The record 683 invitees include rising young stars such as John Boyega of “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter” actress Emma Watson, Swedish Oscar victor Alicia Vikander and musician Mary J. Blige, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said in a statement.
Advertisement
For the director’s branch, new members include Creed director Ryan Coogler, Beasts of No Nation director Cary Joji Fukunaga, Room director Lenny Abrahamson and Belle director Amma Assante.
Currently, the academy’s member is 25 per cent female and made up of 8 per cent people of colour.
According to data released by the Academy, 46 percent of the new invites are female and 41 percent are people of color.
Seeking to reaffirm its commitment to diversity in the wake of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended invitations to 683 new members, which would grow the organization by roughly 10 percent.
Follow NBC Asian America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. 28 new members are Oscar winners, and they range from ages 24 to 91.
Diversity has been the Word of the Year for the Academy, which took no small amount of heat over a lack thereof in this year’s Oscar acting categories.
The organisation responded by announcing a sweeping affirmative action programme, pledging to double female and minority membership by 2020.
The effort should reportedly shift the demographics from 75% male membership to 73%.
Today’s announcement is great news for the Academy and for Hollywood at large. Oscars host Chris Rock provided biting commentary during the awards show, which was boycotted by director Spike Lee and actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 22.
Advertisement
The record 683 invitees include Star Wars actor John Boyega, Harry Potter actress Emma Watson, singer Mary J. Blige, and Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, the Academy said, in a statement. If all invitees accept, membership will be bumped up to 27 percent female and 11 percent minorities.
