Recently, the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards received praise because their nominees fulfilled the diversity criteria.
The BBC reported
that performers belonging to ethnic minorities
were almost 40% of acting nominees.
Back
in 2016 ‘diversity and inclusion criteria’ was introduced into the
eligibility requirements for the 2019 Film Awards.
The
BAFTA boasted that it was the first major awards body to initiate such steps
and that it proved their ‘determination to take a leading role in driving a
more inclusive industry.’
BAFTA
worked with the BFI (British Film Institute) to introduce BFI
Diversity Standards for two categories: Outstanding British Film and
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer.
The BAFTA’s website explained
the requirements to qualify under the new nomination system.
“Productions
must demonstrate that they have worked to increase the representation of
under-represented groups in two of the four following areas:
§ On-screen
representation, themes, and narratives
§ Project
leadership and creative practitioners
§ Industry
access and opportunities
§ Opportunities
for diversity in audience development”
In
other words, if a struggling British filmmaker made a great film on a shoestring
budget seeking financial assistance and help from his friends, he will be not nominated,
unless he satisfied the ‘diversity’ criteria.
On
the other hand, British film producers will see these criteria as a
shortcut to receiving nominations.
All
20 nominees turned out to be white in 2020.
The 2020
winner
for best actor Joaquin Phoenix chose to virtue signal in his
acceptance speech that the industry must work hard to “truly understand
systemic racism.”
If Phoenix
really wanted to protest, he would have asked the BAFTA to remove his name from
the nominations. But instead, he attended the gala, received his award, and
ended it with an act of tokenism knowing it would elevate his standing without
any work.
But
40 percent of the nominees in 2023 were from ethnic minority groups, which
earned the BAFTA copious bouquets.
But
the bouquets turned to brickbats when none of these ethnic minority
nominees won any awards.
The
Guardian reported it as
follows:
“Bafta’s
all-white winners' lineup is shocking – it needs to learn diversity is more than
just statistics
The
BBC reported it
as follows:
“The
Bafta Awards have come under fire after all the winners at its film ceremony on
Sunday were white.”
It is
obscene that the race of individuals would be referred to in such a manner in
current times.
The
following were some of the reactions in Britain.
https://twitter.com/Nadine_Writes/status/1627593674166095872
https://twitter.com/thelondonhughes/status/1627711251337060352
https://twitter.com/SaimaMohsin/status/1627797744491298821
Similar
claims are also being made on the other side of the Atlantic as well.
Weeks
ago, the writer and director Chinonye Chukwu of the film Till, accused Hollywood of racism and
sexism when her film failed to earn nominations.
So let’s
look at the fundamentals of these awards.
Firstly
it is impossible for these awards to be totally fair because in judging works
of art there is subjectivity.
How
does one compare a brilliant western to a poignant human drama to a masterful
sci-fi epic and decide which one is the best?
The
same goes for every aspect of filmmaking including acting.
Al
Pacino’s performance as Michael Corleone in the first two films of The
Godfather series was masterful.
At
the beginning of the first film, Pacino conveys a childlike naivety, he has a
light-hearted demeanor and is talkative. But life thrusts Michael into the
forefront of a brutal gang war after the deaths of his father and older brother.
By the end of the second film, Michael has devolved into a cold-blooded fiend
who has no compunction ordering hits on relatives and friends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppjyB2MpxBU
Portraying this gradual descent into darkness was challenging because as Michael hardens up, he becomes reticent - rarely being demonstrative of his emotions or his thoughts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYnRBX2Trtk
It
was the way Pacino delivered his rare lines. It was his piercing gaze and
his clenched jaw that conveyed his initial reluctance, the internal conflict
which finally turned into cold steely determination. He expressed it all without
saying anything at all and that was his brilliance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-JxPQs3aGM
Yet
Pacino in The Godfather lost the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor to Joel
Grey in Cabaret in 1973 and to Art Carney in Harry and Tonto in
1974 when he was nominated for Best Actor for The Godfather Part II.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dWE_ag9W6o
Fifty
years since Pacino’s Corleone is still regarded as among the most memorable
film characters. Nobody remembers even the names of those who won against him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1zUR2_Oa7g
But
this proves the limitations of the awards.
If
that wasn’t enough, studios began running elaborate and vicious campaigns
for awards almost threatening members to vote for his film.
The
now-disgraced Harvey Weinstein pioneered this practice.
His
campaign caused Shakespeare
In Love to win the Best Picture Oscar at the 71st
Academy Awards, over the much superior and critically favored Saving
Private Ryan.
The
campaign was like an investment because it caused Shakespeare In Love to
become a huge box office hit.
Weinstein
managed back-to-back Best Picture wins for The King’s Speech in
2010 and The Artist in 2011.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpgIxvf4rCw
All
of these were good films, but they were by no means brilliant.
Recently
British Actress Andrea
Riseborough became the center of controversy following her leading
role nomination for the indie drama To Leslie. Many accused
Riseborough of misusing her connections to gain an advantage. It even led to a
probe, but she was cleared.
So
what happens when ‘diversity’ is forced onto this ridiculous charade?
The
awards that are already losing value are rendered meaningless.
When people of ethnic minorities win, they are often lauded not for their performance but for being the first from that demographic group to win the award. This is an insult because human endeavors and efforts are overlooked.
This
ludicrous emphasis on race and ethnicity led actor Idris Elba to say that
he no longer wants to be identified as a “black actor” and that he wants his
talent to be recognized regardless of his race.
Sidney
Poitier was acclaimed for his myriad performance. He rose to the top solely on
his talents.
Poitier was a brilliant actor.
Poitier's race had nothing to do with his talent.
Back to the awards.
You cannot end discrimination against one group by discriminating against another.
The
only way to end discrimination is to remove all barriers allow all to compete freely and let the best rise
to the top.
Merit should be the only criterion.
This
is how awards should function.
But
it looks like matters may have reached a point of no return.
There are many who are talking about gender-neutral awards.
Perhaps
the insanity will have to reach critical mass before any change can occur.
Also appears on American Thinker
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