The #OscarsSoWhite controversy has sparked a new diversity push in Hollywood.
Following months of bashing Hollywood’s history of only casting white actors, the #OscarsSoWhite controversy has left it’s mark and it looks like things are finally changing in Tintseltown.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hollywood’s biggest movers and shakers are now calling for more female and non-white actors to take lead roles in TV shows and movies. In fact, days after the Oscars ceremony, Disney announced an immigrant story Dr. Q and an upcoming young Barack Obama movie, Barry.
“There’s definitely a big conversation taking place right now in our business,”
“There’s definitely a big conversation taking place right now in our business,” says Management 360 partner Darin Friedman. “From both the filmmaker side and the buyer side, there’s a push for more diverse stories. It’s happening in a genuine way: an understanding that the cast or the directors who get hired should reflect the way the world looks.”
Even Star Wars: The Force Awakens director is pushing for more diversity. Bad Robot Productions has teamed up with its agency, CAA, and other Hollywood studios to require that women and people of color are submitted for writing, directing and acting jobs in proportion to their representation in the U.S. population.
“The Oscars controversy was a wake-up call to examine our role in expanding opportunities”
“The Oscars controversy was a wake-up call to examine our role in expanding opportunities internally at Bad Robot and externally with our content and partners,” says Abrams, who produces the Star Wars and Star Trek movie franchises along with the TV series Person of Interest and Hulu’s miniseries 11.22.63. “It’s good for audiences, and it’s good for the bottom line.”
The Hollywood Reporter also points out that two of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood right are Idris Elba and Michael B. Jordan. Idris Elba was recently cast in the Fox’s romantic drama The Mountain Between Us a lead role that was supposed to go to a white actor and Michael B. Jordan will star in the MGM remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, a role previously portrayed by white actors. However, as Hollywood is casting B-list and C-list actors for TV shows, movie studios are struggling to find more non-white actors to star in productions.
Executives and agents believe color-blind casting must trickle down to up-and-coming stars to create more opportunities for minority actors. “In film, as opposed to TV, you’re chasing names a lot,” says one producer. “We need to create more names now.”
This is possibly great news if you’re either a female or a non-white actor, as producers, casting directors and directors are looking for people like you. But, we will have to wait and see what kind of impact this will have on the Oscars and the future of Hollywood.
This news comes after a UCLA study found that films and TV shows that reflect the actual diversity of America earns more money in the box office and receives higher ratings.
Source: Hollywood’s Casting Blitz: It’s All About Diversity in the Wake of #OscarsSoWhite
