If you doubt that the movie industry is more about inflicting moonbattery than it is about making money, much less making art, consider the new “representation and inclusion” mandates that must be met to qualify for the Best Picture Oscar: For the 96th Oscars (2024), a film must meet TWO out of FOUR of the following standards to be deemed eligible:
STANDARD A: ON-SCREEN REPRESENTATION, THEMES AND NARRATIVES
To achieve Standard A, the film must meet ONE of the following criteria:
A1. Lead or significant supporting actors
At least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors is from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.
• Asian
• Hispanic/Latinx
• Black/African American
• Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
• Middle Eastern/North African
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
• Other underrepresented race or ethnicity
A2. General ensemble cast
At least 30% of all actors in secondary and more minor roles are from at least two of the following underrepresented groups:
• Women
• Racial or ethnic group
• LGBTQ+
• People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
The document goes on in this vein for too long to repeat here. Not only the actors but themes, narratives, creative leadership, project team, industry access and opportunities, and audience development are expected to meet quotas.
It’s nice to know that being hard of hearing qualifies a person as “diverse.” Listening to too much rock music as a teenager may pay off in the end. Joe Biden will like the mention of cognitive disabilities.
As Richard Grenell observes, Best Picture no longer means “best picture.” It means “most politically correct picture.”
Hollywood is a political organ, as surely as the nationalized film industry in the Soviet Union. Don’t expect its output to be any more interesting.
On tips from Mr. Freemarket and ABC of the ANC.
