AMPAS

“There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches.” ― Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.

The film academy is inviting 774 new members to join its ranks, including actors Leslie Jones, Dwayne Johnson, Riz Ahmed, Chris Pratt and Anna Faris.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited a record 683 new members this year in an effort to increase the diversity of its membership and avoid a repeat of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy the organization has endured for the past two years.

Hollywood titan Steven Spielberg became the latest industry figure to weigh in on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy on Thursday, saying in an interview that he does not believe there is “inherent or dormant racism” in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and that he is “not 100 percent” supportive of the Academy’s dramatic rule changes to increase diversity within the organization.

Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton has weighed in on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, saying in a recent interview that the recent rule changes implemented at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to promote diversity were “overdue.”

The leadership at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defended the organization’s controversial new diversity initiative, saying in an interview that the Academy did not bow to outside pressure when crafting the rule changes, which many are criticizing as an overt effort to purge older Academy members of their voting privileges while aggressively recruiting new voting members who, in the words of the Academy, “represent greater diversity.”

In an open letter addressed to Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs published in the Hollywood Reporter, AMPAS executive branch member Mark Reina responds to the sweeping new rule changes implemented by the Academy in an effort to increase diversity both within the organization and at the Oscars.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has approved a series of “substantive changes” to its rules and organizational structure in an effort to boost the diversity of its membership as the group faces mounting criticism over a lack of minority actors among this year’s Academy Award nominees.

While support quickly piles up among celebrities and Hollywood insiders for a boycott of this year’s Academy Awards over its lack of diverse acting nominees, one veteran Oscar-winning producer has a message for those critics: “Stop acting like spoiled brats.”

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said Monday she was “heartbroken” after the organization behind the Academy Awards nominated exclusively white actors in top acting acting categories for a second straight year, and vowed “big changes” were in store to combat what some critics call a major diversity problem at Hollywood’s biggest night.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) could see a resurgence of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy it endured last year if the organization does not nominate any people of color for acting honors at this year’s Academy Awards, a possibility seen as increasingly likely by many Hollywood awards insiders.

Spike Lee picked up an honorary Oscar at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences annual Governors Awards on Saturday, and used his acceptance speech to blast the lack of diversity in Hollywood — and issue a warning to white entertainment industry executives.

Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) is upset with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs over the perceived lack of diversity in this year’s Oscar nominees, and he is demanding an in-person meeting over the issue.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs responded Friday to the controversy surrounding the Oscars’ failure to nominate any minorities in all four of its acting categories.