The Oscars have promised to keep its rank versatile and invite differences by having a record of 928 new members represent 59 different countries to connect to, including actors Kumail Nanjiani, Tiffany Haddish, Gina Rodriguez, and The Rider filmmaker, Chloe Zhao.
The Oscar Academy says invitations were sent to 49 percent females and 38 percent people of colour. If the invitees are to accept, the new class shall upgrade its overall membership to 31 percent female and 16 percent people of colour.
Delighted, Nanjiani tweeted, “Hey yo. I’m in The Academy.” He co-wrote and starred in The Big Sick. Emily V.Gordon, his wife and co-writer, was also invited to join. Last year, his film also got nominated for an Oscar in the Original Screenplay category.
Hey yo. I’m in The Academy. https://t.co/CACVvdK5ry
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) June 25, 2018
The rest, including Haddish, who got the news from Melissa McCarthy on the set of their upcoming film, The Kitchen, rejoiced elsewhere.
Haddish remarked in a video, “That super cool. So I get to vote?”
She added with amusement, “I’m going to get movies for free?”
Invitees have always ranged from relative newcomers to industry veterans. Recently, a few of the youngest members included 22-year-old, Call Me By Your Name actor, Timothee Chalamet, and Quvenzhane Wallis from Beasts of the Southern Wild, who at age of 14 is the youngest invitee this year.
Leading to the other end of the age spectrum is 84-year-old Gosford Park actress, Eileen Atkins. Amy Schumer, Kyra Sedgwick, Christine Baranski, Jada Pinkett Smith, Daniel Kaluuya, Dave Chappelle, Daisy Ridley, and Sarah Silverman were one of the well identifiable invitees the Academy was expecting.
Remarkable music invitees included Melissa Etheridge (An Inconvenient Truth), Kendrick Lamar (Black Panther), and Sufjan Stevens (Call Me By Your Name).
From writing to directing, to screenplay actors on camera and behind the camera, the Oscars triumph in maintaining diversity.
Good news being, new members will be granted the opportunity to celebrate together at private receptions this fall.