BEVERLY HILLS – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which came under fire this year for another all-white slate of Oscar acting nominees, announced today it has offered membership to 683 people, with an eye toward bolstering the diversity of its ranks.
“This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today,” Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said. “We encourage the larger creative community to open its doors wider, and create opportunities for anyone interested in working in this incredible and storied industry.”
According to the Academy, 41 percent of the invitees are “people of color” and 46 percent are female. The new class will raise the percentage of “people of color” among Academy members from 8 percent to 11 percent, while the percentage of female members will increase from 25 percent to 27 percent.
In January, Isaacs announced a series of changes to its voting and membership procedures with the aim of doubling its female and “diverse” membership by 2020. In addition to seeking out and recruiting more diverse members, the Academy opted to create three new seats on its Board of Governors.
The Academy also announced changes to its voting procedures, with each new member’s voting status lasting 10 years, and renewed if the member has been active in motion pictures during that time. Members will receive lifetime voting rights after three 10-year terms, or if they have won or been nominated for an Oscar.
The changes came following criticism leveled by some performers and pundits over the all-white slate of acting Oscar nominees — the second year in a row all of the performance nominations went to white actors and actresses.
The list of new invitees to Academy membership includes 28 Oscar winners and 98 Oscar nominees, with a total of 109 nominations. The list includes 283 international members representing 59 countries, with the overall invitees ranging in age from 24 to 91.
Among the notable “diverse” and female performers on the list are Anthony Anderson, Idris Elba, John Boyega, Vivica A. Fox, Eva Mendes, America Ferrera, O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson, Michael B. Jordan, Damon Wayans Jr. and Marlon Wayans.
