Oscars Reiterate That to Qualify for Best Picture A Film Will Have to Follow “Inclusive” Standards

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science held a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday and tried to further explain to its members the implementation of its new inclusion standards for the Best Picture category.

The Academy tried to assure disgruntled members that they don’t want to “mess with the creative process,” but that’s what they seem to be doing here. Go figure.

These new rules are going into effect with the upcoming 96th Oscars to be handed out on March 10, 2024

In order for films to now qualify for Best Picture, they will need to meet two of the four new standards set forth by the Academy:

Standard A: Centers around on-screen representation and can be achieved in three ways, either by having

1) at least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors is from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group;

2) at least 30% of all actors in secondary and more minor roles are from at least two underrepresented groups;

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

Standard B: Revolves around the creative leadership and project team behind each film and can also be achieved in three ways, by having

1) 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—from underrepresented groups;

2) At least six other crew/team and technical positions (excluding Production Assistants) from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group; or

3) at least 30% of the film’s crew from underrepresented groups.

Standard C: Centers on industry access and opportunities and can be achieved via

1) The film’s distribution or financing company has paid apprenticeships or internships that include underrepresented groups; or

2) the film’s production, distribution and/or financing company offers training and/or work opportunities for below-the-line skill development to people from underrepresented groups.

Standard D: Centers on audience development and can be achieved if thethe studio and/or film company has multiple in-house senior executives from underrepresented groups including individuals from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups on their marketing, publicity, and/or distribution teams.

This is dumber than I could have ever imagined. I understand what the goal is here, but how are people supposed to know other people’s sexual orientation? What if someone decides to keep that private?

Also, what if you found the absolute perfect team for your main cast and crew, but they’re all white? The Academy would basically be infringing the creative process to force you to hire specific people, just as long as they have the right skin color.

What's missing here is any talk of merit. Isn’t it kind of insulting to give someone something they don't deserve?

Actual controversy will occur when a critically-acclaimed film with major Oscar buzz ends up not qualifying, all because of these new standards. Then we’ll have a real pickle in our hands.