A half decade ago, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the "Academy") got chastised for allowing its crown jewel awards ceremony, the Oscars, to award primarily white men. This chastisement was memorialized in the Twitter hashtag #OscarsSoWhite.
Now, five years later, in an effort to address such concerns, the Academy has adopted the "Aperture 2025" initiative, requiring any film that seeks to win its biggest award "Best Picture" to meet certain inclusion and representation quotas.
What's the legality of such a requirement? How effective is it likely to be? And just who did Hollywood copy for this one?
The Academy has an Oscar, but could probably also use a Felix...in Virtual Legality.
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/9dPkOkwCZNU
Discussed in this episode:
"The Oscars make inclusion a requirement for best picture consideration beginning in 2024" CNN Website - September 8, 2020 - Brian Lowry https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/08/entertainment/oscars-rules-changes/index.html
"Oscars Announce New Inclusion Requirements for Best Picture Eligibility" Variety - September 8, 2020 - Clayton Davis https://variety.com/2020/film/news/oscars-inclusion-standards-best-picture-diversity-1234762727/
US Constitution, Amendment XIV https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv
"Unlawful employment practices" 42 USC 2000e–2 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/2000e-2
"Prohibition against discrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation" 42 U.S. Code § 2000a https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/2000a
"The Hashtag That Changed the Oscars: An Oral History" New York Times - February 6, 2020 - Reggie Ugwu https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/movies/oscarssowhite-history.html
BFI Diversity Standards https://www.bfi.org.uk/inclusion-film-industry/bfi-diversity-standards
Women and Hollywood Website 2018 Statistics https://womenandhollywood.com/resources/statistics/2018-statistics/
"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).
CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo
DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.
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