The Latest: Academy president: Oscar noms impetus for change

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – The latest on Friday’s statement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on a series of diversity reforms approved by the board of governors late Thursday (all times PST):

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2:37 p.m.

Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said that while the Academy has been working for several years to diversify its membership, a second year of all-white Oscars acting nominees was an impetus for more action.

“Last week, when the nominations were said, we all kind of looked at each other and said, ‘We need to step this up.’ That was really important,” she said in an interview with the Associated Press. “It needs to be timely.

The Academy’s 51-member board of governors voted late Thursday in favour of a series of reforms aimed at diversifying membership.

“There’s a lot of conversation out there,” Boone Isaacs said. “We need to get out there what we’ve been talking about internally, but now we have to put it into action. So that’s what we did.”

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2:05 p.m.

Hollywood reaction came swiftly Friday to the Academy’s decision to institute a series of reforms aimed at increasing diversity.

Ava DuVernay, director of last year’s best picture-nominee “Selma,” tweeted that “Shame is a helluva motivator.”

“Marginalized artists have advocated for Academy change for DECADES,” DuVernay wrote. “Actual campaigns. Calls voiced FROM THE STAGE. Deaf ears. Closed minds.”

And director Rick Famuyiwa, whose films include “The Wood,” ”Brown Sugar” and last year’s “Dope” commented: “The devil is in the details.”

The Academy’s board of governors unanimously approved a series of reforms late Thursday, including limiting members’ voting status to 10 years, diversifying leadership and doubling the number of female and minority members by 2020. Since the all-white Oscars acting nominees were announced on Jan. 14, several people, including Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith and Spike Lee, who is among those receiving the Governors Award this year, said they would not attend the ceremony.

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12:46 p.m.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith had no immediate reaction to the Film Academy’s reforms announced Friday.

Both had pledged not to attend the Oscars this year. Idris Elba, who was not nominated for his role in Netflix’ critically acclaimed “Beasts of No Nation,” also had no immediate response.

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay, whose “Selma” was nominated for best picture last year but not for lead actor David Oyelowo, quickly responded via Twitter.

“(O)ne good step in a long complicated journey for people of colour and women artists,” she wrote.

Cameron Bailey, artist director of the Toronto International Film Festival, called it “impressive, bold action” and tweeted, “studio’s you’re next.”

The Academy’s board of governors unanimously approved a series of reforms late Thursday, including limiting members’ voting status to 10 years, diversifying leadership and doubling the number of female and minority members by 2020.

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12:34 p.m.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 51-member board of governors unanimously approved a series of reforms late Thursday to “begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition,” president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said.

Other changes include limiting members’ voting status to a period of 10 years, to be extended only if the individual remains active in film during that decade. Lifetime voting rights will be granted only to Academy Award nominees and winners, and to members after three 10-year voting terms. Previously, all active members received lifetime voting rights.

The organization also plans to diversify its leadership beyond the board of governors by adding new members to key decision-making committees, and further diversify its membership with a global campaign to identify and recruit diverse talent.

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12:28 p.m.

In a statement, the Academy president says that changes to membership will have “an immediate impact.”

“The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact and begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition.”

Beginning later this year, each new member’s voting status will last 10 years, and will be renewed if that new member has been active in motion pictures during that decade. In addition, members will receive lifetime voting rights after three ten-year terms; or if they have won or been nominated for an Academy Award. We will apply these same standards retroactively to current members. In other words, if a current member has not been active in the last 10 years they can still qualify by meeting the other criteria. Those who do not qualify for active status will be moved to emeritus status. Emeritus members do not pay dues but enjoy all the privileges of membership, except voting. This will not affect voting for this year’s Oscars.

The changes come in response to a diversity crisis that erupted for the second time in two years after this year’s Oscars acting nominees were all white.

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12:26 p.m.

The film academy is pledging to double the number of female and minority members by 2020, and will immediately diversify its leadership by adding three new seats to its board of governors.

Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced the changes Friday, following a weeklong storm of criticism and calls for an Oscar boycott after academy members nominated an all-white slate of actors for the second year in a row.

Isaacs said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 51-member board of governors unanimously approved a series of reforms late Thursday to “begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition.”

Other changes include limiting members’ voting status to a period of 10 years.

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12:17 p.m.

The Film academy pledges to double number of female and minority members by 2020 in response to diversity crisis.