Oscar’s Academy invites new members to include more women and minorities

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issues a single round of invitations annually, and has significantly boosted its female and ethnic minority intake in recent times due to criticism over its mainly white, male membership.

The board of governors three years ago vowed to double the number of women and non-white members by 2020, following calls to boycott the glitzy Oscars and an angry social media backlash under the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite.

Invitations to 842 people announced Monday included leading women such as Claire Foy, Elisabeth Moss and Gaga — who won a best original song statuette for A Star Is Born.

It is the first time an annual intake has reached 50% female, organisers told AFP.

Claire Foy. Picture: Getty Images

Women outnumbered men among those admitted to the traditionally male-dominated director category this year, and also among writers and producers.

Following the latest admissions, the overall proportion of female academy members will rise to 32%, from one-quarter in 2015.

Just below one-third admitted were people of colour, meaning the Academy has already reached its goal of doubling non-white membership — albeit from a low bar of just eight per cent in 2015.

The recruits include Crazy Rich Asians director Jon Chu, Roma actress Marina de Tavira, and Black Panther cast members Sterling K. Brown and Letitia Wright.

“Thank you @TheAcademy you have made me really happy with this honor,” tweeted de Tavira.

Letitia Wright. Picture: WireImage

‘Less American’

Newcomers this year span multiple generations, from British 23-year-old Spider-Man star Tom Holland to legendary French actor Jean-Louis Trintignant, 88.

In the world of music, singers Adele and Annie Lennox and producer Mark Ronson are among those selected for their work on movie scores.

Invitations were sent to members from 59 countries, adding to the academy’s increasingly global flavour.

The organisation is “becoming less and less American,” wrote journalist and author Mark Harris on Twitter. The shift “will play into acting/directing/writing (Oscar) races in a big way in years to come,” he predicted.

Tom Holland. Picture: EFE

The academy has drastically boosted its overall intake as it moves to redress its gender and ethnic imbalances. Membership was traditionally capped at around 6 000 members, but will shoot comfortably above 9 000 with the latest inductees.

The number of new members was slightly down on last year’s 928, but still the second-largest in the academy’s history.

It included many members more famous for their work away from the big screen, from TV actors such as Moss, Foy and Homeland star Damian Lewis to Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn.

“It feels to me like the academy has forgotten that its full title is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,” wrote Hollywood Reporter columnist Scott Feinberg.

Some 21 Oscar winners join the ranks this year. Those invited to join tend to accept.

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