The Academy Opens Itself Up to the Future
Before on A Hot Set, we’ve looked at the Academy’s “A2020 Initiative” and what Hollywood had to say in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. Now, the Academy is taking another step forward. A couple of weeks ago, the Academy announced their new standards for Best Picture films called the “Academy Aperture 2025.”
This tactic has been talked about since June 2020, but now, the Academy has released what it expects from its future films. The standards recognize the stories and talent of those from underrepresented groups, including those from an underrepresented race or ethnicity, women, LGBTQ+ members, those with cognitive/physical disabilities, and those who are deaf/hard of hearing.
Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson clarified the purpose of these new rules, stating, “the aperture must widen to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them. The Academy is committed to playing a vital role in helping make this a reality. […] We believe these inclusion standards will be a catalyst for long-lasting, essential change in our industry.”
Starting in 2024, a film must meet at least half of the new requirements if it wants to be considered for the Best Picture category. The first standard deals with on-screen representation in both the storyline and the cast. Either the plot should focus on a theme about an underrepresented group or the cast should involve a minimum amount of representation. More specifically, if the one of the main actors is not from an underrepresented group, the ensemble cast should have at least thirty percent of characters from two underrepresented groups.
Even better, the second standard looks at the crew behind the camera. To complete this criterion, a film should have either at least two of their creative leadership positions and department heads or six other crew members from certain underrepresented groups. If they don’t meet those, the film should have a minimum of 30% of the entire film’s crew from underrepresented groups.
The other two standards are not as flexible as the first two as a film must meet all the requirements to achieve the standard. These two look at the business side of film, ensuring that there’s inclusion and training opportunities for paid interns and apprentices in specific departments and in the marketing, publicity, and distribution departments.
One might be confused as to why we have to wait to see these rules in effect till five more years. However, some films might already be in production or post-production and have a set date for the next upcoming couple of years. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean that films not yet in production should not consider applying these standards for their films just because they technically are not required to be considered for the Academy Awards category. Until the aperture is in place, films wanting to be included for Best Picture in the 94th and 95th Oscars will have to submit an Academy Inclusion Standards form.
So far, these rules apply only to the Best Picture category. This brings to question the future success of new standards they’ll make for other categories and when we will see them. Perhaps these rules or a version of them will later be applied to the documentary or animated films. If this were to happen, it could push for more representation and inclusive themes in documentary and children’s films. There’s also the question if films will eventually have to meet all the standards. Since we haven’t seen these rules in effect yet, maybe it’s too early to tell. However, the Academy’s making progress nonetheless.
Variety held a virtual meeting at Toronto International Film Festival, where they various actors and others shared their views about the Academy. Actor Regina King views these changes as “an opportunity to expand – to be able to think beyond. I’m hoping people will be more creative. You can hire a person who is not white for that role because there’s nothing in that role that color has anything to do with it,” she said.
On the other hand, actor Viggo Mortensen had a contrasting opinion, assuming, “I don’t think it’s a good idea. […] To me, in the end, it’s about exclusion, which is discrimination.” Probably finding the standards as just administration rules, Mortensen fails to recognize their purpose of inclusivity. He tries to bring up an example, stating how one of his favorite films, 1917 (2019), would not qualify for the Best Picture category if these standards were enforced during that time. However, Mortensen still misses the point of The Academy’s changes. They are not insinuating that any previous film or one which doesn’t abide by all these standards are completely bad, but there are ways that filmmakers can go forward into making future films better. One might know Mortensen from the film Green Book (2018); Even though the film won the Academy Awards for Best Picture in 2019, there was controversy surrounding the film as it was said to follow the white savior complex. Standards like the Academy’s will possibly prevent another controversy like this one from happening again.
However, actor and producer David Oyelowo, known for his role in Selma (2014), responds to people who share Mortensen’s views when he says, “Anyone who is upset about these changes, probably is someone who has benefited from the lack of representation of people who don’t look like them. You will become irrelevant and obsolete if you don’t make this shift, because the audience are speaking.” He makes a valid point. The Academy’s decision isn’t random. They reflect the long-felt opinions and wants of moviegoers. The times are changing, and film industry figures must change alongside it.
Not only will the Academy be focusing on the film products, but it will also be reviewing its own members and their eligibility. For example, along with annual training, a maximum term limit will be implemented. With this strategy, it can eliminate bias and allows for a consistent rotation of new members to join and share their opinions.
The Hollywood Reporter provided specific quotes from Academy members. Howard Rodman, a member of the writers’ branch and former president of the Writers Guild of America stated, "it declares a fundamental and necessary shift, from representing the industry to leading it. In 2020 it’s what all of our institutions need to be doing."
Director Geoffrey Fletcher, also the screenwriter for Precious (2009), declared, "I'm encouraged by the Academy's continuing efforts to spark progress, though I personally hope that the expansion to 10 nominees will someday be rendered unnecessary by the success of these and other industry-wide measures." Fletcher responds to the new minimum amount of ten Best Picture nominees. Fletcher might find this unnecessary because he thinks the four standards will really make up the majority of Academy progress. The amount of films doesn’t matter as much as the content and quality of them.
Although there is a lot of positive outlooks and responses, some might find the Academy Aperture to be strict or see it as a limit on creativity. However, these changes are finally making it possible for people from underrepresented groups to have their work and talent be acknowledged. This should encourage filmmakers to explore new themes and stories and hire new faces to place in front of and behind the camera. In the next few years, we will see the effects of these rules. Hopefully, people will see the originality and creativity that can blossom from this initiative.
