Oscars Set Inclusion Requirements to be Eligible for Best Picture

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has announced new representation and inclusion standards for all would-be seekers of a Best Picture Oscar.

AMPAS Quote: “For the 94th Oscars (2022) and 95th Oscars (2023), submitting a confidential Academy Inclusion Standards form will be required for Best Picture consideration, however meeting inclusion thresholds will not be required for eligibility in the Best Picture category until the 96th Oscars (2024).”

I’ve scrolled through the new “inclusion standards” and I assume that around 90% of past Best Picture winners would not qualify for the award today. Of course, the rules are only starting in 2024, so that does give the Academy time to pull a “Best Popular Oscar” on us and rescind these ridiculous new sets of eligibility rules. I have my doubts that will occur, but one hopes we can all come to our senses by 2024.

Trying to explicitly include people just for their race seems like it would be very counterproductive to achieving equality. This does nothing, but create discord for the majority of the population, without tangible benefit to anyone but a select few individuals. The studios will be so busy hiring accountants to tally up the ridiculous quotas, and modifying scripts to get the "proper" color balance, they’ll actually forget that they have to provide a product worth seeing

I mean, this is all just reprehensible, isn’t it? Art, cinema, has to now be broken down into racial, sexual, and gender identities. The very implementation of these new Oscar rules no longer makes it the "Best Picture" Oscar. It's now the Best Picture That Meets Our Criteria Oscar.

I don’t know, maybe I'm just old school and just want the most deserving film to win, although, as far as the Oscars go, when does that actually happen?

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A film must meet TWO out of FOUR of the following standards to be deemed eligible:

STANDARD A: ON-SCREEN REPRESENTATION, THEMES AND NARRATIVES

To achieve Standard A, the film must meet ONE of the following criteria:

A1. Lead or significant supporting actors

At least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors is from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.

• Asian
• Hispanic/Latinx
• Black/African American
• Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
• Middle Eastern/North African
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
• Other underrepresented race or ethnicity

A2. General ensemble cast

At least 30% of all actors in secondary and more minor roles are from at least two of the following underrepresented groups:

• Women
• Racial or ethnic group
• LGBTQ+
• People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing

A3. Main storyline/subject matter

The main storyline(s), theme or narrative of the film is centered on an underrepresented group(s).

• Women
• Racial or ethnic group
• LGBTQ+
• People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing

STANDARD B: CREATIVE LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT TEAM

To achieve Standard B, the film must meet ONE of the criteria below:

B1. Creative leadership and department heads

At least two of the following creative leadership positions and department heads—Casting Director, Cinematographer, Composer, Costume Designer, Director, Editor, Hairstylist, Makeup Artist, Producer, Production Designer, Set Decorator, Sound, VFX Supervisor, Writer—are from the following underrepresented groups:

• Women
• Racial or ethnic group
• LGBTQ+
• People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing

At least one of those positions must belong to the following underrepresented racial or ethnic group:

• Asian
• Hispanic/Latinx
• Black/African American
• Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
• Middle Eastern/North African
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
• Other underrepresented race or ethnicity

B2. Other key roles

At least six other crew/team and technical positions (excluding Production Assistants) are from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. These positions include but are not limited to First AD, Gaffer, Script Supervisor, etc.

B3. Overall crew composition<./u>

At least 30% of the film’s crew is from the following underrepresented groups:

• Women
• Racial or ethnic group
• LGBTQ+
• People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing.”