Introduction
The Hollywood Reporter’s video on diversity conversation focuses on the opinions of industry professionals on the topic of diversity in Hollywood. The professionals represented by Justin Simien, Stephanie Allain, and Alan Yang discuss the absence of acting people of color among the Academy Award nominees for the second year in a row. After the issue resulted in an outcry on the Internet, it became obvious that people want changes. However, it is questionable whether the Academy is the place to look for it.
Main body
The professionals discuss whether the issue with Academy Award acting nominees is a problem itself, or is it a symptom of a problem. Simien points out that the Academy Award in the face of the industry, so the list of nominees should reflect the industry. Yang focuses on the matter that almost 90% of the Oscar voting body is white, making a significant part of the issue. Allain notes that the character of the problem is systematic and that there are no serious job opportunities for people of color.
Further in the discussion, it is highlighted that there is a part of Hollywood that consistently uses people of color as leads and features diverse casts. Still, the Academy Award is the mark that is not yet explored by people of color in the industry. The discussion points out that the Academy Awards set a bar for future creators and talents and the directions they are supposed to follow. In my opinion, that idea is crucial, as judging from personal experience, the general public could be offended by the forced diversification of the movies. The public needs to understand that the diversification of the mainstream media could impact and shape the requirements for the Academy Awards.
Although the video took place in 2016 and there have been major updates and additions to the Academy Awards race, the industry’s problem of being racist towards creators of color is still present. For instance, the black tragedy issue that Simien covered implies that for the film featuring a black main character to make it to the Academy Awards, it must be about an important historical figure (A Diversity Conversation: Working in Hollywood When You’re Not White). However, the problem does not apply to the TV portion of Hollywood, although TV series-making is considered risky and unpredictable with a high competition level. The main point here is that the Hollywood industry is more money-driven, so if the viewer would not relate to the main character straight away, he might not want to watch it.
The video has changed my perspective on the differences between TV series making not being driven by money and movie making that requires millions to create and even sell the movie later. The average viewer could not address the issues with the Academy Awards as the current TV series alternative are highly diverse. The popular mainstream alternative would make it seem that anyone would be able to find something that he could relate to, but it is not the case for the experienced audience. Moreover, the video made me question my opinion on the past Award Winners. If the voting body consists mainly of old white juries, their personal views and beliefs would not be up to date with the ongoing issues in society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the statements from the video that address the issues of racism in Hollywood and the Academy Awards are still present nowadays. However, in recent times the industry started to shift towards the appreciation of the unique perspectives brought by the creators of color. Perhaps if the Academy Award is not the place for a change yet, the impact of the mainstream media could shape the further requirements for the Academy. I recommend watching the video to understand how the filmmaking industry puts a wall for the creators and actors representing people of color and why they have resorted to the mainstream media.
Reference
“A Diversity Conversation: Working in Hollywood When You’re Not White.” YouTube, 2016. Web.