The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are to implement new diversity requirements for films nominated for the best picture award. This requirement is set to begin from 2024.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said yesterday that there would be four representation categories, and films wishing to be nominated for the best picture would need to fulfil at least two of them.
According to The Guardian, the four categories are: ‘on screen; among the crew; at the studio; and in opportunities for training and advancement in other aspects of the film’s development and release’.
For the ‘on-screen’ requirement, a film that wishes to be nominated for best picture will have to ensure that one lead character or a significant supporting character is from an underrepresented ethnic or racial group; at least 30% of the secondary roles are from two underrepresented groups; or the main arc of the story must focus on an underrepresented group. Underrepresented groups are defined as women, people of colour, people with disabilities, and people from the LGBTQ+ community.
The other three categories have similar targets to be met to fulfil the Academy’s diversity checklist.
In a written statement, president of the Academy Dave Rubin, and its CEO, Dawn Hudson, said: ‘The aperture must widen to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them. We believe these inclusion standards will be a catalyst for long-lasting, essential change in our industry.’
[Picture: analogicus from Pixabay]