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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences, which has been criticized for honoring few movies and
creators of color, said the move and other steps represented a
new phase of a 5-year effort to promote diversity.
The group said in a statement it would work with the Producers
Guild of America to convene a task force of industry leaders to
develop "representation and inclusion standards" for Oscars
eligibility by July 31 that will "encourage equitable hiring
practices on and off screen."
The rules will not apply to films vying for Oscars at the next
ceremony in 2021.
Criticism of the movie academy intensified in 2015 with the
hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, a backlash against an all-white field of
acting contenders.
The academy responded in part by doubling the number of women
and people color in its invitation-only ranks. Still, by 2019
just 32% of its roughly 8,000 members were women, and 16% were
people of color. New members will be announced next month.
"We know there is much more work to be done in order to ensure
equitable opportunities across the board," Academy Chief
Executive Dawn Hudson said. "The need to address this issue is
urgent."
Hollywood has been reckoning with a lack of diversity and
portrayal of racism on screen amid protests over the death of
George Floyd. Earlier this week, streaming service HBO Max said
it was temporarily pulling Oscar-winning film "Gone with the
Wind."
Among other new measures, the film academy will guarantee 10
best picture contenders annually, rather than a fluctuating
number up to 10, to give more films a shot at the industry's
most prestigious prize.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
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