Once again, we have witnessed a Hollywood blackout. When nominations for the 88th Academy Awards were announced yesterday, there wasn’t a single black nominee. The only recognition given to two of the most critically-acclaimed films of the year produced and directed by African Americans — Creed, written and directed by Ryan Coogler, and Straight Outta Compton, directed by F. Gary Gray–were bestowed to whites who contributed to those productions: the supporting actor nod to Sylvester Stallone for Creed and the screenplay nomination to Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff for Straight Outta Compton.
[RELATED: NAACP Announces Theatre Award Nominees]
This represents a virtual repeat performance of the 2015 nomination process when Paramount’s Selma only earned two nominations for Best Picture and Best Song. Last year, African Americans were also shut out of the best actor and actress categories.
The script is clear: Black creative and commercial achievement is not valued in Tinseltown. And true diversity is not even considered as a plotline.
The lack of African American nominees is a reflection of the exclusionary culture of Hollywood that permeates the studios, management, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that determines the films and creators worthy of the industry’s highest honors.
Let’s take of look at the composition of the Academy. A Los Angeles Times study found that academy voters are strikingly less diverse than the movie-going public, and even paler than even those within the film industry would be willing to admit. Oscar voters are roughly 94% white and 77% male. African Americans comprise about 2% of that body, and Latinos are less than 2%. The median age of Oscar voters is 62, and only 14% of the membership is under the age of 50.
Simply put, the Academy does not represent the composition of 21st century America–and let’s face it, they’re largely out of touch with a significant slice of our diverse nation.
Now take a look at how Oscar nominees are selected. Members from each branch of the Academy decide on nominees in their respective categories: actors nominate actors, for example, while film editors nominate film editors, each member choosing up to five nominees. All of the approximately more than 5,000 voting members are eligible to choose their top 10 best picture nominees.
Once the nominations are made, all vot
ing members can cast ballots for winners in all categories, although in five categories–animated short film, live-action short film, documentary feature, documentary short subject and foreign-language film–members must attest that they have seen all of the nominated films in those categories. This year, 305 films were eligible and members reviewed only a portion of them–and most likely, those that resonate with their interest, cultures, and experiences.Although this time we are focused on the Academy Awards, this issue extends to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Golden Globe Awards. The composition of HFPA judges who select their best in movies and television for a given year communicate a systemic problem in Hollywood in which a homogenous group routinely decides on who and what will represent the standard bearers of our industry.
It’s not just an artistic issue but it also defines economic impact, dictating who works in front of the camera and behind the scenes–and what they ultimately get paid.
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Bottom line: these nomination processes–and the entire industry, for that matter–are out of focus. African Americans, Latinos and other people of color remain the equivalent of extras, absent from leading roles when it comes to gaining the budgets to make high-quality films, participating in the green-lighting process, and having a voice when it comes to making decisions on the industry’s winners and losers across-the-board.
We find this to be no less than an insult to African Americans given our history of creative and commercial success which has been responsible for the industry’s vitality and profitability. African Americans contributed significantly to the $11 billion-plus in gross annual box office receipts in 2015, and our annual ticket sales are roughly 19% higher than non-Hispanic whites. On a revenue basis, we are an indelible part of the main feature.
We refuse to play the victim. That’s why we have created and expanded the American Black Film Festival. In its 20th year, ABFF continues to provide a platform for black filmmakers, advocate for inclusion in the industry and offer entertainment options that showcases the rich diversity of the African American experience.
That’s why this year–on Feb. 21–we will unveil ABFF Honors* to recognize the excellence in film and television produced by people of African descent. We will honor our film legends of yesterday as well as the creative forces of today–all of whom will serve as inspiration for the filmmakers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. If the industry at
large refuses to recognize our creative achievements and commercial success, we have designed our own vehicle to promote African American talent and excellence. We will ensure the advancement of our presence and participation within the industry.The development and expansion of ABFF represents just one of the catalytic forces to make Hollywood inclusive and responsive. We call upon African American consumers to do their part as well. It is imperative that you demand greater access to opportunities and recognition for African Americans in all aspects of the film business. We have the collective economic muscle to determine the financial success of the film industry. We have the voice to let mainstream Hollywood know that we will no longer accept the status quo. Let’s communicate to Hollywood that it’s time to rewrite its exclusionary practices and, at the same time, engage with ABFF to celebrate our own ingenuity and filmmaking prowess.
Collectively, we can flip the script. Why? Because Hollywoodn’t.
*“ABFF Awards: A Celebration of Hollywood,†airs on BET and Centric Tuesday, February 23rd at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Jeff Friday
Founder & CEO, ABFF Ventures LLC
Earl “Butch†Graves Jr.
President & CEO Black Enterprise