A new study, conducted by the University of Southern California's Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism and the Humana Health Insurance Company, has revealed that age is not being fully addressed in reaching true Oscar diversity and age discrimination is taking place in Hollywood on a massive scale.
The study found that less than 12% of the 1,256 speaking characters in the last 25 best picture nominees were 60 years or older. Additionally, of the 100 highest grossing films of 2015, only 11% included characters aged 59 or older. Stacy Smith, co-author of the study told CMG, "We often talk about diversity by including the usual suspects of race, gender, sex preference, and disabilities but age is left completely out."
Note: In the U.S., people over 60 account for 19% of the population and generated 14% of 2016's cinema admissions.
Perhaps, more importantly, the study found that Hollywood is demeaning towards seniors, often depicting them as doddering, physically challenged, or feeble-minded. Best picture nominees between 2014-16 included only one leading role to anyone over 60 - that being Michael Keaton in 'Birdman'. This year, only Denzel Washington, who is 60, played a leading role in 'Fences'.
Well, as far as CMG is concerned - if this ain't bigotry, what is? Old folks unite. Where is the justice? It is high-time we put a stop to Hollywood's discriminatory practice of the willfully shunning and exclusion of geezers. There is no diversity without seniors getting their fair (and honestly-won) share of Oscars. This lack of human decency must stop. The Academy must give fogies their due. And, don't forget, golden-agers come in any color, sexual persuasion, or gender - so it's a diversity two-fer.
Make Hollywood Great Again!
In a related topic, noted film-maker James Cameron recently stated that, "there is definitely a bias at the Academy against blockbusters in favor of dramas that make no money." True statement? Of course. For example, in 2016 of the 25 highest grossing movies only two were none blockbuster type films - 'Hidden Figures' and 'La La Land' which ranked 23th and 24th respectively.
At the box office, it's all about 'Star Wars' and 'Finding Dory' but at the Oscars it's 'Manchester By The Sea' and 'La La Land'. There is a real disconnect between what moviegoers pay to view and what the Academy deems worthy of awarding.
Correcting this disparity calls for a CMG solution. That being, every Oscar nominated film must generate a minimum amount of commercial success for it to be considered for an award. Now, I wait to get all of the emails and twits from the cinema purists who are going to argue that this would be unfair because all that you would get for nominees would be high-impact franchises, animated kid-flix, comedies, fantasy, and super-hero films. What, no boring, over-scripted, over-hyped bladder films. No old, tired-themed dramas and message films with the same casts receiving their obligatory nominations year-after-year. The Oscars need a shake-up, a renewal, a reset to a modern era to make Hollywood great again.
Movie-goers don't care about coming-of-age tear-jerkers or personal struggle message films - they have that everyday in their own lives. What they seek is escape from that 'real world' into a world of fantasy and fun, for a few precious hours.
So, why are all of these mediocre 'nothing films' produced? Well, the industry needs, what I term "marquee fodder". Both Hollywood and cinema exhibitors need a constant flow of product and these, mostly low budget, films fit the bill. The Academy goes along with the scheme because it's in their best interest to do so. The big-budget box office bruisers generate the vast majority of ticket sales but receive no accolades while low-budget dramas, that number in the many, but viewed by the few are heaped with kudos. That's the way it is and it needs to be changed.
Just saying,
Jim
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