Hope is not enough anymore
The United States Film Academy has 28% of female members and 13% of "people of color", a way it refers to in the United States to refer to any non-white person. Martha Lauzen, director of the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at the University of San Diego, says that significant changes can still take place in several Hollywood structures, the fact is that the numbers do not reflect any change.
Rachel Morrison was the first nominated for photography while Greta Gerwig was the only woman nominated for best direction this year and the fifth in the history of the Oscar.However, according to Katherine Pieper, researcher at the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, there are examples such as 'Black Panther' or 'Wonder Woman' suggesting that there is a greater openness to doing things differently.
Frances McDormand used the Oscar gala to propose her solution on the table: a "diversity clause" in the contracts. Now, will an inclusive Hollywood be possible? The idea is not new, in fact, takes time echoing, however, never before had been proposed at the biggest party in the film industry.
The actress Frances McDormand, awarded in the category for best actress for her role in "Three announcements for a crime", defended her with enthusiasm. It has become a trend in recent times that the award serves as an event to defend different causes, as happened with #OscarSoWhite in favor of the black minority to the current #TimesUp and #MeToo in defense of women.
The delivery of the Oscars, censored for their impairment of variety, is a graceful showcase to request changes in the movie mecca. But, after all those speeches ... does something really happen? 2018 brings a thrilling award for a wave of sexual harassment and abuse scandals led by producer Harvey Weinstein and other disgruntled industry heavyweights. The comedian Jimmy Kimmel during the ceremony, urged Hollywood to lead a path of inclusion and gender equality, while rapper Common and singer Andra Day drew attention to the issue, singing alongside feminist militants on stage.
A call for greater control of the carrying of arms and against the anti-immigration policy of President Donald Trump was also made at the ceremony. Despite all the attempts of the workers of the industry to achieve a change, at the time of delivering the statuettes, they were still awarded mostly white men, although the most prestigious awards, the best film and best director, were for a Mexican, Guillermo del Toro, for his film "La forma del agua".
The first black to win the best original script was Jordan Peele, a category that also competed Del Toro and Pakistani comedian Kumai Nanjiani. According to a study by the specialized site Gold Derby, of the 20 categories, 47 women were candidates and only four won, representing 8.5%; while of 150 men, 32 took an Oscar for 21.3%. After summoning all the women nominated to stand up at the gala, McDormand said that all those present have stories to tell that they need funding.
