moving along…We’re going to keep pushing it.”
Other major (non-black) 2016 snubs included Todd Haynes for Best Director in Carol, Ridley Scott for Best Director in The Martian, Helen Mirren for Best Director in Trumbo, Michael Keaton for Best Supporting Actor in Spotlight, Aaron Sorkin for Best Adapted Screenplay for Steve Jobs,
So although it wasn’t just a complete blackout, this year’s snubs raised brows and blood pressure of some of Hollywood’s finest as, last years major blockbuster “Selma” was snubbed on every level from its director (Ava Duvernay) to one of its main characters and fine actor in his own right: David Oyelowo (however-Oscars went to rap artist Common and John Legend for Selma’s theme song “Glory”).
Nice, but (as Jada Pinkett Smith noted today), “ people of color are always welcomed to give out awards, even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments.”
Although words like that of Academy President Cheryl Boone-Isaacs are quite the safe and “positive” way to suggest reaction to the unfortunate situation, wife of Will Smith: Jada Pinkett Smith wasn’t so politically correct and “safe” in her suggestive response to the snubs.
The veteran Hollywood actress with a 20+ years footprint in the business took to her social media account and noted:
From the outside looking in, all this may seem like a bunch of celebrity whining but from there ‘in’ it’s quite a scream.
The situation is disappointing because although actors work for the love of it, still, the ultimate goal is to be recognized for their accomplishments at the highest level of of accomplishment respected in the field-this just so happens to be: The Oscars/Academy (which often times leads to other bigger and greater roles-sometimes on autodial).
With the common careless whispers in Tinseltown already being the lack of (respectable) available roles for people of color, you have to remember: Directors like winning highest prestigious awards too. And if this “blacking out” message keeps getting sent out there, eventually, directors will be reluctant to cast black actors for roles, even if they want them for the role.
So how are Oscars voted/decided on?
As per Oscars.org. this is how (verbatim):
