white people.

So why do we see more white people in the theater and on the screen? Perhaps it stems from decades of blacks not even being allowed in the movie theaters just a few generations ago? Perhaps it just isn't in our culture to go catch every movie that is released. Perhaps it is because theater prices are prohibitive to many minorities? So, in order to make money, movies are going to be produced with white people in staring roles, so the audience can relate. I don' t know if any of these suggestions hold truth, but these are my best guesses.

I don't know....when I went to see The Help- the audience was full of white women ( and I live in the Deep South)
That movie had lots of black actors, the story was ABOUT black maids...and one of my favorite books/ movies EVER

 

[LuvOrlando]

How do you change the demographic? Kick out some of the white members and force minorities to join? Or only allow some people to vote which is just another quota?

I would hope that voters for the most part vote for whoever they think deserves it. This notion that each group only votes for people of that same group is a shame.

First yes, remove some and second, I doubt 'force' would be required. I think most people like things that mirror themselves or at least their ideal version of themselves & the marketing industry knows this, hence Vogue magazine and Abercrombie models- seriously few look like that and yet there it is.

Think of a WDW ad and look around a park, it just ain't the same but who would go to a place advertised by 2 hungry cranky kids, an annoyed dad who is counting how much each ride cost per person and a mom struggling to keep it all together? We want an ideal of ourselves & that's normal

Change who is in control of the mirroring & watch what happens

 

[Gumbo4x4]

You can't even start to solve a problem until it's acknowledged. In this thread I see a lot of people who don't even see an issue.
Also, there are people speaking out who are talking about more than a boycott but they aren't getting the same attention.

I think everyone recognizes a discrepancy, but no we don't all agree that something "needs to be done". No matter where your opinion lies, we probably all agree that any deliberate efforts to be inclusive cheapens the whole thing. I mean, let's make a huge stink about it & then next year some black actor is on stage accepting an Oscar. Will they feel the same way Halle Berry did? Or, will they wonder if they're taking home a token?

 

[AustinTink]

I've seen most of the movies nominated for best picture. This includes Straight Outta Compton. I was a big NWA fan back in the day. Listened to them on cassette... I'm that old.

I'm a minority female who worked for many years in Radio/Television/Film. Apparently those facts make a difference when posting on this thread. LOL.

My two cents... Straight Outta Compton does not deserve the best picture win over The Revenant. It was highly entertaining, but still just a pretty straight forward biopic.

Michael B. Jordan was good in Creed (he has come a long way since his days on All My Children) but he doesn't deserve the best actor win over Leo. Which is why he wasn't nominated. He has a long way to go. As did Leo.

As far as directing goes, no other director in the category came close to Inarritu who is Mexican by the way. Viva Mexico!

I judge on merit alone. Everyone should. And in the case of this year's Oscars, I think they did.

Is there a lack of minority representation in Hollywood? Yep. Should Jada Pinkett Smith put her money where her mouth is and produce an Oscar-worthy film rather than the drivel they produce with their insufferable kids? Yep. Will she? No.

Will Tyler Perry produce more Madea movies rather than anything Oscar-worthy? Of course, they make him lots of money. You can't complain about lack of diversity at the Oscars when you make Madea movies. They are fun, but not award-caliber films.

Do great work, get the award. It's simple.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Boo frickin hoo. Make movies worth being nominated for and you'll get in. Will Smith did an average job, his accent was horrible and that's what turned me off. Someone mentioned Straight Outta Compton, I'd give it a C. Decent movie, not award quality.

 

[PrincessAbi]

How do you change the demographic? Kick out some of the white members and force minorities to join? Or only allow some people to vote which is just another quota?

I would hope that voters for the most part vote for whoever they think deserves it. This notion that each group only votes for people of that same group is a shame.

You need a group that isn't just old white men. Movie goers come in all different colors, backgrounds, genders, sexualities, etc. The Academy definitely needs more diversity.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I think everyone recognizes a discrepancy, but no we don't all agree that something "needs to be done". No matter where your opinion lies, we probably all agree that any deliberate efforts to be inclusive cheapens the whole thing. I mean, let's make a huge stink about it & then next year some black actor is on stage accepting an Oscar. Will they feel the same way Halle Berry did? Or, will they wonder if they're taking home a token?

I don't think everyone does see a discrepancy or at least they don't think the fact that there is one is a problem. It should be.
There does need to be more diversity in the entertainment industry. We need to get to a place where there isn't controversy because a stormtropper is black, or maybe James Bond will be black, or Hermione is black.

 

[LuvOrlando]

But the stuff out there is selected to be made by the same nutty broken machine so when it rots it shouldn't be assumed the talent isn't there, maybe it's still the machine. I didn't see theCompton film yet but I refuse to accept the idea that minority communities don't do well in these awards because they can't put out solid work

Maybe the studios taste is the problem, I tend to think it is.

 

[Planogirl]

You need a group that isn't just old white men. Movie goers come in all different colors, backgrounds, genders, sexualities, etc. The Academy definitely needs more diversity.

The "old white men" don't vote alone. These people are chosen by their peers in each category and throwing some out to help minorities be nominated hardly seems fair to anyone. Who do you choose to remove and who gets to decide that? As someone just said, will it mean as much when the nominations are controlled in this manner?

This isn't as simple as some seem to think. Plus it's still a quota system whenever you squelch the opinion of some members.

Another thing - the members of the academy are primarily white just like the overall population. If these members are truly so racist as some seem to think than why would a fair quota system change anything. The majority whites would still vote for whites if any of this is true.

 

[PrincessAbi]

The "old white men" don't vote alone. These people are chosen by their peers in each category and throwing some out to help minorities be nominated hardly seems fair to anyone. Who do you choose to remove and who gets to decide that?

This isn't as simple as some seem to think. Plus it's still a quota system whenever you squelch the opinion of some members.

Chosen by their peers...aka old white men. You can rotate members. You can add to it. Really, it's not that hard.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't think everyone does see a discrepancy or at least they don't think the fact that there is one is a problem. It should be.
There does need to be more diversity in the entertainment industry. We need to get to a place where there isn't controversy because a stormtropper is black, or maybe James Bond will be black, or Hermione is black.

I agree with your comment. The problem is with casting IMO, not with the selection process.